Addleshaw Goddard adds Ibrahim Siddiki, Homam Khoshaim and Alex Sarac to bolster its Middle East ambitions

Addleshaw Goddard adds Ibrahim Siddiki, Homam Khoshaim and Alex Sarac to bolster its Middle East ambitions

Expects to hire eight Saudi lawyers and paralegals for the new office to support the partners

One of the top 25 UK law firms Addleshaw Goddard has included Ibrahim Siddiki, Homam Khoshaim, and Alex Sarac as partners in the soon-to-be-launched office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

While Siddiki was previously working with Bracewell in Dubai and led the Saudi Arabia corporate M&A practice, Khoshaim, an M&A specialist and a banking and finance lawyer, was serving at Latham & Watkins. Projects and infrastructure partner Sarac relocates from Addleshaw Goddard’s Dubai office.

Making a major play in the Middle East, the branch will be the firm’s fourth in the region. It also has bases in the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar.

The new office will be led from Dubai by Andrew Johnston, the head of the Middle East and Asia. He will divide his time between Riyadh and Dubai.

Johnston remarked, "Establishing an office in Saudi Arabia 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. We have seen MENA revenue more than double in the past 10 years, and have ambitious plans to grow by at least 60 percent in the next five years. Saudi Arabia is an important market for us to be in as we strive to achieve our strategic ambitions in the Middle East."

Addleshaw Goddard's presence in Saudi Arabia, the fastest-growing country in the G20, is still subject to regulatory clearance. It intends to provide clients in the Kingdom with a full-service capability to support a wide range of inbound and outbound assignments.

The Riyadh team will offer services in corporate, banking and finance, and infrastructure assignments. It has the expertise that aligns closely with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 development drive, including in energy, oil and gas, renewables, infrastructure, transport, technology, hospitality, manufacturing, and consumer goods.