V&E has been very active in the Saudi market for over 20 years.  In recognition of the importance of the Saudi market to its global practice, V&E entered into an association with the Law Office of Looaye M. Al-Akkas in Riyadh to offer its clients dedicated, on-the-ground services in the Kingdom.

The team in Riyadh brings deep understanding of Saudi Arabian business, legal, and regulatory systems and a long history of advising clients doing business in the Kingdom. In addition to Mr. Al-Akkas, the Saudi team is made up of Saudi, U.S., UK and Jordanian licensed attorneys, including four native Arabic speaking lawyers who have practiced on the ground in both Riyadh and Jeddah. The team’s international reach combined with this local legal and cultural knowledge provides clients with efficient and proactive advice and award-winning client service.

V&E’s Saudi practice focuses on corporate, M&A, and private equity; project development and finance; energy; construction and infrastructure; capital markets; Islamic finance and banking; and restructuring and reorganization. We have a strong track record of advising on complex and sophisticated local and cross-border transactions involving local, regional and international corporations, financial institutions, and family entities.

Corporate, M&A, and Private Equity
V&E is regularly recognized as a leading law firm for corporate, commercial, M&A, and investment fund work in the Middle East, and partner Sami Al-Louzi is currently ranked in Band 1 for Corporate/Commercial work in Saudi Arabia by Chambers Global (2010). Our Saudi team has particular experience representing both foreign investors and Saudi companies in complex joint ventures.

Project Development and Finance
V&E has an internationally recognized project development and finance practice and our lawyers are regularly selected to work on high-profile, bespoke energy and infrastructure developments in Saudi Arabia and throughout the MENA region. Our Middle East attorneys have extensive experience advising on all aspects of large-scale projects, including joint venture, O&M, tolling, power purchase and other agreements; high-value multi-sourced financings, including ECA, bond and Islamic financing; and all manner of construction documentation. 

Energy
V&E has been recognized by Euromoney’s Expert Guides as the “World's Leading Energy Law Firm" (2010-2011). As a result of our nearly century-long commitment to the energy industry, we have extensive experience in the legal aspects of virtually all areas of the energy sector. Our award-winning regional practice includes oil and gas; LNG; minerals and mining; petrochemical; power; renewable and alternative energy; climate change; and water. Clients include multinational companies; independent energy, mining, and related-service companies; government-owned energy entities; large industrial groups; international contractors; institutional, foreign, and private investors; investment banks; and some of the world's largest commercial banks.  In 2011, V&E was named “Middle East Energy Law Firm of the Year” at the ACQ Global Awards.

Capital Markets
V&E’s Capital Markets and Securities law practice consistently ranks among the best, including 29 Top 10 rankings in Thomson Financial’s first half 2010 league tables. V&E lawyers in the Middle East and around the word advise on a broad range of debt, and equity transactions, such as high-yield and investment-grade debt issuances, 144A/Reg S matters, and bonds (including Sukuk). Our lawyers also advise on conventional and Shari’a-compliant derivatives matters and provide disclosure, governance, and general corporate advice to our public company clients.

Islamic Finance and Banking
V&E is an industry leader in the area of Islamic finance and has advised on complex, innovative and award-winning transactions in more than 30 jurisdictions. Islamic Finance News has included three V&E lawyers in its Leading Lawyers report for 2010, and also in 2010, Chambers Global awarded V&E high honors for our MiddIe East Islamic Finance practice. Our lawyers stay at the forefront of legislative developments and have the commercial knowledge and experience to help clients around the world find alternatives to conventional financing arrangements and access to the growing range of Shari’a-compliant products.

Restructuring and Reorganization
Our Restructuring and Reorganization Practice has been active for more than 25 years with leaders in workout and restructuring law worldwide, including a market-leading practice in the Middle East. The firm’s MENA lawyers have advised on the largest and most complex restructuring matters to date in the GCC and regularly provide clients with legal, business, and regulatory guidance including various Islamic financing components of restructuring and reorganization matters.