Latham launches in Saudi with former White & Case sponsor

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?

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• 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?

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• 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 !!!

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• 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.

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• Frank | 8-Apr-2010 2:48 pm

  On the contrary, Anonymous | 8-Apr-2010 9:34 am, money IS a religion

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• 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!

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• 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?!

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• 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.

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• 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.

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• 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

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• No(n)sense? | 27-Apr-2010 9:18 pm

  Hey Anonymous | 9-Apr-2010 11:00 am,
  I agree with you that there should not be any religious discrimination but I sensed that you have certainly never stepped your foot into Saudi soil.
  The religious police's main duty in the kingdom is to scrutinize ladies, and demand or apprehand (with the police's help) ladies who do not wear headscarf, wear short skirts or shorts beneath their abayas, etc. Also, shops are forced to closed for prayers 5 times a day. Furthermore, churhes are banned in the Kingdom. Prey tell me, do these scenarios (there are many more incidences and these examples are only the tip of the iceberg!) fit your "no place for religious discrimination in saudi" statement?

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• Anonymous | 2-May-2010 8:19 am

  I think Latham is going to be the next Broebeck. They're growing too fast and some of their moves make no sense.

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