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 has noteworthy experience advising on bank-to-bank lending, and is also regularly active on high-value acquisition finance transactions, reflecting the strength of AS&H's top-tier M&A department. 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.

Centred in Riyadh, independent law firm Khoshaim & Associates is a longstanding player in Saudi Arabia. It advises on the full gamut of Shari'a-compliant and conventional financing mandates. The firm has an extensive client list comprising top Saudi banks in addition to well-known global and regional financial institutions. The team is often tasked with overseeing 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 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.

Linklaters maintains a compact team in Riyadh with pronounced strengths in finance as well as M&A work. The banking and finance group provides frequent counsel to a range of domestic and international banks and financial institutions, as well as assisting several regional corporations with their borrowing needs. The group has experience relating to a wide range of financing transactions, including acquisition finance as well as refinancing. Of late, it has also gained considerable experience in private credit transactions.

Ashurst is best known in Riyadh for the strength of its project finance practice. 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 team has a strong understanding of Islamic financing and often works on Saudi mandates alongside colleagues based in Dubai.

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.

King & Spalding regularly acts for big-name Saudi banks on high-value Islamic financings. It has wide-ranging capabilities in Saudi banking and finance work and is especially noted for its significant edge in fund-related financing matters, 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 has a wealth of experience advising on Shari'a-compliant asset and real estate financings in Saudi Arabia. It is also notable for its know-how concerning bank-to-bank loans and, following recent lateral hires, offers additional expertise in restructuring. The firm is a regular counsel of choice to banks and multilateral financial institutions, typically staffing its mandates with a combination of local lawyers and experts based in Dubai.

White & Case is known for its impressive track record in the Kingdom, with a long history of involvement in major financing deals. It is regularly active on extremely high value project finance matters, and offers considerable experience in oil and gas as well as renewables. Its team on the ground in Saudi Arabia often works in tandem with White & Case offices in the UAE and further afield.

A&O Shearman has a compact banking and finance team in Riyadh which is able to call on the additional resources of colleagues based in Dubai as needed. It is noted for its advice on debt restructuring matters, with experience concerning the transfer of financial obligations and debt-for-equity swaps. The finance team also advises on the full range of syndicated financing agreements and is notable for its considerable expertise in private credit.

Leading regional law firm Al Tamimi is noted for its expansive footprint in Saudi Arabia, with offices in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar. The team acts on an array of project and real estate financings, with further experience in asset finance. It also frequently advises on banking regulatory issues, including with regard to the drafting of template Shari'a financing documents, the rollout of new fintech products and the proposed usage of AI in financial services.

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.

DLA Piper's Saudi offering features a compact banking and finance practice with deep market experience. The firm often advises on restructuring and insolvency 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 matters.