International Law Firm Bird & Bird Opens New Office in Riyadh, Strengthening Presence in the Middle East
International law firm Bird & Bird has announced the launch of its new office in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as part of its continued expansion across the Middle East. The move is aimed at strengthening the firm’s ability to support local and international clients operating in key sectors, particularly technology and intellectual property law.
At launch, the Riyadh office will focus on supporting client needs in technology, IP, transactional, and general corporate matters. The firm’s presence in Saudi Arabia will further enhance its strategic capabilities across the Middle East region.
The new office will be overseen by Anders Nilsson (Head of Region – Middle East), and will include three resident expert partners, Raya Alkhatib (Corporate Partner), Nick O’Connell (Technology & Data Partner), and Simon Shooter (Commercial & Technology Partner). The partners will be supported by a team of Saudi associate lawyers, bringing local expertise and deep regional understanding.
Key Leadership
Raya Alkhatib, a corporate partner, advises local and international clients on a broad spectrum of matters, including corporate structuring, M&A, IPOs, rights issues, and real estate investment funds. Before joining Bird & Bird, she served as General Counsel, Governance Officer, and Board Secretary at American Express Saudi Arabia, where she advised on legal issues across corporate, finance, employment, e-commerce, and strategic partnerships.
“Saudi Arabia’s dynamic business landscape offers exciting opportunities for both local and international clients seeking strategic corporate guidance in the Kingdom.” said Raya AlKhatib
Nick O’Connell, described by Chambers & Partners as “the best Saudi-based lawyer for IT matters,” has been based in Riyadh for most of the past seven years. He is a leading advisor on technology, cloud services, media, data regulation, and telecoms, and is recognised for building and managing a top-tier technology, media & telecommunications (TMT) practice in the Kingdom.
“The Kingdom’s strong focus on technology and innovation aligns perfectly with that of Bird & Bird as a leading technology firm.” said Nick O’Connell
Simon Shooter, a partner of over 17 years at Bird & Bird, is also the founder of the firm’s cybersecurity practice. With experience across London and Dubai, he brings decades of international commercial and technology law expertise. His connection with Saudi Arabia began in the 1990s as external counsel to the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in London, and he has remained active across the Gulf region ever since. His client portfolio spans healthcare, banking, aviation, automotive, and digital sectors, focusing on navigating technological transformation.
“With one of the world’s 20 largest economies and its Vision 2030 strategy driving a diversified and thriving economy, we are excited for this next step in the firm’s regional expansion.” said, Simon Shooter
Strategic Growth
The Riyadh team will work closely with their award-winning UAE colleagues, who were recently recognised as International Law Firm of the Year at the Legal Era Middle East Law Awards 2025, and winners at The Oath Middle East Legal Awards 2024. The new Riyadh presence reflects the firm’s regional ambition to lead in technology, innovation, IP, and regulated sectors across the Middle East.
Christian Bartsch (CEO, Bird & Bird) said,
“This new office opening continues on the momentum the firm has built following the launch of our new five-year strategy – including the launch of our Tokyo office last year. We have a strong presence across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. Our Middle East team has gained a well-deserved reputation across the region, and this new base – led by a brilliant team – will allow us to expand our support to clients.”
Anders Nilsson (Head of the Middle East region) said,
“We are looking forward to opening our new office in Riyadh. We are committed to assisting both our local and international clients in this rapidly-evolving market, cementing our market-leading reputation in the Middle East for advising businesses and public bodies within key areas such as technology and digital transformation, IP and brand commercialisation, media and sports, as well as aviation and automotive.”
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