
Neal L. Johnson
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).