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Trowers down to one associate in Saudi office

This is not the first time, and it won't be the last, that associations between international and local Saudi law firms have split up. Expectations from each side don't seem to match: International firms are looking for quality local input (which hardly any local lawyer can provide) and local firms (or rather their principals) simply want to cash in by acting as broker to bring in work, but are not suitably qualified to do such work themselves. In addition, most local clients (incl. global corporate players) hardly pay the level of fees typically charged by top tier international firms. Thus, it is time that international firms are allowed to set up shop in KSA on their, ie. without the need to have a local sponsor. This should also incentivise international firms to train local lawyers to international standards. Of course, there are other (serious) obstacles to make KSA an attractive proposition for internationally qualified lawyers, but that is a separate matter...

8-Dec-2011

9:10 am