Legal Risk, Reform & Opportunities in KSA: Counsel Priorities for 2026 and Beyond

Location

Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh
Olaya Street, Kingdom Centre
Riyadh 11321, Saudi Arabia

As Saudi Arabia accelerates its transformation under Vision 2030, the legal sector is being reshaped at an unprecedented pace. From sweeping regulatory reforms to complex mega-projects and evolving compliance expectations, legal counsel today face both new risks and exceptional opportunities.

Join DLA Piper in partnership with SCCA for a high-impact half-day conference bringing together senior regulators, in-house counsel, and legal thought leaders to unpack the most pressing legal developments and business-critical changes shaping the Kingdom's legal and commercial landscape.

More speakers will be announced soon.

Agenda

13:00 – 13:30 - Registration & Networking Coffee

• Welcome coffee
• Opportunity to network with peers and speakers.

13:30 – 13:45 - Introduction & Welcome Remarks

• Welcome by DLA Piper Hosts:
  • Peter Somekh, Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa, DLA Piper
  • George Vlavianos, Co-Managing Partner, Riyadh

• Overview of the conference objectives and agenda.
• Introduction to the speakers and sessions.

13:45 – 14:00 - Keynote Address: Vision 2030 and the Evolving Legal Landscape in Saudi Arabia

• Speaker: Dr. Hamed Merah, CEO of the SCCA
• Focus: Economic transformation, foreign investment, legal sector modernization and digital transformation.

14:00 – 14:40 - Session 1: Masterclass: Localization

• Regional Headquarters Program – by Tim Sunar
• Data – by Paul Latto and Paul Thevathayan
• Q&A
• Speakers
• Tim Sunar, Partner, DLA Piper
• Paul Latto, Co-Managing Partner, Riyadh, DLA Piper
• Paul Thevathayan, Associate, DLA Piper

14:40 – 15:20 - Session 2: Panel Discussion: Dispute Resolution in the Kingdom – Risks & Opportunities in Saudi Infrastructure & Mega-Projects

• Examination of the current state of dispute resolution in Saudi Arabia.
• Insights into the role of arbitration, mediation and new legislative changes.
• Discussion on the impact of AI, cybersecurity and data privacy implications in dispute resolution.
• Contracting, risk & delivery, and legal priorities for Mega-Projects.
• Risk allocation, supply chain and localization (Saudization) impact on construction projects
• Speakers
Moderator: George Vlavianos, Qatar Managing Partner and Riyadh Co-Managing Partner, DLA Piper
• Ibrahim Alabdali, Senior Associate, DLA Piper
• Dr. Abdulaziz Aleid, Director of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Municipalities and Housing
• Ms. Dara Sahab, Deputy Chief of ADR, Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration
• Ali Altoukhi, General Counsel and Board Secretary at GCC Lab

15:20 – 16:20 - Lunch Break

16:20 – 16:50 - Session 3: Panel Discussion: Developments in Real Estate

• Foreign ownership in Saudi Arabia
• Residential and commercial market
• Speakers
• Rashed Alrashdi, Head of Legal Advisory and Litigation at Osool Integrated Real Estate Company
• Christopher Payne, Chief Economist at Knight Frank MENA

16:50 – 17:20 - Session 4: Panel Discussion: Navigating Tax Reform & Compliance in Saudi Arabia’s Shifting Fiscal Landscape

• Overview of recent tax reforms and their implications for businesses.
• Transfer pricing developments and optimization in the evolving tax landscape.
• Cross-border tax planning strategies and case studies for practical insights.
• Speakers
• Ton Van Doremalen, Partner, DLA Piper
• Raneem Alrakhaimi, Tax Manager, DLA Piper

17:20 – 17:40 - Session 5: Masterclass: Saudi Employment Law in Transition – Regulation, Saudization & Workforce Strategy

• Overview of recent changes in employment law and labor regulations.
• Strategies for managing workforce transitions and remote work policies.
• Legal considerations in employee relations and dispute management.
• Speakers
• Zahir Qayum, Legal Director, DLA Piper
• Fahad Aleady, Senior Associate, DLA Piper

17:40 – 17:50 - Closing Remarks

 

Dara Sahab
Deputy Chief of ADR, Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration

Dr. Hamed Hassan Merah
CEO, Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration

Rashed Alrashdi
Head of Legal Advisory and Litigation at Osool Integrated Real Estate Company

Ali Toukhi
General Counsel and Board Secretary at GCC Lab

Christopher Payne
Chief Economist at Knight Frank MENA

Dr. Abdulaziz Aleid
Director of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Municipalities and Housing