Rashid Al Saad

Rashid Al Saad is the Founder and Senior Partner of Sharq Law Firm. He is a Qatari qualified lawyer with the right to appear before the Court of Cassation in Qatar. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Qatar University and an Executive Master’s in Business Administration (EMBA) from HEC Paris, and he is also a member of Qatar Lawyers Association Bar Committee. Prior to establishing Sharq Law Firm, he was the General Counsel at Qatari Diar and Qatar Railways Company.

He has a wide legal experience in different fields of law; including Dispute Resolution and Corporate & Commercial. He is also extremely knowledgeable and experienced in major infrastructure projects, and large-scale commercial transactions, particularly cross-border transactions and ventures in the State of Qatar and abroad. With an excellent legal base, a unique perspective in the fields of law, and a distinguished and creative approach, he leads Sharq Law Firm and ensures that only a top-class result is achieved.

Mr. Al Saad has greatly provided his contribution to the Qatari legal system as he has been instrumental in drafting and negotiating agreements for some of the most sophisticated transactions in Qatar as well as representing clients in several high-stake and complex cases.

What distinguishes Mr. Al Saad and allows for the great success of Sharq Law Firm is his ability to lead the firm in a way which incorporates the different fields of law by creating a pool of lawyers within the firm with different legal experience and specializations in cases and transactions to ensure that all the legal aspects are covered. This in addition to his strong connections and knowledge in the Qatari market which provides clients with the best possible outcome.

Furthermore, Mr. Al Saad is acknowledged for providing innovative solutions which combine the commercial needs of the clients in line with the legal requirements of complex and novel transactions.

Experience:

