Latham & Watkins LLC

Abdullah Alsaeed represents Saudi and international clients in a range of commercial disputes and enforcement actions, and he advises government clients on significant regulatory projects. Mr. Alsaeed draws on his knowledge of Shari’ah law and Saudi laws and regulations, his bilingual fluency, and his ability to translate between the Saudi and international contexts to help clients minimize risk and succeed in Saudi Arabia. He assembles and leads teams of experts from across the firm’s global platform to advise on sophisticated regulatory and commercial litigation matters Mr. Alsaeed regularly represents or advises clients on: Litigation, including commercial disputes, securities and bankruptcy litigation, and white collar investigations, before Saudi regulators and judiciary bodies Regulatory projects, including drafting and updating laws and regulations Governance matters for government and government-owned entities, including advice on internal policies, procedures, and charters, as well as regulatory due diligence Mr. Alsaeed complements his commercial work with an active pro bono practice, advising Saudi non-profits on organizational matters. He formerly taught Islamic jurisprudence and law at Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University.

Ahmed el-Gaili

Ahmed el-Gaili leads the corporate M&A practice in the Riyadh office of Latham & Watkins, and represents clients on the full spectrum of Saudi and global transactions. Mr. el-Gaili leverages his keen commercial acumen and extensive experience across legal disciplines to guide sovereign wealth funds, companies, and private equity firms on complex cross-border: Mergers and acquisitions Private equity Joint ventures Large-scale energy projects and energy legislation Project finance and development International dispute resolution He partners with clients on each transaction to efficiently navigate business challenges, craft commercial advice, and mitigate against potential risk. A recognized leader, he serves on the Pro Bono Committee and previously served on the Technology Committee and the Training & Career Enhancement (TACE) Committee. He has also served on the Alumni Board of Dhahran Ahliyya Schools and as President of the Harvard Arab Alumni Association.

Basil Al-Jafari

Basil Al-Jafari helps corporates, governments, and financial institutions navigate the full range of debt and equity capital markets products, including conventional bond and Sukuk issuances, debt restructurings, initial public offerings, rights issues, equity investments, and other general corporate finance matters. His practice covers the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. He has acted for underwriters, issuers, and trustees on all types of debt issuances, including investment grade, crossover and high-yield offerings, MTN and Sukuk programs, and a broad range of liability management matters. Prior to re-joining the Dubai office, Mr. Al-Jafari was based in the firm’s Singapore office, where his practice focused on capital markets transactions across Asia.

Brian Meenagh

Brian Meenagh is a partner in the Riyadh office of Latham & Watkins. His practice focuses primarily on: Complex technology transactions, projects, and joint ventures Procurement and sourcing, including outsourcing and offshoring Data privacy and cybersecurity compliance Financial technology (fintech) and blockchain technology He primarily represents customers procuring technology and services in such transactions and has significant experience advising against major technology and software vendors such as accenture, IBM, HP, Oracle, SAP, and TCS as well as numerous other vendors active in the Middle East. He has additional experience advising on: Cloud computing Complex technology and data separation issues in M&A transactions Distribution and procurement of goods and services Data protection, security, and privacy E-commerce, m-commerce, and mobile apps Facilities management Financial services regulations applicable to technology and outsourcing Government procurement Global business services Media distribution and licensing Online gaming Open-source software Technology development (including traditional and Lean and Agile development methodologies), distribution, and licensing Before he trained as a solicitor, he worked as a business and IT analyst at Accenture on a variety of outsourcing, business transformation, systems integration, and software development projects for blue chip companies and UK central government. Mr. Meenagh has also previously been the technology, media, and telecommunications law editor at Lawtel (now part of Westlaw) and has co-written a number of articles and spoken at seminars and client events on the law and best practices in technology contracts and privacy and cyber-security compliance.

Chris Lester

Chris Lester is a corporate partner based in the Dubai office of Latham & Watkins. Mr. Lester specializes in public and private mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and restructurings.

Christian Adams

Christian Adams represents corporates, sponsors, and lenders on a broad range of complex matters across the financing spectrum. Drawing on his varied financing experience, Mr. Adams regularly advises clients on their most significant transactions across the Middle East and internationally. His work spans a multitude of industries, with a particular focus on the investment, hospitality, leisure and entertainment, energy, infrastructure, and real estate sectors. Mr. Adams’ practice includes: Leveraged and acquisition financings Real estate financings General conventional and Islamic lending Refinancings and complex restructurings Distressed debt matters Creative and commercially focused, Mr. Adams brings a proven track record of helping clients successfully navigate significant deals in the Middle East, including those involving bespoke deal structures. Mr. Adams previously served as Vice President at the global investment company Dubai Holding, where he was responsible for financing, restructuring, and strategic transactional matters involving members of the Dubai Holding group and Dubai Holding affiliates. Mr. Adams worked in the firm’s Dubai office from 2008 to 2017 and is a former member of the firm’s Associates and Pro Bono Committees.

