Latham launches in Saudi with former White & Case sponsor
Share
Latham & Watkins has officially opened in Saudi Arabia, launching its fourth office in the Middle East.
The firm, which launched in the region in 2008 with offices in Doha, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, raided White & Case for its Saudi launch (1 February 2010).
White & Case’s former sponsor Mohammed Al-Sheikh will become Latham’s sponsor and will be joined by partner Christopher Langdon and the majority of the associates from White & Case’s Riyadh office.
In addition, Salman Al-Sudairi, a US-trained Saudi banking lawyer who was instrumental in helping the firm devise its Middle East strategy, will relocate to the Riyadh office from New York, after a spell on secondment at a major investment bank (13 April 2009).
In a statement Latham chairman and managing partner Robert Dell said: “The Middle East is one of the most dynamic regions in the world economy and we remain committed to developing our presence in the region as a key focus of our global growth strategy.
“We expect to see continued inbound and outbound activity that demands sophisticated legal counsel and our presence in Riyadh will significantly bolster our regional capability.”
View results 10 per page | 20 per page
Readers' comments (12)
D Lucre | 6-Apr-2010 5:54 pm
How did they manage to persuade their NY based orthodox partners to agree to open in Saudi Arabia? And how does the Saudi practice sit with the much vaunted Latham & Watkins Israel Practice Group?
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Cutting Edge | 7-Apr-2010 4:14 pm
I would have thought that Riyadh needs "sophisticated legal counsel" about as badly as it needs sand.
What are they going to advise on?
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 8-Apr-2010 9:34 am
Cutting Edge - clearly you have no knowledge of the ME markets. There are huge opportunities in KSA and every single international law firm on the face of this earth is desperate to have a presence there. There must be a reason for that - don't you think??
DLucre- haven't you heard that money has no religion? and guess what some international law firms even have orthodox partners based in the ME !!!
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Sandy Dunes | 8-Apr-2010 10:22 am
Anonymous | 8-Apr-2010 9:34 am needs to spend sometime in Riyadh before making such ill informed statements. As someone who knows the market well, I can assure that there are no orthodox Jewish lawyers operating in the Saudi market.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Frank | 8-Apr-2010 2:48 pm
On the contrary, Anonymous | 8-Apr-2010 9:34 am, money IS a religion
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 8-Apr-2010 3:20 pm
Im orthodox and operate in the Saudi market. What a disgraceful debate. Why does it matter what religion a lawyer is. they are there to make deals not to preach!
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 8-Apr-2010 5:04 pm
Anonymous 3:20 pm - you are an orthodox what? If you an orthodox jew then please tell us which saudi embassy issued you with a visa?!
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Cutting Edge | 9-Apr-2010 8:09 am
Anonymous | 8-Apr-2010 9:34 am
I am a lawyer in Riyadh with an international firm. I may know nothing about the ME markets but I know the Riyadh market.
You can believe the "massive opportunities" line as much as you like but the reality is sadly different. There is no job in Riyadh that can't be handled by a 6/7 PQE and most can be handled by a 3/4.
Must be really sophisticated if that is the case.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 9-Apr-2010 11:00 am
i think we all know what is being referred to by orthodox and lathams. They are a jewish firm. there is no place for religious discrimination in saudi or elsewhere.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Ben | 27-Apr-2010 2:26 pm
What do guys think will happen in the upcoming months in terms of Latham vs. W&C?
In your opinion, will L&W succeed in taking over most of W&C's recent business? (I'd say yes, except for Aramco, which will continued to be managed by W&C from outside Saudi Arabia.)
Will W&C rise from the ashes and get back to being a great firm in Saudi? (I'd say yes as well.)
How will they achieve that? (I'd say from partners and associates relocation and lateral hires from some of the good int'l firms established in Saudi),
Cheers
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment