About the firm
TLF Lawyers Firm is a Saudi practice based in Riyadh, acting for individuals and companies in both disputes and transactions.
How we think
We think the most valuable thing a lawyer offers is not advocacy but a candid view at the right moment. Many of the files that reach us could have been avoided had someone been asked before the signature, or before the escalation.
So we start with a realistic assessment: do you have a matter worth pursuing? What are your actual prospects? What is the cheaper alternative? And when the answer is that a claim is not in your interest, we say so.
We work in Arabic and English, for domestic and international clients, across every region of the Kingdom.
What we commit to
- A candid assessment before any financial commitment
- Fees agreed in writing
- Regular updates on your file
- Complete confidentiality
Areas of work
We work across four principal lines, and each file is assigned to the line with the procedural experience for it rather than to whoever is available:
- Disputes: civil, commercial, labour and administrative litigation, arbitration, and enforcement.
- Corporate and transactional: incorporation, governance, acquisitions and funding rounds.
- Regulatory and compliance: MISA licensing, zakat and tax, data protection, and Saudization.
- Private clients: personal status, criminal defence, employment, and real estate.
Fees: how we set them
We set fees in writing before work starts, in one of three forms depending on the matter: fixed fees for defined work such as contracts and legal opinions, staged fees for litigation tied to the stages of the case, and a monthly retainer for companies needing continuing advice.
We do not begin work on unagreed fees, and we do not charge for a file we consider not worth pursuing. A candid assessment before any financial commitment is the first thing we provide.
Languages and reach
We work in Arabic and English across correspondence, documents and written pleadings. We are based in Riyadh and act for clients in every region through Najiz and the government platforms, attending before regional authorities when needed.
We also act for foreign clients and international businesses entering the Saudi market, from testing whether an activity is open to foreign investment through to operations and continuing compliance.
Common questions
Do you take every matter brought to you?
No. We decline matters where we see no reasonable prospect, or where the cost of pursuing them exceeds the likely outcome, and we explain to the client why and what the better alternative is.
How do you keep clients updated?
With a written update at every procedural development, without waiting to be asked. We also report when a file has not moved, because knowing that nothing has changed is itself useful information.
Do you work with small companies?
Yes — a substantial part of our work is with small and mid-sized businesses. In practice they benefit most from getting things in order early: a clear shareholders’ agreement, sound contract templates and an updated register prevent most of what reaches court.
What do you need from me at the start?
A short description of the matter and the documents you hold: the contract, correspondence, and any official decision or notice. Documents on the first call make the assessment precise rather than general.
Would you act against an existing client?
No. We check for conflicts before accepting any file, and we decline where a conflict exists or may arise, however attractive the matter.