(Sukuk.net - Khaleej Times) The law firm DLA Piper of New Zealand and the Riyadh-based Abdulaziz Al Bosaily Law Office have established a joint practice in Saudi Arabia in order to develop Piper's presence in the Kingdom.

The office will be jointly managed by Saudi lawyer Abdulaziz Al Bosaily and Oliver Agha, DLA Piper's global head of Islamic finance and head of Saudi Arabia practice.

DLA Piper was formerly affiliated with a local lawyer in the region and will now work closely with Al Bosaily in order to provide a range of integrated services in the Kingdom., according to information made available to Khaleej Times here on Tuesday,

Al Bosaily and Oliver worked closely together when Oliver led the projects team at the Clifford Chance affiliate in Riyadh. Oliver is based in Dubai and will relocate to Riyadh. In addition, a team of Islamic finance lawyers with Saudi Arabian experience from DLA Piper's Dubai office will also relocate there to by September.

Al Bosaily, who has worked for the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) as head of the legal department and assisted in formulating legal developments related to foreign investment law, is an experienced Islamic finance specialist. He has handled some of the largest deals in Saudi Arabia, and worked in the kingdom for several years before joining DLA Piper's finance and projects practice in Dubai in March 2007 from Clifford Chance's Saudi affiliate.

He also has extensive experience advising multinational corporations, banks and private companies on corporate and commercial matters, IPOs, foreign direct investment, regulatory matters, project finance and privatisations.

"I am looking forward to the opportunity to develop a Saudi practice alongside DLA Piper and offer a range of high quality legal services to our client base. This high level of service will contribute to the development of the existing Saudi legal market," said Al Bosaily.

"Given our commitment to the Middle East we are looking forward to the development of our own offices in the surrounding countries and to the association with Abdulaziz. Having worked closely with him whilst he was with DLA Piper, this is a great next step for us," commented David Church, DLA Piper's managing partner for the Middle East.

"With this development in Saudi we are delighted to provide increased service to relationships we have built in the region over the years. I am also looking forward to continue the close working relationship with Abdulaziz, who is not only a fine lawyer but a great colleague," said Agha.

DLA Piper has an office in Dubai and this year alone launched offices in Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Oman, giving the global practice four integrated offices across the Middle East. Through its own offices and the association with Al Bosaily DLA Piper has a substantial presence on the ground from which to provide a full range of legal services.

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