Linklaters obtains license to operate in Saudi Arabia

Linklaters obtains license to operate in Saudi Arabia

It will enable the firm to expand its capabilities to support clients in the region

The multinational law firm, Linklaters has announced that it has been granted a license by the Ministry of Justice of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to practise law from a new office in Riyadh.

Commenting on the development, Jonathan Fried, the Middle East managing partner at Linklaters said, “We thank the Ministry of Justice of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for approving our licence application. The license, combined with our decade-long experience, will allow us to continue to deploy our capabilities and expertise across multiple practice areas and sectors in support of our clients in the Kingdom. We would like to thank our clients, old and new, who place their trust in us on their most important matters.”

The firm’s third office in the Middle East, alongside Dubai and Abu Dhabi, will be led by existing partners Waleed Rasromani (corporate) and Omar El Sayed (banking), and the new partner Amro Bakhaidar.

Bakhaidar is a leading specialist in equity capital markets and public M&A transactions in Saudi Arabia. He has experience across a wide range of corporate and capital markets transactions including IPOs, rights issues, public M&A, securities issuances, private placements, investment funds, and general corporate regulatory and advisory work.

He has advised local, international and government entities on transactions in the energy, shipping, banking, insurance, real estate, petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries.