Gibson Dunn Expands Presence with Riyadh Office Opening 

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher (Gibson Dunn) is set to strengthen its foothold in the Middle East with the establishment of a new office in Riyadh, marking a strategic move to capitalize on the region’s growing legal landscape. The Riyadh team comprises seven seasoned partners, each with a wealth of experience working with clients in Saudi Arabia. 

The firm’s expansion in the Gulf over the past year has been substantial, with 14 new partners and 19 new associates added—a significant investment, representing the largest by any international firm in the region during this period. 

Barbara Becker, Chair and Managing Partner of Gibson Dunn, emphasized the successful establishment of market-leading offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, highlighting the addition of the Riyadh office and its accomplished team as the next phase of the firm’s growth strategy in the region. The move aligns with the firm’s leading international practices in energy, project finance, M&A, capital markets, regulatory affairs, and international arbitration. 

Megren Al-Shaalan, appointed as Partner-in-Charge of Gibson Dunn’s Riyadh office, expressed enthusiasm for contributing to the firm’s newest office amidst the significant growth driven by Vision 2030 in Saudi Arabia. The Riyadh team, boasting expertise across main legal practices, is well-equipped to serve clients locally and internationally. 

Marwan Elaraby, Partner-in-Charge of Gibson Dunn’s Dubai office, looks forward to leveraging synergies across the new office and team. He emphasized Megren’s leadership in Riyadh as instrumental in growing the firm’s market share and scaling its success. 

The Riyadh office will provide extensive legal expertise for clients, covering domestic and international matters, including administrative law, regulatory affairs, public policy, mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, project development and finance, and arbitration. 

Gibson Dunn has a longstanding commitment to the Middle East, serving the region’s largest companies and financial institutions for over 40 years, including prominent government-affiliated entities. The firm’s lawyers, with extensive experience handling complex deals and disputes, are well-positioned to navigate diverse sectors, disciplines, and jurisdictions across the Middle East and Africa (MENA). 

The seven partners joining the Riyadh office bring diverse expertise: 

Megren M. Al-Shaalan: Founder and managing partner of The Law Office of Megren M. Al-Shaalan, with extensive experience in public law, regulatory matters, legislative affairs, and advisory on Vision 2030 initiatives. 

Mohammed M. Bashir: Specializing in government advisory, public policy, and international law, with notable contributions to drafting legislation and developing legal frameworks for special economic zones. 

Mahmoud Abdel-Baky: Focuses on advising major financial institutions and corporations on corporate finance, project development and finance, Islamic finance, and general local corporate matters. 

Jonathan Langley: Advises corporate, private equity, and sovereign wealth fund clients on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and general corporate matters across various industries. 

Mohamed AlHasan: Provides counsel to regional sovereign wealth funds, private equity firms, large corporations, and multinational companies on complex mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and corporate restructurings. 

Lars Petersen: Specializes in public and regulatory law, representing clients before regulatory authorities in Germany and the European Union, with involvement in Saudi Vision 2030 initiatives. 

Ibrahim Soumrany: A capital markets partner advising on equity and debt offerings, listing requirements, securities, corporate governance matters, and reporting obligations across the Middle East, the U.S., and Europe. 

Gibson Dunn’s new office in Riyadh is a testament to its commitment to providing top tier legal services in the evolving Middle Eastern legal landscape.