Foreign and Comparative Law

Analysis and review of the laws of the Gulf States (including Islamic law as interpreted and applied in such states) in connection with pending proceedings or corporate transactions and the rendering of expert reports, testimony or legal opinions regarding the same where necessary; assisting clients in understanding such laws and explaining the same to commercial counterparties and to authorities from other states.

Representative foreign and comparative law matters (see also ‘Litigation and Dispute Resolution‘, ‘Services to Law Firms‘, ‘Attorneys‘):

* We represented a major U.S. industrial company in connection with challenging a tax assessment imposed by the Saudi Arabian Department of Zakat and Income Tax on revenues derived from the licensing of technology to a Saudi petrochemical joint venture.

* We served as expert witness and consultant on Saudi laws for the taxpayers in the so-called “Aramco advantage” case in U.S. Tax Court in which the IRS unsuccessfully claimed $10 billion in back taxes allegedly due from former Aramco shareholders in connection with certain intercompany transfers of Saudi crude oil.

* We served as expert witness and consultant on Saudi laws in U.S. tax court on behalf of a taxpayer defending against claims for U.S. taxes due on account of a Saudi mineral venture.

* Our firm advised numerous ministries and other government agencies on the updating of their rules and regulations based on surveys of leading jurisdictions, including with respect to banks and banking, real estate financing, securitization, capital markets and consumer protection.