International law firm Ashurst has broadened its presence in the Middle East with the launch of an office in Jeddah in association with Saudi Arabian partner Faisal Adnan Baassiri.
The firm will focus on energy, transport and infrastructure matters and offering corporate services in the region, especially in Jeddah.
"The economy in Saudi Arabia is undergoing significant expansion, which is set to continue over the next few years,” said Joss Dar, head of Ashurst in the Middle East. “There are substantial business opportunities that fit well with our regional strategic focus on the energy, transport and infrastructure industries. Moreover, the market also provides extensive opportunities for general corporate, finance and other legal work. This is the first step for us in the Kingdom and we are confident that our offering will grow in breadth and depth.”
Saudi partner Baassiri was formerly the head of legal at sharia-compliant wealth management firm SEDCO. He has expertise in general corporate work, real estate and funds.
Saudi Arabia is considered a vital market for the legal community as the kingdom spends billions to revamp its infrastructure and is poised to open its markets to further investment. But it is not always an easy market to enter. International firms must form an alliance with a local partner to open operations within the kingdom.
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