Article 55 of the Saudi Law of Legal Practice
المادة 55 من نظام المحاماة · الباب الخامس: تنظيم الترخيص لمكتب المحاماة الأجنبي لمزاولة مهنة المحاماة في المملكة
The article subjects a licensed foreign law firm to all provisions of the Law of Legal Practice, its Regulations and decisions where its chapter has no special provision, so far as this does not conflict with the nature and type of its license.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
فيما لم يرد فيه نص خاص في هذا الباب من هذا النظام، يسري على مكتب المحاماة الأجنبي المرخص له وفق أحكام هذا النظام جميع الأحكام المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام ولائحته التنفيذية والقرارات الصادرة بمقتضاه، وذلك بما لا يتعارض مع طبيعة ونوع الترخيص الصادر له.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 55 explained in plain English
This is a supplementary article that fills any gap in the regulation of foreign law firms.
The rule: Where there is no special provision in the chapter that regulates foreign law firms, the following apply to a foreign firm licensed under the provisions of the Law:
- All the provisions set out in the Law of Legal Practice.
- The Implementing Regulations of the Law.
- The decisions issued under it.
The restriction: These provisions apply so far as they do not conflict with the nature and type of the license issued to the firm. Some provisions of the Law may not suit a particular type of license, such as the temporary license for a specific project, so they do not apply to it if they conflict with its nature.
Order of application:
- If there is a special provision in the chapter on foreign law firms, it applies.
- If there is none, the general provisions of the Law, its Regulations and its decisions apply.
- Provided that this does not conflict with the nature and type of the license.
The practical meaning is that a foreign firm does not operate in an area outside the regulation of the profession; it is subject to the profession's general rules in addition to the rules specific to it. This article is connected to Article 54, which lists the cases in which a foreign firm's license ends, including loss of one of the conditions in Article 45 and the issuance of a final decision or court judgment canceling the license.
This article does not itself identify any particular general provision that applies to the foreign firm. To know the provisions applicable to a particular firm, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in foreign investment and the regulation of the legal profession.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 55 of the Saudi Law of Legal Practice
Is a foreign law firm subject to the general provisions of the Law of Legal Practice?
Yes. Where its chapter has no special provision, all the provisions of the Law, its Implementing Regulations and the decisions issued under it apply to it.
Do all provisions of the Law apply to the foreign firm without exception?
They apply so far as they do not conflict with the nature and type of the license issued to it.
More articles on Foreign Law Firms
- Article 44
The article defines a foreign law firm as a non-Saudi establishment licensed to practice law in another country, and prohibits it from practicing law in the Kingdom unless licensed under the Law and within the limits of that license.
1- يقصد بمكتب المحاماة الأجنبي، لغرض تطبيق أحكام هذا النظام والترخيص له بمزاولة مهنة المحاماة في المملكة: المنشأة غير السعودية التي تزاول أعمال مهنة المحاماة بن
- Article 45
The article sets five conditions for licensing a foreign law firm: distinguished international reputation, 10 years since establishment, representation in 3 countries, two partners residing 180 days a year, and payment of fees.
دون إخلال بالأحكام والشروط الواردة في نظام الاستثمار الأجنبي، يشترط للترخيص لمكتب المحاماة الأجنبي لمزاولة مهنة المحاماة في المملكة ما يأتي: 1- أن يكون ذا سمعة
- Article 46
The article allows a foreign law firm to apply for a temporary license to provide legal consultancy for a specific project in the Kingdom, as an exception to the resident-partners condition, according to the Regulations' requirements.
استثناءً من الشرط الوارد في الفقرة (4) من المادة (الخامسة والأربعين) من هذا النظام، لمكتب المحاماة الأجنبي التقدم بطلب ترخيص مؤقت لتقديم خدمات الاستشارات النظام
- Article 47
The article provides that applications to license and renew licenses of foreign law firms go to the committee referred to in Article 5, and that the license is issued by decision of the Minister of Justice on its recommendation.
1- تقدم طلبات ترخيص مكاتب المحاماة الأجنبية، وطلبات تجديده؛ إلى اللجنة المنصوص عليها في المادة (الخامسة) من هذا النظام، وفق النماذج المعدة لذلك، مرافقًا لها جمي
- Article 48
The article sets the license period of a foreign law firm at five years, renewable on the Article 45 conditions, with a fee of SAR 2,000 for issuance and SAR 1,000 for renewal.
1- تكون مدة الترخيص لمزاولة مكتب المحاماة الأجنبي مهنة المحاماة في المملكة (خمس) سنوات، قابلة للتجديد لمدة أو لمدد أخرى مماثلة وفقاً للشروط المحددة في المادة (ا
- Article 49
The article establishes at the Ministry of Justice a special register of licensed foreign law firms, including those with a temporary license, in which they are recorded after being licensed, with the Regulations specifying its contents.
يُنشأ في وزارة العدل سجل خاص لمكاتب المحاماة الأجنبية المرخص لها بمزاولة مهنة المحاماة في المملكة، بما في ذلك المكاتب الحاصلة على الترخيص المؤقت المشار إليه في
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.