BCLP strengthens technology & IP capabilities with strategic partner hire in Saudi Arabia

BCLP announced today that Zayd Alathari has joined the Corporate and Finance Transactions department in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as a Partner.

Zayd brings more than 25 years of experience across international private practice, senior in-house leadership, and public-sector innovation. He advises businesses and organizations across Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) on intellectual property strategy, technology transactions, licensing and commercialization, strategic collaborations, joint ventures and innovation governance, spanning the technology lifecycle from research and development to implementation.

Prior to joining BCLP, Zayd served as Senior Expert at the Saudi Water Authority, supporting research and innovation governance, IP and commercialization frameworks, and strategic partnerships. He has held senior IP roles at SABIC (Saudi Basic Industries Corporation), where he worked closely with BCLP partners Sam Eversman and Marcus Pearl on significant matters. Zayd also spent time as a partner at Norton Rose Fulbright in Dubai and Riyadh, where he was Head of IP for the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region.

He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and Virginia, and the United States Patent & Trademark Office.

“I am delighted to join BCLP at such an important time for Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC,” said Zayd. “Having spent much of my career working within major organizations in the region, I understand firsthand the business priorities, organizational challenges and operational realities that clients face. What excites me about BCLP is the opportunity to combine that perspective with the firm’s international capabilities to deliver practical solutions that support our clients’ growth, innovation and long-term success. I am equally committed to contributing to the region’s development, particularly through strengthening local capabilities, developing talent and supporting the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030."

BCLP launched in Saudi Arabia in 2025, opening offices in Riyadh and Al Khobar and strengthening its offering in the Middle East, where the firm has been established for nearly twenty years. Zayd's arrival marks an important next step and builds on the momentum of BCLP's recent expansion in Saudi Arabia to meet client demand.

“Zayd brings a distinctive combination of international legal experience and an in-depth understanding of the business, regulatory and commercial landscape across Saudi Arabia and the GCC,” said Carol Osborne, BCLP Global Department Leader, Corporate and Finance Transactions. “His appointment strengthens our technology and IP capabilities and enhances our ability to support clients across the Middle East, while connecting them to the full breadth of our international platform.”