International law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has announced its exclusive association with the law firm of Salah Al-Hejailan (LFSH) in Saudi Arabia to launch its operations in the Kingdom.

The association, which will see Freshfields practise exclusively with LFSH in Saudi Arabia, builds on the successful existing strategic alliance between the two firms and takes place with immediate effect.

Freshfields recently strengthened its presence in the Middle East with the relocation of Tobias Müller-Deku to Riyadh.

A partner at the firm since 1999, Müller-Deku has considerable emerging markets experience and will manage the continued growth of the firm’s Saudi finance and securities practice as well as advising on corporate matters.

Fares Al-Hejailan, the son of Sheikh Salah Al-Hejailan CBE (founder and principal of LFSH),  has been a key member of the Freshfields Riyadh team since 2006. Fares is one of only a few dual-qualified English and Saudi lawyers practicing in the Kingdom.

Freshfields’ joint senior partner Konstantin Mettenheimer said, “Freshfields has been active in the Middle East for many years and I am delighted that we are strengthening our presence in the region with this exclusive association with The Law Firm of Salah Al-Hejailan.'

'The association will provide clients with a compelling blend of local and international legal expertise,' he added.
 
Sheikh Salah said the association 'strengthens the long-standing professional and personal relationships formed between our law firms over many years.'

'The combination of the expertise and global reach of Freshfields, together with the leading local and regional experience of The Law Firm of Salah Al-Hejailan, provides a strong platform and support for our clients conducting business in and from Saudi Arabia, particularly in the fields of infrastructure and energy projects as well as banking, finance, joint ventures and dispute resolution,” he remarked.
 
Müller-Deku said the foreign investment in Saudi Arabia has boomed over the last decade and the private sector now accounts for a considerable share of what used to be a largely oil-based economy.

'Consequently, the deal interest has risen and with it the demand for quality legal services that combine established local knowledge with multi-jurisdictional capabilities,' he stated.

'Freshfields’ association with The Law Firm of Salah Al-Hejailan presents an attractive proposition for companies looking to exploit opportunities in this fast emerging market,' he added.

The third largest law firm by revenue, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer operates from 27 offices in 15 countries, including all the main financial centres of the world.

The firm has more than 40 lawyers working in its offices in Bahrain, Saudi, Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the Middle East and has prominent dispute resolution, corporate, finance and real estate practices.-TradeArabia News Service