Quinn Emanuel, Saudi litigator sign deal

Quinn Emanuel, Saudi litigator sign deal

Nasser Alrubayyi joins U.S. firm as a partner; establishes an affiliated firm to act as a local partner

In the United States, litigation specialist Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan has struck a partnership with Saudi litigator, Nasser Alrubayyi to open an office in Riyadh.

In joining Alrubayyi & Attorneys, Quinn has added its 16th base outside the US, as well as its second office in Middle East, as well as its Doha branch, which has been operating for five years by now.

Former Khoshaim & Associates partner Alrubayyi spent eight years at the firm before leaving on December 2021 to launch Alrubayyi & Attorneys on January 2022. According to his LinkedIn profile, Alrubayyi began his firm last month. He is described as an 'up-and-coming' and 'astute' practitioner who has strong experience handling disputes in Saudi Arabia by Chambers & Partners.

Quinn Emanuel has said that he is working with a team of local lawyers, though the number of lawyers has not been disclosed.

We are committed to enhancing our capabilities in the Middle East and want to be present in every major market," said John Quinn, founding partner of the firm. As part of Saudi Vision 2030 and with the focus on diversifying the economy and promoting international investments, Saudi Arabia is an important legal market. "We are very pleased to have the opportunity to work with Nasser, who is well known throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and is a gifted litigator."

As a Riyadh-based attorney, Alrubayyi has argued cases before Saudi Administrative Supreme Court and attained expertise in Saudi and Shari'ah law.

It is an honor for me to join forces with Quinn Emanuel through this new association," Alrubayyi said, claiming the firm "has an unsurpassed reputation for advising and assisting international clients in complex, high-stakes disputes, which perfectly matches the type of work I do and the kind of work Alrubayyi and Attorneys do".

To enter Saudi Arabia, international law firms must establish partnerships with local firms. Allen & Overy, the UK's largest law firm, had an association with Khoshaim & Associates in 2012, though they finalized their separation in 2020, with both sides citing the advantages of working with more firms while stating they should continue working closely together in the future.

Some of the other international law firms in Saudi Arabia who have formed associations of this type include listed UK firm DWF. It has launched an affiliation with Al-Ohaly & Partners in October 2021. This is the third office Curtis Mallet-Prevost Colt & Mosle has established in the Middle East, following joint venture with newly formed Trafua Legal Consultants in August and in July, 2021, Gowling WLG announced a partnership with Al Ghazzawi Professional Association.