Herbert Smith LLP has a formal and exclusive association in Saudi Arabia with the Al-Ghazzawi Professional Association ("GPA"), one of the Kingdom's largest and leading law firms.
GPA has 30 lawyers spread across offices in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, and is one of the only law firms to have an office in the Eastern Province, the centre of the Kingdom's oil and gas activities.
Lawyers from Herbert Smith are currently based in Saudi Arabia, working from GPA's offices, and include corporate TMT partner Christopher Rees, whose presence further develops the firm's corporate and TMT offering in the Middle East. Christopher has over 30 year's experience advising many of the world's leading corporations and businesses on their most challenging and strategic transactions, projects and disputes and is ranked as one of the top three IT lawyers in the world (Euromoney, Best of the Best).
Christopher is resident in Riyadh and is spearheading the growth of the practice in the Kingdom's leading financial and corporate centre. The Riyadh office is a full service one, and includes a particular specialism in Islamic finance.
Behind this expansion lies fast-growing demand across the Middle East for international energy and projects expertise allied with a full-service law capability in corporate, finance and disputes work.
GPA was established in 1969 by Talal Amin Al Ghazzawi, the current Chairman of GPA. In addition to advising major Saudi businesses, GPA counts a substantial number of significant international companies among its clients. This marked international outlook, coupled with a deep understanding of the Kingdom's business sector and a shared heritage of quality makes GPA a perfect fit with Herbert Smith.
Herbert Smith's most high-profile work to date in Saudi Arabia has been the firm's role advising Sumitomo Chemical on the development and financing of the US$9.8 billion Rabigh refinery expansion and petrochemical project. Herbert Smith and GPA jointly advised Investcorp Gulf Opportunity Fund on the acquisition of a majority stake in L'Azurde, the world's fourth largest gold and jewellery manufacturer headquartered in Riyadh.
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