Why are Law Firms betting big on Saudi Arabia?

The Middle East is emerging as the hottest battleground for global law firms, with Saudi Arabia at the centre of the action.

Just this week, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) and Reed Smith announced expansions into the Kingdom. BCLP is setting up not one but two offices—Riyadh and Al-Khobar—while Reed Smith has secured a license from the Saudi Ministry of Justice, cementing its long-standing presence in the region.

This isn’t just a blip. A wave of top UK and US firms—including Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, White & Case, Baker McKenzie, and Quinn Emanuel—are racing to establish a foothold in Saudi Arabia, drawn by legal reforms and the game-changing Regional Headquarters Licence (RHQ) program. Over 15 international law firms have already secured licenses, with another 15 pending approval, per the International Bar Association.

Meanwhile, firms with an existing Middle Eastern presence are doubling down. Kirkland, Simmons & Simmons, Dentons, and Charles Russell Speechlys all added new partners and teams in the region last week. In a bold strategic move, Eversheds Sutherland relocated its co-chief executive, Lee Ranson, from London to Dubai to spearhead its regional growth plans.

And it’s not just about hiring. King & Spalding recently merged with Al Fahad & Partners, reinforcing its Saudi footprint. With a fresh Investment Law set to take effect this month—promising greater protection, remittance flexibility, and investor incentives—the Kingdom is actively reshaping its business environment as part of its ambitious Vision 2030 strategy.

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