With the new Riyadh office, Reed Smith builds on its decades-long presence in the Gulf region. The firm established its first Middle East office in Abu Dhabi in 1978 and now operates across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Riyadh—a regional network designed to support both international and local clients with cross-border transactions and complex legal matters.

Key Partner Hires

The new Riyadh team includes several seasoned lawyers who have joined from local firm Mahassni & Co. Among them is Emad Alshaikhi, who joins as a partner. Alshaikhi brings more than 15 years of experience handling high-stakes commercial litigation, major government projects, and landmark transactions in the Kingdom, home to 36 million people.

He is joined by Foram Majmudar, a U.S.-qualified senior associate who has advised on several of Saudi Arabia’s largest infrastructure and development projects, including the Riyadh Metro, Green Riyadh, NEOM, and Public Investment Fund (PIF)-backed initiatives. The PIF is the Kingdom’s oil-funded sovereign wealth fund, with estimated assets of around 913 billion dollars, and a major driver of the country's Vision 2030 program. Sami Saafa has also joined the Riyadh office as Government Relations Officer, where he will play a key role in regulatory matters and client support initiatives.

An Major Oil Supplier In Transition

In order to oversee the development of the new office, Gregor Pryor, Managing Partner for Europe and the Middle East, has relocated from London to Riyadh. «Our new office in Saudi Arabia is the logical next step in the continued evolution of our regional offering,» said Pryor. «We are now ideally positioned to support our clients as they pursue the many business opportunities emerging under Vision 2030.»

Reed Smith's market entry comes at a time of profound economic transformation in KSA, as the Kingdom is commonly referred to in business circles. The growing demand for legal expertise particularly affects sectors such as finance, energy, media and entertainment, life sciences, and transportation. Unlike neighboring UAE, where legal systems blend Islamic law (Sharia) with Egyptian-French civil law, Saudi Arabia’s legal system is solely based on Sharia law. Nevertheless, both Gulf states are actively preparing for a «post-oil» era, diversifying their economies and opening up to international business and investment.

Strong Growth Momentum

Casey Ryan, Global Managing Partner at Reed Smith, emphasized: «We’ve worked successfully with clients in the Middle East for over 45 years. This latest expansion underscores our long-term strategy to always be where our clients need us most—particularly when it comes to complex and high-value matters.» The opening in Riyadh continues the firm’s international growth momentum. Earlier this year, Reed Smith launched new offices in Atlanta and Denver. In 2025 alone, the firm has welcomed more than 125 new lawyers. Reed Smith now has over 25 lawyers in the Middle East, including seven partners.

Strategically Located

The new office is located in the Laysen Valley complex on King Khalid Road, a rapidly developing business district in the Saudi capital. The new King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD)—the city’s emerging financial hub—is just a 10-minute drive from the office. Reed Smith is an international commercial law firm with more than 1,700 lawyers across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the United States. The firm is widely recognized for its strong industry focus, particularly in finance, life sciences, media, energy, and transportation.