DLA Piper has established a new association in Saudi Arabia after its country managing partner left to set up his own firm in Riyadh.

Eyad Reda, who had been DLA's Saudi country managing partner since 2009, left DLA at the end of December to launch a new practice in the Saudi capital under his own name.

On 1 January, DLA's Saudi operations transferred to the newly created Amer Al Amr Law Firm, which is led by the firm's former Saudi litigation head Amer Al Amr.

According to DLA, "the majority of staff" transferred over to the new firm, as did its offices in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar.

Saudi Arabian rules prevent international law firms from operating in the country without a local partner firm.

The deal with Amer Al Amr marks the fourth association that DLA has had in Saudi Arabia since it entered the market more than 10 years ago. In 2006, it struck an association with with Abdulaziz H Al-Fahad; however, that relationship ended in 2008 and the firm then tied up with Abdulaziz Al-Bosaily Law Office.

In 2009 the firm's head, Abdulaziz Al-Bosaily, broke off the relationship with DLA in favour of a partnership with Clyde & Co, where he is now general manager of its Riyadh office.

DLA subsequently turned to Reda to head up its Saudi business, hiring him in September 2009 from the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority, where he was a legal counsel.

Amer Al Amr said: "I am privileged to lead the next phase of DLA Piper's evolution in the Kingdom. With a focus on diversification, legal reform, market liberalisation, and private sector participation, it is an exciting time for Saudi Arabia."

Other UK law firms to have struck up new associations in Saudi in recent months include Pinsent MasonsLinklaters and CMS.

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