• – Representing Qatar Railways Company on several disputes relating to construction and operation of the Metro Stations– claims value above of  QAR 1.4 Billion.
• – Advised the State of Qatar, acting through the Ministry of Finance, on annual issuance of bonds; including reviewing and drafting prospectus, due diligence and transactional documents on a USD 12,000,000,000 international bond issuance for five years.
• – Representing Energy City in civil and commercial disputes – claim value above QAR 1 Billion.
• – Representing MazayaQatar Real Estate in construction and civil disputes – claim value above QAR 100 Million.
• – Representing a high portfolio of banks in Qatar in litigation disputes at the Qatari courts, from the Court of First – Instance to the Court of Cassation, where several precedents were established in the Qatari law, this includes representing successfully:- Al Ahli Bank– with a claim valued above QAR 180 Million.- Qatar Islamic Bank – with a claim valued above QAR  2.6 Billion.- Al Khaliji Commercial Bank – with a claim valued above QAR 60 Million.- Qatar National Bank –  with a claim valued above QAR  2.1 Billion.- Dukhan Bank – with a claim valued above QAR 90 Million.
• – Representing Al MirqabReal Estate in lease disputes for Al MirqabMall and Doha Mall – claims value above QAR 300 Million.
• – Representing HBK Contracting in a construction dispute – claim value above QAR 260 Million.
• – Representing United Development Co in a dispute – claim value above QAR 330 Million
• – Gulf Warehousing Company – Assisting and advising client in listing Rights Issue – valued at QAR 586,031,480.
• – Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) – Transactions regarding the transfer of several assets – valued at QAR 6.7 Billion.
• – AlkhaleejTakaful Group – Advising the client on the termination of the health Insurance Scheme in Qatar – valued at over QAR 1 Billion.
• – Represented the families of the Villaggio Fire Victims – Litigation valued at QAR 280 Million.
• – Qatar Property Management – Representing the client in an Arbitration matter at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) – valued at QAR 100 Million.
• – Tanween WLL – Representing the client in an Arbitration regarding a Termination for Convenience by the Owner – valued at QAR 69 Million.
• – Techno Q – Representing the client in a Litigation – valued at QAR 32,000,000.
• – Investment House – Restructuring the Real Estate Fund for the Tornado Tower in the State of Qatar – valued at QAR 1.8 Billion.
• – AFCONS Infrastructure Limited – Rendering Mediation, Litigation and Arbitration support to recover the claimed values – valued at QAR 25,000,000.
• – Successfully represented and advised Uber against the Competition and Anti-Monopoly Committee in Qatar on anti-trust and competition dispute in connection with the Uber’s acquisition of Careem. This included representing Uber in a litigation case before the Qatari Courts due to the Committee’s rejection of the said acquisition. The claim was successful, and the award came to Uber’s favor; revoking the Committee’s rejection decision.
• – Represented FIFA in assessing FIFA’s requirements against the current applicable laws in the State of Qatar to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and provided the organization with a draft enabling legislation in order to effect the changes necessary to host said competition.
• Acting as the Qatari law counsel in establishing a Public Shareholding Company owned by QE (QAMCO) including advising on the structure, reviewing the prospectus, and drafting the establishment documents (Capital of QAR 1,000,000,000).
• – Advised a client and acted in negotiations in relation to a major proposed settlement for a construction matter with a value of over USD 350 million.
• – Representing the Claimant(s), two real estate developers, in two QICCA arbitrations concerning delays to a major real  estate development in Qatar.  The dispute value is circa QAR 800 million.
• – Successfully represented the Claimant in two simultaneous QICCA Arbitrations concerning the supply of manpower, where the Claimant recovered 100% of the claim value and costs.
• – Assisting colleagues in a dispute before the Qatari court of appeal regarding the construction of residential high-rise buildings in Qatar.  The dispute value is over QAR 1 billion.
• – Advised a government entity on the handling of EOT claims in light of COVID-19.
• – Representing a large developer in a dispute before the QICCA surrounding the provision of facilities management services.  The claim value is circa QAR 600,000,000
• – Advising on international real estate transactions, finance and acquisitions; establishing policies and procedures for the Qatari Diar board and corporate; and advising on the assignment of bidders for the main contracts – valued at USD 23 billion.
• – Drafting contracts and agreements related to Qatari Diar’s transaction to payout DBI (Deutsch Bahn International); Qatar Railway framework regulation; Railway law for land acquisition & tunneling; main contract for metro – FIDIC.
• – Gulf Warehousing Company – Assisting and advising client in listing Rights Issue – valued at QAR 586,031,480.
• – Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) – Transactions regarding the transfer of several assets – valued at QAR 6.7 Billion.
• – Alkhaleej Takaful Group – Advising the client on the termination of the health Insurance Scheme in Qatar – valued at over QAR 1 Billion.
• – Black-Cat Engineering and Construction WLL – Litigation valued at QAR 104 Million.
• – Acrossit Industry and Trading – Litigation valued at QAR 34 Million.
• – Represented the families of the Villaggio Fire Victims – Litigation valued at QAR 280 Million.
• – Qatar Property Management – Representing the c;ient in an Arbitration matter at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) – valued at QAR 100 Million.
• – Tanween WLL – Representing the client in an Arbitration regarding a Termination for Convenience by the Owner – valued at QAR 69 Million.
• – Techno Q – Representing the client in a Litigation – valued at QAR 32,000,000.
• – Investment House – Restructuring the Real Estate Fund for the Tornado Tower in the State of Qatar – valued at QAR 1.8 Billion.
• – AFCONS Infrastructure Limited – Rendering Mediation, Litigation and Arbitration support to recover the claimed values – valued at QAR 25,000,000.
• – Representing the Claimant, a major Qatari contractor, in an ICC arbitration seated in Qatar before a panel of three arbitrators. The dispute is in relation to a high-profile infrastructure project in Doha. The dispute value, to date, is circa QAR 500 million.
• – Successfully represented the Claimant in an ICC Arbitration seated in Doha, before a panel of three arbitrators concerning a landmark infrastructure project.  The client successfully recovered 100% of its claim value and was awarded costs.
• – Acted for a major real-estate company based in Doha in a QICCA arbitration surrounding the development of a landmark commercial district in Doha.  The dispute was in excess of QAR 60 million and was ultimately, successfully settled in favor of the client.

Member of the Legal Panel of:

1.Qatar Energy 2.Qatar Foundation 3.Ooredoo 4.Qatar Financial Centre 5.Astad 6.Qatar Rail 7.QatarGas 8.Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy 9.Aggrecco 10.Qatar National Bank 11.beIN Sports 12.Al ijarah 13.Commercial Bank of Qatar 14.Al Ahli Bank 15.Tanween Residancy 16.Vodafone 17.NBK Contracting Co. WLL 18.Dukhan Bank 19.Qatar First Bank 20.Qatar Islamic Bank 21.Qatar Airways 22.Al Wajba Group 23.United Development Co. 24.Al Majed Group

He is a member of the Qatari Bar Admission Committee, IBA, and ICC.

Awards:

• Legal 500
• Chambers & Partners
• IFLR1000