Full Profile
Atif specialises in commercial law and has experience in advising on a variety of complex commercial matters, both contentious and non-contentious, across various sectors including corporate & commercial, construction & engineering, energy and natural resources, healthcare, infrastructure, trading, and marine.
Atif regularly advises both Saudi and international companies that conduct, or are interested in doing, business in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on a broad range of matters, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, commercial agency, foreign direct investment, project finance, and trade finance. Atif is also experienced in advising clients on cross-border disputes, as well as the enforcement of foreign awards in Saudi Arabia.
Atif has over a decade of Saudi Arabian commercial legal experience, having joined Clyde & Co from a highly reputable and consistently ranked Saudi Arabian law firm, where he co-headed the Dispute Resolution and Projects & Energy departments.
Atif is qualified in England & Wales, having worked for several years in the City of London.
Experience
- Corporate - Advising noon on its AED 1.23 billion (USD 335.2 million) acquisition of Namshi from Emaar Malls.
- Commercial – Drafted a complex tailored Subcontract Agreement for the preeminent state construction company of China, in relation to the construction of affordable housing in Jeddah as subcontractor for a Saudi company.
- Corporate - Lead Saudi Arabian counsel to the Sellers on the USD150 million acquisition of a leading MENA IT services provider by a listed Saudi Arabian entity. Led the team on, and completed, the vast and complex due diligence phase and ensuing DD Report.
- Engineering & Construction company in its claims for USD25 million against its insurers, arising from non-payment of insurance monies in respect of claims related to its works completed on Saudi Arabia’s phosphate mines.
- Corporate - Advising Arabian Contracting Services Company (Al Arabia), a Saudi listed company, on its SAR 1.05 billion acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Faden Media and Advertising Company (Faden Media).
- Corporate & Commercial – Counsel to a leading Kuwaiti investment management firm on its divestiture from a leading Saudi restaurant chain holding company.
- Project Finance / Corporate – Lead Saudi Arabian Counsel to the Sponsors in the successful USD530 million restructuring of the project financing of three of Saudi Arabia’s largest gas-fired cogeneration power plants.
- Project Finance / Corporate – Acting as Saudi Arabian Counsel to the Lenders on the USD600+ million financing of Shuqaiq-3 IWP, one of the largest desalination plants in Saudi Arabia.
- Regulations (advisory & drafting) – Drafting the regulatory framework for the establishment of bespoke Courts, Tribunals and Dispute Resolution services for a Saudi Arabian Government Commission.
- Corporate & Commercial – Counsel to a US-based global technology and defense company on its successful joint venture with a Saudi Arabian government-backed entity.
