LeBoeuf Lamb Greene & MacRae has opened an affiliated office in Riyadh to tap into an expected surge in privatisation work in Saudi Arabia.
The firm has struck a deal with The Law Offices of Dr Saud MA Shawwaf, which is headed by Saudi commercial lawyer Khalid A Al-Thebity.
The move has been instigated by US-based partner Davis R Robinson, who has been spearheading the firm's work in the country for the last six years.
Robinson, whose clients have included the Saudi government, said he expected a wave of privatisations in the country.
He said: "With the fall in the price of oil [since November 1997] the Saudi Arabian government is looking for other ways of raising money through economic reforms such as privatisation.
"We are one of the leading utility law firms, and Saudi Arabia has been especially looking towards privatising its utilities."
A handful of international firms, including Baker & McKenzie, White & Case and French firm Gide Loyrette Nouel, have offices in Saudi Arabia, which must be sponsored by a local law firm.
Other firms, including Clifford Chance, which ended its association with Salah Al-Hejailan in 1996, service the country from other Middle Eastern offices.