Herbert Smith will launch a finance practice in Saudi Arabia — the world’s largest market for Shariah-compliant products — following the relocation of Adil Hussain, a senior associate in its Dubai office, to Riyadh.

Hussain, who will join the firm’s Saudi alliance partner Al-Ghazzawi Professional Association, joined the firm in November 2009 after a stint in-house at UK-based shariah-compliant Gatehouse Bank.

Hussain’s move means that Herbert Smith will soon have two partners based full-time in its Riyadh office. Christopher Rees, co-head of the firm’s TMT practice, will link up with Hussain in March.

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