PwC Legal grows presence in Saudi Arabia with local partnership
PwC’s Legal arm has extended its footprint in the Middle East through a partnership with Dr. Qaisar H Metawea Law Firm, a Saudi Arabia based boutique.
Globally, PwC Legal has more than 3,500 lawyers and legal professionals in over 100 countries. The wing provides standalone legal services to legal counsels, and complements the firm’s consulting offerings with added depth (on topics which have a strong legal component such as risk & compliance, data sharing, security, public listings, deals) while providing a layer of legal assurance to its services in general.
In the Middle East, PwC launched the unit around a decade ago. “Our entire modus operandi is to be a part of a multidisciplinary one-stop shop,” said Darren Harris, legal leader and head of corporate for PwC Legal Middle East. “With PwC, we provide more holistic solutions and better outcomes for our clients. That is our differentiator.”
PwC Legal currently has 55 lawyers and legal professionals currently on its payroll, and to meet growing demand, the firm expects to double its head count in the next three years. The growth agenda is part of PwC’s broader ‘The New Equation’ strategy, which aims to grow firmwide headcount to over 10,000 by 2025.
The alliance with Dr. Qaisar H Metawea Law Firm, an award-winning law firm based in Jeddah, adds an on the ground team that operates at the forefront of local market developments. “Amidst the Kingdom's rapidly evolving business environment, we recognise the complexity around the different local regulations and the interconnectivity between tax, legal and accounting,” said Mohammed Al-Obaidi, Saudi Arabia Tax & Legal Leader.
“This alliance will allow us to work more closely with Dr Qaisar’s team and is a significant step that serves PwC Legal Middle East’s growth plans,” said Harris, who previously was a partner at Addleshaw Goddard and before that worked at ‘magic circle’ firm DLA Piper.
Dr Qaisar Metawea, Founder and Managing Partner of the 10-strong firm, said: “This alliance will bring local, regional and international experience and knowledge on the ground in Saudi Arabia, with the ability to offer innovative solutions that meet the dynamic market needs.”
In the Middle East, PwC Legal is significantly larger than the legal units of its Big Four rivals. EY launched EY Law in Dubai in late 2019, and has around 10 lawyers and legal professionals, while Deloitte and KPMG have yet to open offices in the region.