Derek McKinley

Derek McKinley advises government-related procurers, lenders, and sponsors on all aspects of complex energy and infrastructure projects in Saudi Arabia. Mr. McKinley leverages more than 15 years’ on-the-ground experience in the GCC to provide deep insight into the successful development and execution of projects within the energy and infrastructure sectors, including: Oil and gas, as well as petrochemicals Utilities (power, desalination, and wastewater treatment) Transport (aviation, ports, rail, and road) Social infrastructure (education and healthcare) He partners with clients’ executive management to quickly triage crisis situations with an eye toward commercially focused advice, extending to both foreign investors and national developers. Mr. McKinley is a member of the International Project Finance Association’s Middle East chapter and has served on the firm’s Recruiting Committee and First Generation Professionals Committee. A recognized thought leader, he regularly speaks and writes on energy and infrastructure opportunities and regulations in the Saudi market. Mr. McKinley maintains an active pro bono practice and contributes to a wide range of public issues, including refugee rights and combatting human trafficking, climate change, and female genital mutilation.

Edward Kempson

Edward Kempson is an English law-qualified partner based in the Riyadh office of Latham & Watkins. Mr. Kempson is the global coordinator of the firm’s Sustainable Finance Practice. He has considerable experience advising corporate clients and financial institutions on a wide variety of debt and equity capital markets transactions, M&A, and financial restructurings.

Eyad Latif

Eyad Latif advises private and public companies and venture capital and private equity firms in the technology, life sciences, and other growth industries. Mr. Latif helps private and public technology and life sciences companies, as well as institutional investors navigate a range of corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions and investments. He also advises emerging and growth companies on formation, corporate governance, and transactional matters. Mr. Latif guides clients through complex transactions and growth initiatives with business-oriented advice. Mr. Latif previously worked in the firm’s San Francisco and New York offices focusing on general corporate and technology transactions matters. Mr. Latif received his law degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall), where he received the American Jurisprudence Award in Islamic Law and co-founded the Berkeley Journal of Middle Eastern & Islamic Law.

Harj Rai

Harj Rai, Co-Chair of the firm’s Saudi Arabia Practice, represents government and government-related entities, sponsors, and financial institutions in a range of complex corporate and finance transactions, both within the GCC region and internationally. Drawing on more than 20 years of on-the-ground experience working and living in the Middle East, Harj helps clients navigate highly strategic and intricate matters spanning project finance, Islamic finance, and bank finance. His work in Islamic finance includes complex Shari’ah-compliant agreements across a spectrum of Islamic structures. Harj develops long-lasting relationships with clients to help them navigate every stage of their lifecycle. He brings particular experience in first-of-their-kind, precedent-setting transactions in the Middle East involving diverse industries, including oil and gas, technology, real estate, and telecommunications. Harj previously served as Dubai Office Managing Partner and Local Chair of the Finance Department.

Leen Zaza

Leen Zaza advises on a wide range of corporate and commercial transactions in the Middle East and internationally. Leen draws on extensive experience across multiple industries — including energy and infrastructure, heavy machineries, shipping, petrochemicals, education, e-commerce, healthcare, and technology — to counsel clients on: M&A Venture capital and private equity Joint ventures Corporate governance, regulatory, and advisory matters Saudi law Before joining Latham, she was a partner at a Saudi firm.

Lucy Tucker

Lucy Tucker advises clients on data privacy, cybersecurity, and commercial contracts, with a particular focus on Middle East and EU/UK privacy laws. Ms. Tucker’s Middle East-focused advice covers existing and upcoming data privacy laws, cybersecurity requirements, cybercrimes and content standards, data localization requirements, and consumer protection requirements. Ms. Tucker advises a broad range of clients, from startups to technology giants, on a wide range of privacy matters, including in relation to the launch of new products and services, M&A transactions, regulatory investigations, the privacy risks of new technologies, data processing agreements, international data transfers, data protection impact assessments, direct marketing, and transparency requirements. Ms. Tucker was previously based in Latham & Watkins’ London office, where she specialized in EU and UK privacy laws. Ms. Tucker is a Certified Information Privacy Technologist (CIPT), awarded by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), and also holds a Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection, awarded by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.

