Global law firm Freshfields and the Law Firm of Salah Al-Hejailan LLC (LFSH) have announced the next chapter in their strategic alliance to continue to provide market-leading expertise to clients in Saudi Arabia and across the Middle East.

Freshfields is well-established in the Kingdom, having held a strategic association with LFSH since 2009. As part of this renewed relationship between the two firms, LFSH will continue to partner with Freshfields and remain part of Freshfields’ Stronger Together network, which brings together more than 300 firms globally.

Last year, Freshfields was granted a licence by the Kingdom’s Ministry of Justice to establish a majority-owned legal practice. This licence follows changes to the laws that govern how foreign law firms operate in the Kingdom.

Led by Freshfields partners Fares Al-Hejailan and Amani Khalifa, the new office is a continuation of the firm’s existing client service in the Kingdom and will complement its wider regional presence in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Bahrain.

Freshfields Regional Managing Partner Sami Tannous said: “We’re pleased to enter into an agreement to maintain our long-standing relationship with LFSH. Our Saudi Arabia and Middle East operations continue to be a core focus for the firm, with the Kingdom established as one of the most dynamic markets across the world, particularly in and around sustainable development projects – a growing priority for the region. We look forward to delivering ongoing market-leading service to our clients.”

LFSH Partner, Sultan Al-Hejailan said “LFSH is proud to continue our long standing relationship with the global firm Freshfields in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a relationship that has spanned nearly 16 years and a true testament of cooperation and collaboration within the legal industry in the Kingdom serving many regional and international clients legally and strategically.”

Freshfields has been serving clients for 40 years across the region, with more than 50 lawyers operating on the ground. The firm’s regional expertise includes legal advice for global transactions such as M&A, corporate and regulatory, corporate restructurings, and capital market regulations. On the disputes side, the firm advises on large, complex construction disputes, general commercial arbitration, investor-state disputes, and global investigations relating to Saudi Arabia and throughout the MENA region.