Herbert Smith Freehills to establish an office in Riyadh 

Herbert Smith Freehills has been granted a foreign law firm licence by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, allowing the firm to establish an office in the capital city of Riyadh. 

Herbert Smith Freehills has been a prominent legal advisor in the Middle East for over four decades, offering top-notch legal services to both local and international clients in the region. The firm has been advising on several high-profile transactions across various sectors, including corporate, energy, infrastructure, and projects. 

Stuart Paterson, the firm’s managing partner in the Middle East said: “This region is strategically important to our clients and the firm, so we are very pleased indeed to be one of the first firms to receive a foreign law firm licence in the Kingdom.  This enables us to better serve our clients in the region and globally. 

The new office, which will be led by Joza Al-Rasheed (pictured) as managing partner, will allow the firm to expand its operations in the region and offer clients a more comprehensive range of legal services. The team will work closely with other offices in the Middle East to provide seamless legal support to clients. 

Joza Al-Rasheed said: “I am humbled and delighted that Herbert Smith Freehills is one of the first international law firms in the Kingdom to be awarded this licence.” 

She added: “I look forward to delivering the top quality legal services that our existing and future clients demand.” 

The firm’s expansion in Saudi Arabia comes at a time when the Kingdom is working towards diversifying its economy and attracting foreign investments, making it an attractive destination for international law firms.