Fahad N. Alarfaj

Litigation

• Acted on several major and minor cases before all types of courts, at every level of the judicial system, including appeals to the Supreme Judicial Council (now the Supreme Court).
• Appeared as an advocate before the general courts, the Board of Grievances' administrative and commercial panels, as well as other dispute resolution bodies.
• Represented clients on many occasions before most of the Saudi Arabian administrative committees and tribunals such as those formed for the resolution of banking disputes, customs disputes, insurance disputes and for resolving claims in respect of negotiable instruments.
• Extensive experience in handling matters before the Committee for Resolving Securities Disputes.
• Between 2002-2005 represented both the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources in legal disputes before the Board of Grievances and Saudi Aramco in a legal dispute before the General Court.
• Represented companies in relation to contracting and real estate development disputes, represented leading publications and media outlets before the publishing disputes tribunal, represented various individuals and corporate entities before the Committee for Resolving Securities Disputes and represented several companies before the Board of Grievances and the Commercial Courts in connection with corporate disputes.
• Advised on claims against the Saudi Government, high profile government officials and businessmen in relation claims raised outside Saudi Arabia, arbitration in London between Saudi and US companies in relation to contractual disputes and high-profile shareholder battles involving major mercantile houses in the Kingdom.

Arbitration

• Acted as an arbitrator in domestic arbitration proceedings governed by Saudi law.
• Acted in disputes before panels in both scenarios where the seat of arbitration was in Saudi Arabia and panels where the seat of arbitration was outside Saudi Arabia.

Expert Witness

• Retained as an expert witness in relation to disputes involving the Saudi Government before the UNCTAD and private Saudi entities before arbitration panels.
• Prepared expert opinions and affidavits submitted to US courts.
• Retained as an expert witness in relation to disputes involving Saudi officials.
• Generally acted as expert witness on disputes governed by Saudi law in proceedings before tribunals in the United Kingdom, United States and Europe.

Fahad Alarfaj is a Saudi lawyer with extensive experience advising government entities, government owned companies, multinational corporations, financial institutions, and leading domenstic companies on complex regulatory, public law, and commercial matters in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. His practice is primarily focused on representing and advising the Saudi government, particularly in the energy sector and other government authorities and government owned companies on strategic initiatives, legislative and regulatory frameworks, public policy and matters of national significance.  

Fahad has significant experience advising on Saudi regulatory and administrative law, government procurement, public-private partnerships, infrastructure, energy, natural resources and major strategic transactions. His experience extends to drafting legislation, implementing regulations, and other legal instruments governing major public sector.  

In addition to his regulatory and government advisory, Fahad has extensive experience representing clients in high-value domestic and international disputes. He has also been appointed as expert witness on Saudi law in proceedings outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 24 years of experience, he helps clients navigate strategic opportunities, manage risk, and achieve business objectives while addressing Saudi legal, commercial, and Sharia considerations. Fahad also advises the Saudi government on matters relating to negotiation, drafting and implementation of treaties, international agreements and other cross-boarder instruments.  

Before entering private practice, Fahad served as a Legal Advisor to Saudi Aramco and the Ministry of Energy, where he gained valuable insight into Saudi Arabia’s legal, commercial, and regulatory environment through his work with the Ministry during its previous formation as the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.