The firm announced an exclusive deal with Zeyad S Khoshaim Law Firm, according to press reports in London. In a unique twist, according to The Lawyer newspaper, the Saudi practice is headed by existing A&O partner Zeyad Khoshaim, who originally joined the English practice from the firm’s then-sponsor Abdulaziz AlGasim in 2010.

Seconded partners

The move comes only days after Linkilaters ran off with Abdulaziz AlGasim. According to the report, A&O will second banking partner Julian Johansen and corporate partner Johannes Bruski to the new associated practice.
Meanwhile, in Australia, A&O announced it had played a crucial role in what local media reports claim to be the largest project financing deal ever in the jurisdiction.
Lawyers from the magic circle firm advised Japanese oil company Inpex and French gas multinational Total on a $20 billion financing of the Ichthys liquefied natural gas project in Western Australia. According to Australasian Legal Business, A&O’s Tokyo office managing partner, Aled Davies, led on the deal, with lawyers from the firm’s Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Amsterdam, Paris and Frankfurt offices also chipping in.