Morgan Lewis has added A&O Shearman M&A and capital market partners Dr Sultan Almasoud and Sanjarbek Abdukhalilov in the firm’s newly-launched Riyadh Office. A renowned corporate and capital markets lawyer, Almasoud serves as Managing Partner of the firm’s Riyadh office, where he leads the firm’s Saudi practice. He previously served as co-managing partner of A&O Shearman’s Riyadh office and, prior to the combination, as managing partner of the legacy Riyadh office for more than a decade. Almasoud advises on M&A, corporate restructurings, IPOs, joint ventures, capital market transactions, private placements and a wide range of corporate and commercial legal matters across diverse industries. His practice also encompasses fast-evolving sectors, such as artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and data centers, where he regularly advises on regulatory, transactional and investment matters. With deep knowledge of Saudi Arabia’s legal framework and a nuanced understanding of local regulations and practices, Almasoud effectively represents a broad spectrum of clients, including sovereign wealth funds, multinational corporations, private equity firms, large family conglomerates and government entities. He is widely recognized for his role in supporting landmark transactions and strategic projects that align with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. Abdukhalilov, who helped build legacy Shearman & Sterling’s corporate practice in Saudi Arabia, joins as Partner in the firm’s Riyadh office. He has a broad corporate practice with a focus on M&A, joint ventures, capital markets, corporate restructurings, regulatory and inbound investments. With a broad knowledge across sectors, Abdukhalilov has experience focused in the financial services, retail, consumer, industrials and manufacturing, and real estate sectors.
