EY launches law practice in Saudi Arabia

• EY expands its MENA Law offering by launching a Saudi law practice in Riyadh
• EY MENA Law appoints Reema A. Aref to lead a ten-strong team of professionals based in Saudi Arabia to support client needs
• The appointment supports the expansion of the EY Law offering across the growing Saudi market and wider MENA region

EY has expanded its MENA Law offering by launching a dedicated legal practice in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), headed by the Saudi legal expert Reema A. Aref. The practice will initially consist of ten professionals based in Riyadh and will support clients across the country.

The appointment - which follows a number of senior hires into EY’s MENA legal practice in 2022 – reflects the firm’s commitment to building a comprehensive one-stop-shop of multidisciplinary professional services in Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region. 

Reema’s role as KSA EY Law Leader builds upon four years of service in corporate and tax law for EY in Riyadh and more than a decade as a legal investigator in Saudi Aramco as well as a tax and customs specialist in the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority. The newly formed team will offer a broad range of corporate and commercial law advisory services, supporting corporate transactional work, M&A, regulatory advice, company establishment, foreign direct investment, family offices and government-owned entities.

Fahad Al-Toaimi, EY KSA Managing Partner, says: 

“By working alongside other EY practices, the new EY Law practice will support and complement business lines through the provision of a fully integrated, multidisciplinary offering to regional and international EY clients in both English and Arabic.”

Chris P. Sioufi, MENA EY Law Leader, comments:

“Saudi Arabia is an essential market for our plans in the region. Reema will lead the newly created EY Law Saudi practice at a crucial moment as we develop highly complementary legal consulting services for EY clients in the Kingdom. EY is already serving organizations with a broad range of corporate and commercial legal advisory services, and I look forward to working closely with Reema and our Saudi based team as she sets out to build a truly world-class legal practice in one of the world’s most dynamic and fast-growing markets.”

Reema Aref, KSA EY Law Leader, says:

“I am thrilled to be at EY during such a pivotal moment in the development of its consulting services across Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region. With Vision 2030, the expansion of the Saudi market requires end-to-end solutions, building upon a wide range of financial, accounting, and strategic competencies. EY Law provides companies with a one-stop-shop to help them to anticipate and navigate the increasingly complex legal environments of both the local and global economy. As I lead the development of this incredibly exciting newly formed legal practice, I look forward to consulting with KSA, regional and international EY clients across a broad range of legal matters that deliver long-term value through innovative strategies and a uniquely collaborative approach.”

Globally, EY has over 3,400 legal professionals across more than 90 jurisdictions serving clients.