Basel Barakat
Legal Advisors, Abdulaziz I. Al-Ajlan & Partners in association with Baker & McKenzie LimitedLeveraging its market leading banking and finance practice, Legal Advisors, Abdulaziz I. Al-Ajlan & Partners in association with Baker & McKenzie Limited has a market-leading practice for funding the construction of large-scale infrastructure projects. The firm’s active client base, which includes local and national banks and large developers, spans the real estate, chemicals, healthcare and government sectors. The practice is headed by project finance specialist Ian Siddell, who splits his time between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain; and George Sayen, a senior legal adviser who co-leads the practice in Saudi Arabia. Strengthening the firm’s banking work, Basel Barakat and Gavin Witcombe, an experienced mediator and arbitrator, provide traditional financing, transactions and structuring services to various developers.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Very responsive, friendly, solutions oriented and competent.’
‘Worked closely with the members of the projects and banking and finance team, who are knowledgeable and commercially aware of recent developments and approaches to transactions in Saudi Arabia.’
- 'Excellent communication and responsiveness. Attend to all queries and requests in an efficient and timely manner.’
Key clients
- Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma'aden)
- Banque Saudi Fransi
- Samba Financial Group / Samba Capital
- Saudi Binladin Group Company Limited
- The National Commercial Bank
- Arab National Bank
- ACWA Power International
- Al Rahji Banking and Investment Corporation
- HSBC Saudi Arabia / The Saudi British Bank
- The Saudi Investment Bank
- Gulf International Bank B.S.C / GIB Capital
- Arab Petroleum Investment Corporation (APICORP)
- ABC Islamic Bank (E.C.)
- Olayan Saudi Holding Company
- Saudi Arabia Ministry of Finance
- Saudi Electricity Company
- SNB Capital Company
Work highlights
- Acted as legal counsel to HSBC Saudi Arabia in relation to a SAR 10bn syndicated financing to Saudi Electricity Company (SEC).
- Acting as legal counsel for Thakher Development Company and its major shareholder, Mohammed Alsubeaei & Sons Investment Company (MASIC), in relation to the circa SAR 4.357bn real estate financing for the purposes of a mixed-use development project in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
- Acting for Tadawul-listed Methanol Chemicals Company (Chemanol) in relation to SAR 695m murabaha-based refinancing and expansion project financing facilities from Banque Saudi Fransi and Alinma Bank.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Ian Siddell, George Sayen