DLA Piper has terminated its association with Saudi Arabian lawyer Abdulaziz Al-Bosaily. The association had originally been established last July in order to meet local law requirements for international firms to be sponsored by a Saudi national who is also a Saudi-qualified lawyer. The firm's new Saudi sponsor will be Dr Alaa Naji, previously legal counsel at Saudi Arabian Airlines and general counsel at Sama Airlines.

The change of sponsor may possibly have been precipitated by the departure of global Islamic finance head Oliver Agha from DLA Piper. The firm had originally intended that Agha would run the Saudi office jointly with Al-Bosaily, a plan which did not eventuate following Agha's departure last October. Agha and Al-Bosaily had previously worked together at another firm prior to joining DLA Piper.

It's the latest chapter of an eventful history for DLA Piper's Saudi office, with Al-Bosaily the firm's third sponsor within a year. The original sponsor, Abdulaziz Al-Fahad, reportedly left after disagreements as to the operation of the firm. Other international firms have also had difficulty maintaining a Saudi operation, owing to a paucity of suitable sponsors.

Other examples of current associations in Saudi Arabia include Baker McKenzie's relationship with Torki A. Al-Shubaiki  and Norton Rose's relationship with Abdulaziz Al-Assaf Law Firm in Riyadh.