Saudi Arabia

A continuous commitment that delivers results for clients

Clifford Chance is one of the world's leading international law firms and has been advising in Saudi Arabia for over 40 years.

Clifford Chance has a cooperation agreement with Abuhimed Alsheikh Alhagbani Law Firm (AS&H) and works closely with AS&H on a number of complex and innovative mandates covering a wide range of practices.

Abuhimed Alsheikh Alhagbani Law Firm (AS&H) is one of the largest law firms in Saudi Arabia with 37 permanently based Saudi and foreign lawyers who are specialists across a range of practice areas including Corporate, Banking & Finance, Debt and Equity Capital Markets, Antitrust, Regulatory, Public Policy and Legislations, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Real Estate.

We offer our clients access to a team of forward-thinking legal experts with considerable insight of the local Saudi market

Our team has amassed a wealth of experience in Saudi Arabia and has led the market in developing many of the features of existing market practice. We are trusted by and regularly advise key Saudi Ministries and Government Entities as well as a wide range of government owned and privately held Saudi and international businesses, listed companies and financial Institutions.

Our involvement with most of the relevant government consultation programmes and our relationships with key individuals, enables us to help you get your deals done quickly.

We have a positive working relationship with the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and the Ministry of Commerce and Investment (MOCI). We have been closely involved with the CMA and the Saudi Stock Exchange in revising the Listing Rules and proposing the new Offering Rules and are therefore familiar with the new regulations that are likely to come into force during this transaction. We are also currently drafting the new insolvency law with MOCI in Saudi Arabia.

We offer our clients access to the brightest minds and best in class support across:

corporate / M&A
finance
equity and debt capital markets
anti-trust and competition
privatisations
financial services
real estate and construction
legislative drafting, regulatory, public policy
dispute resolution legal services.

Stable and committed to Saudi Arabia

Our team has had a long term presence in the market:

In 2016 Clifford Chance established a co-operation agreement with Abuhimed Alsheikh Alhagbani Law Firm (AS&H) in Saudi Arabia
2014 – 2016 as Clifford Chance Law Firm in Saudi Arabia
1998 – 2014 as Al-Jadaan & Partners Law Firm in co-operation with Clifford Chance

Read our press release to learn more about our co-operation with AS&H.

Market-leading experience and excellent client service

Our cutting edge work and commitment to our clients has been consistently recognised by all the major legal directories and commentaries and we have won more awards than any other Saudi law firm.

We are consistently ranked Tier One for each of our practice areas by Chambers Global, IFLR1000 and Legal 500 and our team has won the prestigious Saudi Arabian Law Firm of the Year at the IFLR Middle East Awards 11 times, more than any other law firm.

We use the experience we've gained on complex, fast-paced transactions to make sure that clients get the highest standards of service from a team that fits their needs. We build tailored teams that combine local and regional know-how with specialist contributions from the firm's formidable resources – over 3,400 lawyers across our international network.

This level of experience means that we're comfortable with new ideas and the art of the possible. We help clients reach their commercial goals.

Recent highlights

Recent work

the landmark privatizations by Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of five of Saudi Arabia's international airports. The deals are the first to be signed as part of Saudi Arabia's reinvigorated plan to privatise its international and domestic airports by 2020
the sale of the National Titanium Dioxide Company's domestic and international titanium dioxide to Tronox Limited, in return for USD$1.673 billion cash and 24% of the shareholding in Tronox
the successful set up of syndicated facilities for Saudi Electricity Company to add over US$2 billion to their revolving credit facilities, tapping domestic (Saudi riyal) and international (dollar) markets
the ground breaking SAR5 billion syndicated murabaha facility to Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) for the lenders Samba Financial Group, National Commercial Bank, and Banque Saudi Fransi
over US$1 billion refinancing by Dhuruma Electricity Company for 1,730MW PP11 gas-fired independent power project in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Ground Services, the only ground handling services provider that operates across all the airports in KSA, on its SAR2.82 billion IPO (US$752 million) on the Saudi stock exchange
AXA Cooperative Insurance Company on its issuance of 25,000,000 new ordinary shares at a price of SAR10 per share (Saudi listed)
ACWA Power on its proposed initial public offering on the Saudi stock exchange
Savola Group on the sale of Savola Packing Systems Company (SPS) and its subsidiaries to Takween Advanced Industries Company
Princess Nourah University on its joint venture with Wipro to create a Women's Business Park at the University which aims to create 21,000 jobs for women by 2025
Al Tayyar Group on its acquisition of a 30% interest in Thaker Investments and Real Estate Company for a consideration of SAR803.8 million
SAR5 billion syndicated murabaha facility to Saudi Electricity Company (SEC)
on domestic murabaha (Saudi riyal) and international conventional (dollar) US$4.7 billion facilities in aggregate to Yanbu Aramco Sinopec Refining Company Limited (YASREF)
Dhuruma Electricity Company, whose sponsors are ENGIE, Saudi Electricity Company, Sojitz Corporation and Al Jomaih Holding Company, on the refinancing of facilities in excess of US$1 billion
Phases 1 and 2 of the Jabal Omar development in the holy city of Makkah, one of the largest mixed use real estate developments in the MENA region
National Water Company (NWC) on all aspects of their water management and treated sewage effluent projects in connection with the privatisation of the sector, including TSE projects with Aramco, desalination, potable water supply, and wastewater treatment
a first of its kind clean fuels project in Saudi Arabia - SABIC and ExxonMobil, and their joint-venture company, KEMYA in relation to a US$2.2 billion financing for the construction and operation of an elastomers plant at Jubail Industrial CitySaudi Telecom Company SAR5 billion sukuk issuance programme
National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri) SAR3 billion issuance and US$900 million sukuk
the award-winning SAR15 billion trust certificate issuance by GACA (General Authority of Civil Aviation) the largest sukuk in the Kingdom to date.

Directory and client comments

Directory listings

Legal 500: KSA, 2018

Tier One in Banking & Finance
Tier One in Capital Markets
Tier One in Corporate/M&A
Tier Two in Projects and Energy/Infrastructure
Tier Two in Real Estate & Construction

Chambers Global: KSA, 2018

Tier One in Banking & Finance
Tier One in Capital Markets
Tier One in Corporate/M&A

Client comments

"The highly respected team earns recognition from peers and clients as one of the market's main competitors."
Chambers Global: Saudi Arabia, 2018
"One of the best firms in the Middle East."
Chambers Global: Saudi Arabia, 2018
"Very well-calibrated commercial advice, which is a great fit for a multinational company… a pleasure to work with."
Chambers Global: Saudi Arabia, 2018
"Top-tier department comprises 'very knowledgeable people with very good insights'."
Chambers Global: Saudi Arabia, 2018