When an allegation, whistleblowing report or regulatory concern arises in a Saudi operation, the first decisions affect evidence, employment measures, reporting and the positions of both the company and individuals. Nasser Fahed Al-Shahrani provides Saudi-law advice and representation for sensitive corporate crime and internal investigation matters.

Who this service is for

Foreign companies in Saudi ArabiaSaudi subsidiaries, branches, joint ventures and project teams responding to suspected misconduct.

Legal and compliance departmentsIn-house teams that need local legal analysis, evidence strategy and procedural support.

Boards and audit committeesDecision-makers overseeing independence, scope, reporting lines and remediation.

Directors and executivesIndividuals whose own position, rights and potential exposure require separate assessment.

International law firmsForeign counsel requiring coordinated Saudi local-counsel input in a multi-jurisdictional matter.

Saudi-law support across the investigation

Immediate response. Define the allegation, contain continuing risk and preserve relevant paper and digital evidence.
Investigation design. Set a proportionate mandate, governance structure, reporting line, interview plan and evidence protocol.
Legal characterisation. Assess whether the facts may engage fraud, breach of trust, forgery, bribery, money laundering, capital market or other Saudi laws.
Decision support. Advise on employment measures, reporting, cooperation, private-right claims, remediation and communications.
Representation. Act before competent Saudi authorities and courts where the matter proceeds beyond the internal investigation.

Company and individual representation require clear separation

The interests of the company, directors, executives and employees may diverge. Each proposed engagement is assessed for conflicts before representation begins. Acting for the company does not automatically mean acting for an individual witness or subject, and coordinated defence does not remove the need for independent judgment.

Working with international counsel

Saudi local-counsel support can be integrated into a wider investigation led by a global legal or compliance team. The workstream can include Saudi-law scoping, review of locally held evidence, interview support, bilingual legal analysis, procedural strategy and coordination with forensic, audit and technology specialists. Roles, confidentiality expectations and deliverables should be recorded at the outset.

Begin with a controlled factual brief

For an initial assessment, identify the Saudi entity and your role, the allegation, when it was discovered, the people and systems involved, current preservation steps, any contact from an authority and the next procedural deadline. Avoid sending unnecessary personal or confidential data before the engagement and secure channel are confirmed.

Official Saudi sources

This page provides general information, not legal advice for a specific matter. Applicable law, conflicts, confidentiality and the scope of representation must be assessed on the actual facts.

Saudi Corporate Crime and Internal Investigations Counsel for Foreign Companies