London-headquartered Stephenson Harwood has opened in Saudi Arabia, with offices in Riyadh and Al Khobar, the latest international firm to launch in the kingdom.
The Saudi business will be led by a three-partner team, including German corporate lawyer Marcus Latta, who is joining as a partner from Curtis Mallet-Prevost Colt & Mosle in November alongside two associates. He has been advising clients in Saudi Arabia since 2003 on both public sector and private sector matters, including regulation, joint ventures and foreign direct investment. He will be based in the firm’s Riyadh office.
Latta will work alongside Khurram Ali, a shipping and trade partner who will advise clients from Al Khobar and lead that practice, as well as transport, logistics and infrastructure partner Tammy Samuel, who will split her time between London and Saudi Arabia and serve as Saudi head.
Samuel has been at the firm since 2013 and was previously the head of the firm’s global finance team. She said the growth in the Saudi Arabian market had attracted substantial client interest, making the office opening “a natural next step in the development of our Middle East practice”, with the country’s investment priorities aligning with the firm’s sectoral focus, making it “a natural fit”.
The firm will focus on transport, logistics, marine, energy, infrastructure and construction mandates, alongside private wealth and finance advice – both conventional and Islamic – and dispute resolution, both locally and regionally.
Eifion Morris, the firm’s chief executive officer, said: “Stephenson Harwood has a long-standing presence in the Middle East, a region which is critically important for our clients and a key focus of our growth strategy.”
He added: “We want to carve out a distinct position by leveraging our strengths as a European, Middle Eastern and Asian firm, and our offices in the kingdom are another step in extending our geographic footprint. Off the back of strong financial growth, this strategic investment reflects our confidence in Saudi Arabia as a market full of potential and opportunity, which we are well placed to service.”
The firm announced strong financial results in June, in which Morris highlighted that it had seen significant regional growth, more than doubling revenue and partner headcount over the last five years, previously recording revenues in excess of £300m, and profit per equity partner breaching the million-pound mark.
Two Dubai partners – private wealth lawyer Jordan Ellis and corporate team member Toufic Safie – were promoted in the firm’s May 2025 partner round, while the Dubai office hired projects, energy and infrastructure partner Iwan Walters in March from EY. Disputes partner Ryan Whelan also joined the Dubai team in July from Akin Gump.
Stephenson Harwood is the latest UK law firm to expand into Saudi Arabia, following recent openings from Pinsent Masons and Bird & Bird. Other international firms have been setting up shop in the kingdom, with Reed Smith opening in Riyadh earlier this month. BCLP also opened two offices in February, while King & Spalding merged with local firm Al Fahad & Partners in January to create King & Spalding Al Fahad.
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