Marc Makary

Marc Makary is counsel in the Dubai office of Latham & Watkins. He is a member of the Finance Department and Project Development & Finance Practice. Mr. Makary’s practice focuses primarily on the representation of commercial and investment banks, investment firms, and other financial institutions as well as sponsors and developers in connection with domestic and cross-border construction financings, acquisition financings, and other infrastructure-related secured lending transactions, including gas pipelines, power plants, and renewable energy projects. Mr. Makary’s experience also includes advising clients on procurement and construction agreements, operation and maintenance agreements, concession agreements, supply agreements, and other project documents in the oil and gas, power and water, communications, and infrastructure industries.

Najla Al-Gadi

Najla Al-Gadi’s practice focuses on advising issuers and investment banks on equity capital markets transactions including initial public offerings (IPOs) and other securities offerings. She also advises public and private companies and investment banks across various industries on public and private M&A transactions, corporate governance matters, and other matters relating to Saudi Arabian securities regulations. Her practice includes: Capital markets Mergers and acquisitions Corporate matters Regulatory matters

Omar Maayeh

Omar Maayeh advises companies globally across the full business life cycle, from inception to exit, with a focus on emerging technologies. Mr. Maayeh leverages a sophisticated understanding of market trajectories and extensive experience to advise companies on: Mergers, acquisitions, and dispositions Joint ventures Venture financing Regulatory compliance Initial public offerings Life as a public company He distills complex concepts into commercial advice that supports clients’ objectives at every stage of their business. Mr. Maayeh unlocks the resources of the firm’s global platform to connect clients with the legal tools for any need that arises. A recognized leader within the firm, Mr. Maayeh has served on the Mentoring, Recruiting, and Women Enriching Business (WEB). He prioritizes bolstering the emerging companies ecosystem and regularly speaks at events hosted by a number of Middle East-based incubators and accelerators, including Hub71, Area2071, the Abu Dhabi Global Markets Fintech Reglab, Astrolabs, and WOMENTUM. Mr. Maayeh maintains an active pro bono practice, including on behalf INJAZ UAE, a member of JA Worldwide that empowers youth with skills for work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy.

Peter Norris

Peter Norris advises clients on a broad range of complex banking and finance transactions, both in the GCC region and internationally. Mr. Norris draws on more than a decade’s experience in the Middle East and a sophisticated understanding of the local market to guide governments, companies and sponsors, and financial institutions on matters spanning bank finance, Shari’ah-compliant structures, project finance, capital markets, and restructurings. He has served on the firm's Recruiting Committee and maintains an active pro bono practice, including representing the Africa Eye Foundation, a Swiss nonprofit corporation, on a performance-based loan for the Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute.

Salman Al-Sudairi

Salman Al-Sudairi is the Chair of the Saudi Arabia Practice and the Office Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins’ Riyadh office. He advises government entities, local and international companies, and private equity funds in complex commercial transactions in a wide range of industries, including: energy, retail, manufacturing, defense, telecommunications, healthcare, and hospitality. He regularly helps clients navigate: Capital markets transactions Inbound and outbound investments Saudi Arabian regulatory and government advisory matters Restructuring and finance matters Qualified in New York and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, he provides clients a sophisticated global view on complex cross-border transactions. He has a long track record in Saudi Arabia, advising on nearly every major Saudi IPO since 2011, including the US$25.6 billion Saudi Aramco IPO. Mr. Al-Sudairi has been a key participant in the evolution of the Saudi Arabian market. He has worked on multiple regulatory reform projects and formerly served as Chair of the Capital Market Authority’s advisory committee.

Villiers Terblanche

Villiers Terblanche, Co-Chair of the firm’s Saudi Arabia Practice, specializes in complex infrastructure transactions, and for more than 25 years has been involved in the structuring, negotiation, and financing of a wide variety of high-profile energy, infrastructure, transportation and digital projects, joint ventures, acquisitions, and strategic investments in more than 60 countries in the Middle East, the Americas, Europe, and Asia. He routinely represents project developers, lenders, investors, and host governments on multi-sourced financings. He has advised on dozens of privatizations, has lead regulatory reform projects in anticipation of privatization or public-private partnerships, and has deep experience of special economic zone projects. Mr. Terblanche was based in New York before relocating to the Middle East.

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