First International Law Firm to Hire a Female Lawyer in Saudi Arabia

In an article reported in Lawyers' Weekly, Squire Saunders has become one of the first international law firms to hire a female lawyer in Saudi Arabia since a recent ruling allowed women to obtain a licence to practise law in the kingdom.

Senior associate Dr Nadia Al-Anani, a specialist in banking and regulatory issues, has joined Squires from Saudi-based Hani Qurashi Law Firm in cooperation with Kilpatrick Townsend LLP. She will lead Squires’ new women lawyers section in Riyadh, which sits adjacent to the firm’s existing premises.

Kevin Connor, partner and head of the Middle East and North Africa at Squire Sanders, admitted that Al-Anani may face challenges in the short-term, such as resistance from some male clients to working with female lawyers, which will require the firm to exercise discretion for certain meetings.

“There’s a huge push to the empowerment of women and the ability of young women to study law and become lawyers,” he said. “I think women’s issues will be front and centre going forward.”

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