International law firm Hogan Lovells and Riyadh-based ZS&R Law Firm say their newly formed association in Saudi Arabia will enable them to “provide cohesive, integrated legal advice to their national and international clients”.

Hogan Lovells advises on transactions, projects and mergers and acquisitions throughout the Gulf and North Africa; it has also previously stated that the practice has been boosted by the growth in disputes in the region.

ZS&R Law Firm was founded in 2017 by Dr. Najem Alzaid, Saad Alrashed and Turki Alsheikh, three founding partners with diverse backgrounds in international law, multilingual capabilities and experience of advising on national and cross-border transactions. The firm covers key practice areas including projects, dispute resolution, banking and finance, capital markets and corporate and M&A, said Hogan Lovells.

Under the terms of the agreement, ZS&R Law Firm will operate in association with Hogan Lovells and the “two firms will work together on client matters while remaining separate legal entities”.

“Saudi Arabia is a strategic market for our clients,” said Miguel Zaldivar, incoming regional chief executive for the Asia Pacific Middle East region at Hogan Lovells. “Partnering with ZS&R Law Firm is part of our commitment to providing clients with a full-service solution to their commercial and legal needs. We have had a relationship with the three founding partners of ZS&R Law Firm for some time, and we have viewed what they have achieved professionally with reverence. Together, they have created a truly outstanding legal practice in Riyadh, with a service offering which strongly aligns to the needs our clients.”

ZS&R Law Firm’s Dr Najem Alzaid added “This is an exciting time to be in Saudi Arabia. We will witness the public offering of Saudi Aramco and other privatisations, the fruition of key strategic plans such as Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Transformation Program, and we expect a new wave of foreign investment. We are pleased to work alongside Hogan Lovells supporting clients investing in the Kingdom as well as help our Saudi clients achieve their international ambitions.”

Steve Immelt, CEO of Hogan Lovells commented that the association with ZS&R Law Firm is an important milestone for his company allowing it to expand its ability to help clients in an important jurisdiction.

“Together with ZS&R we can provide clients with deep sector experience and knowledge in the Kingdom and across the wider Middle East. Most importantly, ZS&R’s client service ethos, and the principles by which they conduct business, align with our approach to the market,” he said.