Law Firm of Hassan Mahassni

The firm: Hassan Mahassni is one of the premier law firms in Saudi Arabia. The practice is structured as a professional association composed of three partners and is staffed by highly qualified lawyers. Founded in 1970, the firm has a large local and international practice focused on corporate, commercial and financial transactions, including joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, capital market transactions, banking, financial services, project finance and Islamic finance. The firm also has significant litigation practice before Saudi Arabian courts and other adjudicatory authorities and before arbitral tribunals. The firm has been consistently recognized locally and internationally as a leading firm and has helped shape the commercial landscape of Saudi Arabia, where it has formed various leading national companies.

The firm’s leading presence was further fortified recently by an exclusive association with Dechert LLP, an international law firm with 28 offices in 14 countries. Dechert LLP is an international law firm of more than 900 lawyers with top-ranked practices in projects and construction, complex litigation, finance and real estate, and financial services and asset management. Dechert LLP established its presence in the Middle East in early 2012 with the opening of its Dubai office, though most of its lawyers based in the Middle East have been in the region for much longer. The association is directed towards expanding the capabilities and offerings of both firms and combining the tremendous global reputation of Dechert alongside the formidable multi-disciplinary expertise and experience of the Hassan Mahassni team.

Areas of practice
Projects and infrastructure: The Law Firm of Hassan Mahassni is working on some national level projects such as the SR45bn Jeddah Metro Project, Equestrian Club Corniche Project, Qurayyah Power Project, Capital Markets Authority Tower, the SR62bn Makkah Metro Project and several multibillion-dollar Saudi Aramco energy projects.

Project finance: The Law Firm of Hassan Mahassni has extensive experience in project financings in Saudi Arabia. Among its notable recent project financing representations, the firm has acted as counsel for the transport stations in Makkah, King Abdullah Security Buildings Project, Phase 3 banking facilities, Kudai Towers financing arrangements, SR27bn King Abdulaziz International Airport Development Banking Facilities and acting for the Saudi Aramco power cogeneration projects at Abqaiq, Hawiyah and Ras Tanura.

Banking and finance: The firm acts as transaction counsel to various lenders and borrowers in connection with loan and syndicated loan facilities and other financing transactions. The Law Firm of Hassan Mahassni also has extensive experience in the structuring, development, documentation and negotiation of Islamic finance transactions. It has recently advised in relation to numerous high-profile Islamic finance transactions, including the SAR10bn ($2.66bn) Islamic facilities relating to the major development works for King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Corporate and commercial: The firm has one of the oldest corporate and commercial practices in Saudi Arabia. It advises on all corporate and commercial matters, including joint ventures and foreign investment, the licensing and formation of Saudi Arabian companies, domestic and cross-border acquisitions, corporate liquidations and commercial contracts. The Law Firm of Hassan Mahassni advised Kimberly Clark Corporation regarding the formation of a new subsidiary in Saudi Arabia with trading and industrial licences, and advised Saudi Total Petroleum Products Limited in connection with the restructuring of its investment licences in Saudi Arabia.

Dispute resolution: With over 40 years’ experience in the courts of a state merely 80 years old, the Law Firm of Hassan Mahassni has come to be relied on as one of the oldest and most well-established Saudi Arabian law firms, with a highly respected dispute resolution department. The firm has represented litigants in matters before all of Saudi Arabia’s courts and tribunals, including the Board of Grievances, both in administrative cases involving the Saudi Arabian government and in commercial cases between private sector litigants.