Banking & Finance | Global

The AS&H Clifford Chance banking team is recognised throughout the Saudi market as a consistent presence on high-profile syndicated financings, with additional expertise in restructuring and refinancing. It is often seen acting on notable projects in the infrastructure and energy spaces, handling the development as well as finance aspects. The team represents a range of international and regional banking clients, as well as government entities. The firm also has considerable experience in real estate financings.

Baker McKenzie Law Firm offers significant experience across the full spectrum of Islamic and conventional financing. The practice is noted for its in-depth knowledge of murabaha and ijarah instruments, and often acts as borrower's counsel, representing major construction clients in project financings and restructurings. It is also well versed in acting for banks. The firm is often highlighted for its close working relationship with the Bahrain office of Baker McKenzie.

Centred in Riyadh, independent law firm Khoshaim & Associates is a longstanding player in Saudi Arabia, and its finance group advises on the full gamut of Shari'a-compliant and conventional banking mandates. The firm has an extensive client list comprising top Saudi banks and other well-known global financial institutions in addition to major state-owned entities. The team is often tasked with overseeing project financing, refinancing and banking regulatory matters. Within the latter sphere, the firm also offers a wealth of knowledge in fintech.

Latham & Watkins is one of the leading law firms in Saudi Arabia, and its Riyadh banking team is consistently active on an array of market-leading transactions. It is highly rated for its Islamic finance expertise and is a key adviser on numerous high-value murabaha and ijarah facilities, as well as taking on noteworthy instructions relating to the Kingdom's nascent commercial bankruptcy regime. The firm is also known as one of the principal legal advisers for the Saudi Arabian government, including various ministries and state-owned entities.

Ashurst is best known in Riyadh for the strength of its project finance capabilities. Within this specialism it acts for lenders, sponsors and procurers on an array of financing and refinancing transactions, as well as the development, construction and operation of projects. The group has experience advising on the finance elements of a broad range of projects, including matters relating to the construction of desalination and power plants as well as oil pipelines and ports. The team also has a strong understanding of Islamic financing.

King & Spalding has a well-known finance group based in Riyadh, with a wealth of knowledge in conventional and Islamic financings. The firm regularly acts for big-name Saudi banks. The practice has wide-ranging capabilities but is increasingly noted for its handling of major bankruptcy, restructuring and refinancing matters. It is also noted for its significant edge in fund-related financing work, leveraging the considerable footprint of its market-leading Middle East investment funds team. Other significant areas of work include real estate and construction finance.

Norton Rose Fulbright often acts as lender's counsel on Shari'a-compliant project and real estate financings, with further experience acting for developers and project companies. The team counsels Saudi banks on their lending agreements with borrowers active across a number of sectors and has further experience acting for international banks on Saudi regulatory issues.

Addleshaw Goddard is a fast-growing presence in Saudi Arabia, having opened its Riyadh office in 2023. It offers a compact finance team which is central to the firm's offering in the Kingdom. This team acts for an impressive client list which features many leading Saudi, regional and international banks. It is especially noteworthy for its activity in the field of debt restructuring, where the group also represents several well-known debtor companies.

DLA Piper's Saudi offering includes a notable banking and finance practice with deep market experience. The firm often advises on project finance and restructuring mandates, working closely with numerous banks and financial institutions. It leverages the considerable regional and global footprint of DLA Piper to advise clients on the full gamut of issues, including regulatory mandates.

Derayah is a prominent independent law firm with offices in both Jeddah and Riyadh. It is well versed in representing international clients and regularly acts as local counsel on cross-border project finance files, with experience relating to a range of construction, energy and infrastructure matters. It also assists clients with an array of syndicated, trade and Islamic finance facilities, acting equally for borrowers and lenders.

STAT Law Firm is an independent Saudi practice with a growing reputation for transactional matters. It offers a compact banking team which is a regular adviser to several prominent Saudi banks on Islamic finance facilities. Additionally, the department frequently counsels clients on sukuk issuances and a variety of regulatory issues impacting the operation of banks and financial services companies.