Leveraging its market leading banking and finance practice, Legal Advisors, Abdulaziz I. Al-Ajlan & Partners in association with Baker & McKenzie Limited has a market-leading practice for funding the construction of large-scale infrastructure projects. The firm’s active client base, which includes local and national banks and large developers, spans the real estate, chemicals, healthcare and government sectors. The practice is headed by project finance specialist Ian Siddell, who splits his time between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain; and George Sayen, a senior legal adviser who co-leads the practice in Saudi Arabia. Strengthening the firm’s banking work, Basel Barakat and Gavin Witcombe, an experienced mediator and arbitrator, provide traditional financing, transactions and structuring services to various developers.

Widely regarded as one of the market-leading firms in the Saudi Arabian market, AS&H Clifford Chance combines a strong ground presence in Saudi Arabia with the competitive standards of an international firm. Yasser Al-Hussain heads the practice from Riyadh. Al-Hussian is a key individual in advising large financiers and developers like the Public Investment Fund and Ma’aden in financing energy infrastructure and industrial facilities in Saudi Arabia. At the senior associate level, Ali Moiz Ansari is a key figure to note.

White & Case has a strong historical position within the Saudi Arabian project and energy market, notably advising the Public Investment Fund, Saudi Aramco, NEOM and many other state agencies. Backed by the bench strength of partners in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and London, Alec Johnson and Waad Alkurini anchor the firm’s office in Riyadh. Johnson specialises in advising sponsors, lenders and procurers on a variety of projects, with a focus on energy infrastructure, while Alkurini brings experience to advising financial institutions and borrowers on financing transactions based on both conventional and Shari’ah structures, including restructuring and syndicated financing.

BLK Partners, the recent combination of the two firms, EKP and MBLLF, brings practice area strength to Saudi Arabia. The firm is experienced in advising government procuring entities and project sponsors in project financing projects. Additionally, the firm provides dispute resolution services for construction matters. Hadi Melki leads the practice. Melki is a specialist in advising in public-private partnerships for infrastructure projects for various industries, particularly industrial development and mining.

Headquartered in Jeddah, Derayah LLPC – Saudilegal is an independent Saudi Arabian law firm regularly instructed by both local and international clients and international law firms on transactions and legal issues related to energy and chemical infrastructure projects. Ali Abedi heads the practice. Abedi, an experienced practitioner in both projects and corporate and M&A, currently advises on such matters as ACWA Power and Air Products’ agreement with Saudi Aramco to form a gasification and power joint venture.

Faisal Adnan Baassiri Law Firm in association with Ashurst LLP brings expertise to projects and energy work, harnessing the international strength of teams in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and London. David Charlier, based in Dubai, is an expert in advising funders on financing the construction and operation of major infrastructure projects. In November 2023, the firm received its licence to practice in Saudi Arabia. Project finance partner Bilal Rana, who handles complex PPP matters in Riyadh, and the Jeddah-based Saudi Arabian managing partner and energy and infrastructure transaction specialist Faisal Adnan Baassiri both currently act on large government privatisation projects involving ports in across the nation.

Khoshaim & Associates leverages the expertise of its banking and finance practice to advise high-profile clients, most notably Saudi Aramco, NEOM and various local banks on matters involving project development and finance. The practice is headed by Zeyad Khoshaim, who specialises in conducting the financing and refinancing of infrastructure projects, such as malls and bridges. Hamdan Van Den Brule supports the practice with his experience of public private partnerships, construction contracts and private procurements, while Karim Wali brings strength to acting for lenders and borrowers on a wide range of finance transactions.

The corporate, finance and investments team at King & Spalding is well-equipped to support clients on large energy infrastructure projects in Saudi Arabia. Some of the practice’s notable clients include NEOM, EDF and the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company. Based in Abu Dhabi, Tim Burbury leads the team and is well versed in advising on bids to finance, design and operate both renewable and conventional power projects. At the associate level, Sam Muir, also based in Abu Dhabi, is a name note. In May 2023, James Clark left the firm.

Norton Rose Fulbright has great experience in advising Saudi Arabian and regional banks in conducting public private partnerships and general legal matters for large infrastructure projects in Saudi Arabia. While the firm conducts a significant amount of work from its London and Dubai offices, practice head David Johnston is based in Riyadh, where he advises on a large variety of infrastructure works, including renewable energy, car parks and water production projects.

Law Firm of Hassan Mahassni engages in a wide range of projects and energy matters. Recently, the practice worked on the construction of power plants, desalination plants and refuelling stations. Emad Zahrani and Faisal Linjawy lead the practice. Zahrani regularly advises bidders and shareholders on construction projects, while Linjawy brings to projects his experience in joint ventures and corporate restructuring.