People

Neal Johnson has lived and practiced in the Middle East for the past 35 years. His knowledge and contacts extend across the region. While primarily a transactional lawyer, Johnson has structured, overseen, and in one case testified in, 14 LCIA and DIFC arbitrations.

• Harvard Law School 1984.

• Harvard College 1980 Magna cum Laude.

• Colegio Rio Branco, Sao Paulo, Brazil 1976.

• The New York State Bar Association.
• Association of the Bar of the City of New York

2020 – Present: AKA Law, Riyadh K.S.A

2009 – 2025: Al Faisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Affiliated Professor of Law, College of Business Affiliated Professor of Law, College of Law

1991 – 2020: Mawarid Holding Company
January 1991 – December 2000
April 2002 – 2020: Group General Counsel

Mawarid Holding Company

January 2001 – March 2002: Acting President & CEO
Orbit Satellite Television and Radio Network

1985 – 1990: Jones Day Reavis & Pogue United States law firm.

1988 – 1990 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Member of Corporate Group/International.

1985 – 1987 New York, USA. Member of Corporate Group/M&A.

1984 – 1985: Post-Graduate Legal Training

Spring1985 Lee&Ko,Seoul,Korea.

Winter 1985 Clifford Chance (then Clifford-Turner), London, England.

Fall 1984 Nauta Dutilh (then Dutilh, van der Hoeven & Slager), Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

• Negotiation/documentation of many enduring Saudi/foreign equity and contractual joint ventures;
• Management of 14 LCIA, ICC, and DIFC arbitrations;
• Many cross-border and domestic equity/asset sales, including handling Middle East aspects of a sale of a global hotel chain;
• Establishment of regional private television broadcaster and other regional businesses
• Significant experience in franchised businesses in Saudi Arabia
• Merger of two largest private television broadcasters in Middle East
• Successful negotiation of non-litigious winding up of business relationships

• Associated Professor, AlFaisal University College of Law and International Relations, and Al FAisal College of Business (2009-Present)
• Numerous board memberships
• Former Chairman, Middle East Council of American Chambers of Commerce

English (native).