Pillsbury Expands Middle East and Global Regulatory Platform with Addition of Former Saudi Ministry of Investment Senior Legal Advisor Amal Alotaibi as Partner in Riyadh

During her time at the Ministry, Alotaibi served as Legal Advisor to the Minister of Investment and played an active role in shaping legal, regulatory, and foreign investment frameworks under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. She practiced with White & Case and STAT Law Firms in Riyadh prior to her public service at MISA advising government entities, sovereign-related institutions, and multinational corporations on complex regulatory, transactional, and governance matters.

Ten years on from the launch of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s transformation continues at rapid pace. Economic data shows non-oil activities now account for approximately 56 percent of the Kingdom’s GDP, with private sector contributions rising from 40 percent to around 51 percent.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has made impressive progress towards its ambitious Vision 2030 goals, prompting even more private sector investment in the country from entities around the globe,” said Firm Chair and CEO David Dekker. “Those entering this market require experienced legal counsel that can navigate the rapidly evolving legal and regulatory environment that comes with the transformation and Amal is uniquely suited to that, offering both local credibility and international perspective.”

At MISA, Alotaibi advised on major national initiatives, including Saudi Arabia’s new investment law, foreign investment screening mechanisms, special economic zone strategies, and international and bilateral investment engagements. Her public sector background also includes secondments to the Saudi Ministry of Finance and serving as interim General Counsel to a confidential Saudi governmental entity, where she established and managed the legal function during its formation phase. She also has extensive experience advising on IPOs, privatization initiatives, cross-border deals and regulatory changes from her time in private practice.

Her practice at Pillsbury will focus on advising private sector companies, sovereign entities, and financial institutions across foreign investment and regulatory screening, international trade, sanctions, public policy, sovereign and governmental advisory, policy-sensitive cross-border transactions, privatization, and special economic zones. Her arrival strengthens the firm’s ability to guide clients through complex, policy-sensitive transactions and regulatory compliance involving both inbound and outbound Saudi investment.

“Amal’s arrival reflects Pillsbury’s strategic commitment to Saudi Arabia and the Middle East and to providing market-leading advisory services to companies operating and investing in the Kingdom and the region,” said Khalid A. AlArfaj, managing partner of Pillsbury AlArfaj, Pillsbury’s Riyadh office. “Her exceptional ability to navigate the distinctive legal, regulatory, and commercial landscape of the Kingdom will be a real differentiator for clients looking to enter the Kingdom and capitalize on its robust and flourishing economy.”

Pillsbury has a long history of notable work in and relating to Saudi Arabia, with the firm’s broad range of strong practices well-aligned with growing international interest and investment in the Kingdom. This has included engagements relating to groundbreaking energy, petrochemical and other infrastructure projects; major transactions for leading and emerging technology, aviation, life sciences, food & beverage, and hospitality brands; and complex cross-border disputes.

Pillsbury AlArfaj, which was announced in December 2024, has extensive experience in both Saudi and cross-border matters. The firm’s Riyadh operation supports M&A, joint ventures, IPOs in Saudi Arabia’s capital markets, corporate structuring and restructuring, and private equity and venture capital transactions and regularly collaborates with the firm’s offices around the globe on regulatory and litigation matters. It also has a leading reputation in the energy sector, representing international energy companies on project development and regulatory compliance matters.

The firm’s broader Middle East practice consists of practitioners across the globe who are actively working alongside clients in the region, on in-country, inbound and outbound matters. Pillsbury counsels clients based and operating in the Middle East on large-scale energy and infrastructure projects; commercial transactions, including corporate formations, venture investments, public offerings, private placements, cross-border M&A transactions and sophisticated joint venture agreements; compliance programs and regulatory obligations; and complex disputes and arbitration. For more information, click here.

“Pillsbury’s ability to help clients navigate the impacts of technology, capital and government globally perfectly complement the needs of sovereign and corporate clients in Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East,” Alotaibi said. “I am excited to join the firm and look forward to helping clients in the region and elsewhere capitalize on the exciting opportunities before them.”