Office Policy with Clients

First: Our Services

1-1We are committed to providing the highest professional standard of service to our clients to assist them in achieving their objectives within reasonable skill and care, while complying with all applicable standards. The scope of our services shall be determined according to the nature of the specific matter, the engagement instructions we receive from the client, and the applicable laws.

1-2We take great care regarding the standard of service we provide. Nevertheless, we seek to obtain our clients’ assessment of our performance, as we are interested in receiving their suggestions regarding how our services may be improved.

1-3If there is any inquiry regarding the service we provide or any practical problems concerning it, the Firm should be notified. We take such matters seriously, and the lawyer handling the client’s matter will be contacted and will provide the required attention in accordance with our approved procedures.

1-4We are subject to the general rules governing the legal profession issued by the Ministry of Justice and the Saudi Bar Association, in accordance with the decisions or instructions issued by them.

1-5In the absence of specific instructions from the client, we shall not be obliged to provide advice or assume responsibility for any service falling outside the defined scope of the instructions provided to us. Likewise, we shall not provide advice outside the scope of the client’s instructions without receiving specific instructions to do so.

Second: Fees and Expenses

2-1Our fees are calculated based on the services required by agreement with the client. An agreement may be made for a fixed fee, a percentage agreed upon from the value of the transaction or matter, or on an hourly-fee basis.

2-2The client is usually engaged before commencement of the service. Where the engagement is based on an hourly fee, the hourly rate of the lawyer working at the Firm shall be determined, together with the estimated number of hours required to complete the matter, subject to prior approval by the client.

2-3Hourly fee rates are reviewed periodically, and the client will be notified of any changes that may arise.

2-4We maintain records of the time spent working on each matter, which are used as a reference when calculating hourly fees.

2-5Our fees are determined on the basis of the following:

Third: Experts

We will not engage any experts without the client’s express permission.

Any person we engage on the client’s behalf will be selected from professionals whom we believe to be competent. However, we shall not be responsible for any negligence committed by such person on behalf of the client.

Fourth: Estimates

4-1We generally seek to provide an advance estimate of the expenses associated with the work.

4-2In litigation and transactional matters, the nature of the work, the circumstances, procedures of the judicial authority, or positions adopted by other parties or by the client may determine the extent and cost of the work.

Fifth: Work Team

The client will be informed of the members of the work team who will be responsible for managing and following up the service provided to them. The client may request that a particular person from the team perform the work, and we will seek to accommodate such a request where possible.

From time to time, other members of the work team may contribute to providing the service, depending on the requirements of the matter in terms of relevant expertise, administrative requirements, or otherwise.

Sixth: Payment

Invoices are generally due for payment within fourteen (14) days from the date on which they are submitted to the client.

Where we receive funds on behalf of the client, we may use such funds to pay invoices in whole or in part.

If an agreement with the client terminates upon completion of the service or termination of the engagement, the Firm shall be entitled to receive all fees due unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Seventh: Anti-Money Laundering Compliance

We are required to comply with anti-money laundering procedures. Accordingly, we may request that the client provide documents establishing the identity of the ultimate beneficiary of the service, as well as their personal identification documents, which we may retain in our records.

If satisfactory documentation is not provided to us, or if we have any reason to suspect the existence of activities relating to money laundering, we may refuse to deal with the client or cease acting on the client’s behalf once the cause for suspicion becomes apparent.

Eighth: Data Protection

8-1During the provision of our services to the client, we may need to process personal data relating to the client, their employees, agents, or representatives. Such processing may be carried out for the purposes of providing the legal services requested by the client, including regulatory requirements, administrative purposes, invoicing, compliance with anti-money laundering requirements, and other purposes related to the Firm’s business.

All processing of the client’s personal data shall be carried out in a manner consistent with our obligations under the applicable data-protection regulations.

8-2We may process the client’s personal data for marketing purposes relating to our legal services. If the client objects to the use of their name for marketing purposes, they should notify us of this in writing.

Ninth: Right to Retain Documents

There may be circumstances in which we are entitled to exercise a right of retention over documents due to unpaid costs owed by the client.

This means that we may be entitled to retain the client’s original documents and other papers obtained by us until all fees, expenses, unpaid invoices, and any other amounts owed to the Firm have been paid.

Tenth: Limitation of Professional Liability

Our liability towards the client arising from the costs associated with the matter, whether resulting from a breach of contract, a judicial obligation, negligence, or otherwise, shall be limited so that it does not exceed the fees paid by the client up to the date on which the liability arose.

Eleventh: Funds Held in the Account

Any funds received by us on behalf of the client pursuant to an authorization from the client shall be retained until they are paid in accordance with the client’s written instructions.

Where client funds are deposited with a licensed bank, we shall not be responsible for any loss that the client may incur if the bank becomes insolvent, the funds become inaccessible, or for any other reason.

Twelfth: Confidentiality

12-1All information relating to the client shall be treated with the strictest confidentiality in accordance with the highest professional standards, and any advice we provide shall be for the client’s benefit alone and may not be used or relied upon by any third party.

12-2Notwithstanding the above obligation, there are certain statutory exceptions. In certain circumstances, the duty of care owed by us is to our clients and does not extend to any third party. In certain circumstances, we may also be required to disclose information where a lawyer knows or suspects that a transaction carried out on behalf of the client involves money laundering. Where such disclosure is made, we may not be permitted to inform the client that the disclosure has been made or to state the reasons for it.

Thirteenth: Email

Email is the main means of communication with the client. However, its security cannot be fully guaranteed because messages pass through external service providers.

If the client wishes us not to communicate by email, the client must notify us accordingly. Email may also be used to communicate with other parties connected with the matter.

Fourteenth: Destruction of Records and Documents

We reserve the right to destroy files and documents relating to any completed matter or work after five years from the date of completion, unless the client requests their return.

Copies of documents may be retrieved from our electronic storage system subject to a fee for doing so.

If retrieval requires reviewing files or correspondence or carrying out additional work, we reserve the right to charge reasonable fees for such work.

Fifteenth: Law of Legal Practice

This policy shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the Saudi Law of Legal Practice, its Implementing Regulations, and the Code of Conduct for Lawyers.

Any dispute that may arise in connection with this policy shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Saudi courts.