Rashed Khalifah is an associate in the Riyadh office of Gibson Dunn. Rashed is a dispute resolution and regulatory associate with a focus on complex commercial, construction, and tax disputes, as well as advisory mandates involving government entities and legal reform. Rashed joined the Riyadh office of Gibson Dunn after serving as a Senior Associate at a leading law firm in Jordan. He holds a law degree from Birkbeck, University of London (2014) and is admitted to practice in Jordan. He is a native Arabic speaker and fluent in English.
He has advised on key legislative initiatives in Saudi Arabia, including the Commercial Transactions Law and the Non-Saudi Ownership of Real Estate Law, and recently assisted a confidential government entity on shareholder rights and obligations under the bylaws of a treaty-based company. He also regularly advises government bodies and state-owned companies on procurement and compliance matters, particularly in connection with public construction contracts and project-related agreements.
Rashed’s dispute resolution practice includes complex litigation and arbitration with cross-border and public sector elements. His recent matters include precedent-setting actions in the construction and aviation sectors, such as representing a major aviation financier in a landmark aircraft engine repossession action under the Cape Town Convention, and acting for a phosphate mining company in an ICC arbitration involving the successful invocation of Sub-Clause 20.1 (time-bar defense) under Jordanian law. He regularly provides guidance on pre-litigation strategy, contract interpretation, and the availability and scope of civil law remedies.
He is ranked in the 2022–2025 MENA editions of The Legal 500 as a Rising Star and leading associate in Dispute Resolution, and has been described as “a commercial and tax litigation expert.” Rashed was also nominated recently by Law.com as Rising Star in Private Practice amongst a few other lawyers in the Middle East.
Representative Experience*
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Advising Red Sea Global on the legal and regulatory structuring of one of Saudi Arabia’s most high-profile development projects.
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Representing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Güris Insaat ve Muhendislik A.S. v. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ICSID Case No. ARB/23/26, under the KSA–Turkey BIT.
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Advising a leading marine services provider on a multi-million-dollar construction dispute tied to an oil terminal in Al Basrah, Iraq.
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Acting for a bromine manufacturer in complex tax litigation following changes to the free zone regime in Jordan.
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Representing a global energy company in dual tax disputes involving a renewable energy project, successfully relying on tax stabilization and grandfathering clauses.
*Includes prior firm representations.
Capabilities
Credentials
Admissions:
- Jordan - Jordanian Bar