Dechert LLP announced today (Sept. 1) that it has formed an association in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the Law Firm of Hassan Mahassni.
“This association is of strategic importance to Dechert,” said Dechert CEO Daniel O’Donnell in a press release. “We are committed to enhancing our offering in the Middle East and in working with Hassan and his team, I think we can achieve great results for our clients.”
Founded by Hassan M.S. Mahassni in 1970, the Law Firm of Hassan Mahassni is one of the most prominent law firms in Saudi Arabia, according to Dechert.
“Based in Jeddah, it has a large local and international practice focused on corporate, commercial and financial transactions, including joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, capital market transactions, banking, financial services, project finance and Islamic Finance. The firm also has a significant litigation practice before courts and other adjudicatory authorities throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
“We are very enthusiastic to join forces with the Mahassni firm,” said Chris Sioufi, who along with Gavin Watson serves as co-managing partner of Dechert’s Dubai office and who has practiced in the region for more than a decade. “Hassan and his team are well known and very well respected. Our association will expand our capabilities and offerings and will allow us to better serve our clients in Saudi Arabia.”
M. Marwan Shaheen and Yousef Saleh Husiki Al-Ghamdi are also partners in the Mahassni firm.
“Dechert has a tremendous reputation globally and in this region,” said Mahassni. “In forming an association, it was quite important that we have the right partner and I am sure both parties have chosen well.”
Led by partner Camille Abousleiman, Dechert has a market-leading capital markets practice in the emerging markets, especially the Middle East, with lawyers advising on both equity and debt transactions. In the first half of 2015, Dechert worked on significant capital markets transactions in Egypt and Tunisia, marking the return of both countries to the U.S. markets, as well as Jordan, Lebanon and Oman, where it acted on the first Reg S/144A transaction. Abousleiman and other lawyers at Dechert have also worked on some of the largest capital markets transactions in Saudi Arabia.
“With the liberalization of the capital markets in Saudi Arabia, we are delighted that the association with Hassan and his team will allow us to participate in the growth and development of this market,” Abousleiman said.
