• Full-service legal offer for clients in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ("KSA") accelerates firm's steep growth trajectory in the Middle East and follows office openings in the UAE, Oman and Qatar and doubling of MENA revenue growth in past decade
• Client-led expansion into KSA - an essential jurisdiction to deliver strategic growth, position AG for premium work and create job opportunities for the best local and international talent
• Office spearheaded by Andrew Johnston, Head of Middle East and Asia, two high profile Saudi lawyers together with a leading banking and finance lawyer joining imminently from a U.S. firm, and AG infrastructure and project partner Alex Sarac who is relocating from Dubai.

Addleshaw Goddard has announced that it is applying for approval to open an office in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  Addleshaw Goddard's Middle East practice has grown significantly in recent years and KSA, as the biggest economy in the region, is a key part of the firm's plans for the future. 

Addleshaw Goddard's fourth office in the MENA region and 17th overall will be led by Andrew Johnston, Addleshaw Goddard's Head of Middle East and Asia, and will initially include three high profile partners – Ibrahim Siddiki  who joins from Bracewell in Dubai, where he led the KSA corporate M&A practice as a partner, Homam Khoshaim, an M&A expert formerly at Latham & Watkins, and a leading banking and finance lawyer joining imminently from a U.S. firm. Projects & Infrastructure partner Alex Sarac completes the five-strong partner group and is relocating to Riyadh from Addleshaw Goddard's Dubai office.

AG's presence in KSA, the fastest growing country in the G20, is still subject to regulatory clearance. On launch day, the office will also comprise eight lawyers and paralegals. The 13-strong team will offer expertise in corporate, banking and finance and infrastructure assignments and has broad sector expertise in energy, oil and gas, renewables, infrastructure, transport, technology, hospitality, manufacturing and consumer goods which aligns closely with KSA Vision 2030. 

AGs aspiration in KSA is to provide clients with a full-service capability in order to support a wide range of inbound and outbound assignments.

Andrew Johnston, Addleshaw Goddard Head of Middle East and Asia, said:

"Establishing an office in KSA is a direct response to existing client demand and a decisive next step for our business in the Middle East, allowing us to better serve existing and future clients. Our new partners are highly impressive and a great fit for our business. We are delighted they have chosen to join AG as we strive to deliver more impact for our clients throughout the Middle East and internationally.

"The quality of our clients together with our high-calibre partners and the team that we have brought into our business over the past 10 years has made a real impression in the region. We have seen MENA revenue more than double in that time, and we have ambitious plans to grow revenue by at least 60% in the next five years. Accordingly, KSA is an important market for us to be in as we strive to achieve our strategic ambitions in the Middle East."

In 2022, Addleshaw Goddard expanded further into European markets important to clients, opening offices in Dublin and Luxembourg, and two in Germany (Frankfurt and Munich). It serves clients in Asia through its hub in Singapore and also has a growing presence in Paris, Hamburg and in six of the UK's key commercial centres.