Dr Ali Almihdar has a unique status as the first Saudi Arabian lawyer qualified as a member of the English Bar. He has extensive experience representing Saudi and non-Saudi clients in commercial matters in the UK and Saudi Arabia. His work covers the full range of commercial legal practice from advice and drafting through to advocacy. He is equally comfortable conducting litigation in arbitrations, tribunals and before the Saudi Courts. He is instructed in the UK in cross jurisdiction litigation and commercial disputes and is often required to provide strategic advice in inter-party relationships and disputes. He has extensive experience in the energy and construction sector, in particular the field of oil and gas, infrastructure, FIDIC construction and defence contracts. He was the Legal Adviser to the Saudi Arabian Minister of Petroleum & Mineral Resources and after starting in private practice continued as External Counsel to the Ministry and its commercial arm PETROMIN for several years. He has been instructed in cases and arbitrations involving the disputes on petroleum contracts and construction projects by governmental and commercial entities. He has extensive experience in private client work, including trusts work, where his knowledge of the Sharia and the Arabic language has been particularly important. He has acted for members of the Saudi Royal Family and has advised international law firms in London and the Middle East on complex probate and succession issues.

Cambridge University, Churchill College (1968 LLB and MA); Alexandria University, Egypt (1996 Diploma in Sharia Law); Alexandria University (2015 PhD in Law – Thesis: ‘Fairness in Contracts’.)