Cladding on a blue triangle building

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Construction and energy law expertise 

Fenwick Elliott LLP in alliance with Hammad & Al-Mehdar (“HMCO FE”) is a collaboration operating out of Riyad, Jeddah and Khobar, with support from Fenwick Elliott’s London and Dubai offices, focusing specifically on construction and energy law matters in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.Both Fenwick Elliott and Hammad Al-Mehdar have been providing first-class legal services for over 33 years and share the same values of wishing to achieve steady growth in specific market areas whilst maintaining an exceptional level of service.

Read more

Vision 2030 presents a great opportunity for us to play an active role in supporting one of the largest and most ambitious plans of exemplary construction, infrastructure and energy projects ever undertaken on a global stage, to position the Kingdom as a leading nation in all aspects for future economic growth. Our aim is to work with the Kingdom’s leading regional and international entities involved in constructing the future icons and landmarks across the Kingdom – which is at the heart of the Arab and Islamic worlds, to assist the Kingdom in becoming a global hub connecting the three continents of Africa, Asia and Europe. HMCO FE will collectively work to achieve this endeavour led through Vision 2030 to transform the Kingdom into a nation that will provide continued opportunities for all.

The creation of this alliance allows HMCO FE to provide the Kingdom’s market with expert knowledge of local laws and procedures, as well as renowned international expertise in construction and energy law.

The combination of high-profile international construction and energy lawyers from Fenwick Elliott working alongside Hammad Al-Mehdar – one of the largest and oldest legal institutions in Saudi Arabia – will offer clients access to a unique level of local and focused construction and energy law advice, to meet the increasingly complex nature of projects in the Kingdom.

Our aim by providing top level expertise to our clients that tackle complex legal issues, is to enable all our clients to remain focused on their core businesses while having the peace of mind that their legal issues are being handled by the best in class lawyers.

The alliance of HMCO FE will leverage the international expertise of Fenwick Elliott and Hammad Al-Mehdar’s local expertise to deliver un-paralleled value in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabi’s construction and energy market.

Examples of HMCO FE’s work in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Riyadh Metro project
Acting for the civil works contractor (including two of the largest names in construction) responsible for the design and build of two of the Riyadh Metro lines. Disputes concern issues of design and delay and disruption over 4 subcontracts governed by KSA law. 

Jazan IGCC Project

Advising a piling subcontractor on a dispute in relation to Package 1 of the Jazan IGCC Project.

 

Power station and desalination plant project

Advising a Korean contractor on the construction of a power and desalination plant in Saudi Arabia.

 

Jubail Export Refinery

Advising Samsung in relation to disputes with the Employer at the integrated Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemical Complex of Jubail. There are two EPC contracts both worth in excess of US$250 million.

 

Reverse osmosis plant

Advising EPC contractor on the resolution of disputes over delays and liquidated damages (ICC Arbitration) with the owner and operator of a new RO Plant.

 

Cables factory

Acting for a KSA company in a DIAC arbitration against a UAE contractor in connection with disputes arising from the construction of the largest cables factory in the Middle East.

 

Concrete supply contracts

Negotiating back to back bespoke contracts for the supply of concrete to a major infrastructure project through a dedicated site concrete plant, and the supply and installation of the plant. Advising throughout the build on delay caused by planning and civils works, deductions of liquidated damages, when completion occurred, whether to give early take-over subject to defects and the final account. Providing ongoing advice relating to delays to concrete production, responsibility for alleged defects, contra-charges and application of liquidated damages. 

 

Contracts advice for processing plants

Advising on procurement strategy, interface risk and project specific risks on numerous development projects, at quarries and cement, concrete and asphalt plants, involving contracts for plant supply/ installation, civils, building works, demolition and consultancy services.

 

Materials dispute for major infrastructure project

Settling a US$40 million defect and delay claim arising out of delays to the supply of materials for a high profile rail infrastructure project, on behalf of the supplier, for less than 10% of the original claim, before proceedings were issued.

Crude oil gather centre, Kuwait

Advising a leading international oil and gas contractor on legal issues arising during the execution of a US$650 million contract for the construction of a crude oil gathering centre in Kuwait, including issues as to application of currency and commodity price and fluctuation clauses.

Palm Jumeirah, Dubai

Acting for a Dubai-based contractor in an international arbitration under Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) rules, in a claim relating to part of a major development in Dubai under a bespoke contract.

Dubai World Centre

Advising a contractor on disputes arising out of a specialist works package on the DWC Project in Dubai, including advice on arbitration proceedings, and working in conjunction with local lawyers on local court proceedings.

Expressway project, Qatar

Acting for a contractor in an arbitration under the ICC Rules, relating to the construction of the Doha Expressway.

Examples of HMCO FE’s work in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Riyadh Metro project
Acting for the civil works contractor (including two of the largest names in construction) responsible for the design and build of two of the Riyadh Metro lines. Disputes concern issues of design and delay and disruption over 4 subcontracts governed by KSA law. 

 

 

Jazan IGCC Project

Advising a piling subcontractor on a dispute in relation to Package 1 of the Jazan IGCC Project.

 

Power station and desalination plant project

Advising a Korean contractor on the construction of a power and desalination plant in Saudi Arabia.

 

Jubail Export Refinery

Advising Samsung in relation to disputes with the Employer at the integrated Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemical Complex of Jubail. There are two EPC contracts both worth in excess of US$250 million.

 

Reverse osmosis plant

Advising EPC contractor on the resolution of disputes over delays and liquidated damages (ICC Arbitration) with the owner and operator of a new RO Plant.

 

Cables factory

Acting for a KSA company in a DIAC arbitration against a UAE contractor in connection with disputes arising from the construction of the largest cables factory in the Middle East.

 

Concrete supply contracts

Negotiating back to back bespoke contracts for the supply of concrete to a major infrastructure project through a dedicated site concrete plant, and the supply and installation of the plant. Advising throughout the build on delay caused by planning and civils works, deductions of liquidated damages, when completion occurred, whether to give early take-over subject to defects and the final account. Providing ongoing advice relating to delays to concrete production, responsibility for alleged defects, contra-charges and application of liquidated damages. 

 

Contracts advice for processing plants

Advising on procurement strategy, interface risk and project specific risks on numerous development projects, at quarries and cement, concrete and asphalt plants, involving contracts for plant supply/ installation, civils, building works, demolition and consultancy services.

 

Materials dispute for major infrastructure project

Settling a US$40 million defect and delay claim arising out of delays to the supply of materials for a high profile rail infrastructure project, on behalf of the supplier, for less than 10% of the original claim, before proceedings were issued.