The Law Firm of Salah Al-Hejailan in association with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Senior Attorney

Hassan is a highly respected corporate and commercial law expert with over 18 years of experience across the MENA region. His practice encompasses many cross-border transactions and projects throughout Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and the broader MENA area. Specializing in corporate and commercial law, Hassan focuses on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), telecommunications, media, entertainment, and sports. Over the years, he has built a reputation as a trusted advisor to large family offices and ultra-high-net-worth individuals in the Middle East. In addition, he regularly provides legal counsel to governmental and public sector entities on strategic international legal issues, addressing both public and private international law matters.

Hassan holds a law degree from Harvard Law School, where he was awarded a scholarship and earned two gold medals for achieving the highest rank among over 4,000 students in his LL.B. program. He also has the distinction of being the first individual from the Muslim world to serve at the Office of the President of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, a significant achievement that reflects his exceptional legal expertise and international standing.

In recent years, Hassan has provided counsel on several high-profile matters. He has advised media ventures and capital firms on the regulatory and contractual aspects of a major film investment fund in Saudi Arabia, valued at US$100 million. Hassan has also offered strategic guidance in disputes involving large-scale development projects, advising on potential legal issues and implementing dispute avoidance strategies. His expertise extends to advising multinational companies on taxation matters, including the outsourcing of taxation services, and conducting legal training for key public sector entities, such as industrial development funds.

Hassan’s practice also includes supporting the enforcement of multi-million-dollar arbitration awards in complex cross-jurisdictional matters, advising on both public and private international law issues. His work in mergers and acquisitions has involved providing regulatory and contractual guidance on high-value transactions in sectors such as mining and maritime services, with a particular focus on navigating the regulatory landscapes of multiple jurisdictions.

Additionally, Hassan has extensive experience advising family businesses and high-net-worth individuals across the MENA region on legal restructuring, asset management, and business development across various jurisdictions. His advisory work extends to the establishment of innovative technology platforms, such as an electronic health insurance exchange, and providing strategic counsel on numerous matters in telecommunications, real estate, and joint ventures. Hassan's expertise also includes advising on regulatory compliance, data protection, and international treaty matters for multinational companies and government entities.

Moreover, Hassan has developed a strong niche in legal and compliance training, having conducted tailored training sessions for both public and private sector entities, including prominent organizations and family businesses in Saudi Arabia. His training programs focus on equipping organizations with the legal knowledge necessary to navigate complex regulatory environments and ensure compliance with local and international standards.

Recent experience has included:

• Advising ROAA Media Ventures and MEFIC Capital on Saudi law regulatory and contractual aspects relating to the first ever Saudi Film Investment Fund launched by the Saudi Cultural Development valued at US$ 100 million.

• Advising a Saudi Family Business (Confidential) on a potential dispute with the Diriyah Gate Development Authority in relation to two projects cumulatively valued at approx. SAR 550 million. This included advising the owners of the group on dispute avoidance mechanisms.

• Advising Saudi Arabia’s TMF Group on a taxation matter pertaining to the outsourcing on taxation services by the TMF Group to a third-party service provider.

• Conducting legal capacity building and compliance training for the Saudi public entities including the Saudi Industrial Development Fund and various family businesses of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

• Advising Pakistan’s National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) Pakistan on the enforcement of a multi-million dollars arbitration award against an Iranian company which involved advising on complex questions of public and private international law and sanctions law pertaining to four jurisdictions (Pakistan, France, Iran, and U.A.E).

• Advising the Shapoorji Group of India (largest shareholder in the TATA Group of India) on contractual and regulatory matters under Omani and U.A.E law in relation to its multi-million dollars acquisition of a mining business in Oman.

• Advising Boluda Towage S.L. (a global leader in maritime services) on its acquisition of 100% shares of Smit Lamnalco (the world’s fifth largest towage operator) which involved the acquisition of several companies and vessels in the Sultanate of Oman and Pakistan. This deal was particularly complex given the local law regulatory compliance issues in Oman and Pakistan.

• Advising several family businesses and ultra-high-net-worth individuals belonging to the Suhail Bahwan Family (the Sultanate of Oman’s largest private family enterprise) on legal restructuring of assets and businesses in several jurisdictions; advising on contractual and regulatory aspects relating to the family’s vehicle distribution portfolio for the Sultanate of Oman and the U.A.E, and advising and acting for the family on contractual and regulatory aspects relating to the establishment of a multi-million dollars mining business in Tanzania.

• Advising Bahwan CyberTek – the technology arm of the Hind Bahwan Group – on the establishment of the first of its kind electronic health insurance exchange platform (“Dhamani”) implemented by the Capital Markets Authority of Oman. Prepared back-to-back agreements with the Capital Markets Authority and service providers for the project and furnished regulatory advice on compliance.

• Advising and acting for the OTE Group (a Bahwan Group Company with 3,000 employees) on all aspects of its employment, regulatory, contractual law matters relating to IT, telecom, product liability, joint ventures, IP, real estate, and infrastructure etc. for a period of 8 years.

• Advising and acting for numerous private sector clients including multi-nationals on telecommunications law matters such as VOIP regulations, cloud, telecommunications licences, import of telecommunications equipment etc.

• Advising Omantel – the country’s first integrated telecommunications service provider – on legal and regulatory aspects relating to the acquisition of a majority stake in various companies including fintech companies and prepared the entire suite of contractual documents pertaining to such transactions.

• Advising Amazon (Oman) in relation to a multitude of matters including data retention and transmission, consumer protection, and product liability issues under the laws of the Sultanate of Oman for a period of four (4) years.

• Advising Oman Automobile Association with regards to the preparation of its Constitution, regulatory compliance issues under Omani law, and collaborative initiatives with regional associations and sponsors.

• Advising Pakistan former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his cabinet on a complex ICC dispute resulting in a penalty of US$ 6 billion on Pakistan. Held numerous confidential discussions with key stakeholders including Pakistan’s NSA, the Attorney General, and the Law Minister.

• Advising the Government of Pakistan on strategic compliance matters relating to two international treaties under consideration for ratification by Pakistan.

English, Urdu and Arabic

Member, Pakistan Bar Council

Member, Punjab Bar Council

Harvard Law School (LL.M. 2007) Punjab University (LL.B. 2004) Michigan State University (Pre-law & Pol Sci 2001)