Profile

Julia is a Partner at Hourani & Partners and a US-qualified lawyer. She advises sovereign wealth funds, private equity firms, financial institutions, family groups and multinational companies on complex cross-border transactions, investments and strategic matters across the Middle East and internationally.

Her practice spans mergers and acquisitions, private equity, joint ventures, financing transactions, capital markets and corporate structuring. She also advises investors and portfolio companies on corporate governance, shareholder matters, restructurings and complex disputes arising in connection with major investments.

Prior to rejoining Hourani & Partners as a Partner, Julia served as Senior Vice President, Legal Affairs at the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF). In that role, she worked closely with investment teams and senior leadership on major international investments and strategic matters throughout the investment lifecycle, from transaction execution and financing through portfolio company governance, restructurings and exit-related matters. She also advised on complex disputes and other high-stakes matters involving PIF and its investments.

Expertise
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Private Equity and Joint Ventures
  • Financing Transactions and Capital Markets
  • Corporate Structuring and Governance
  • Complex Commercial and Investment Disputes
Experience

Julia’s experience includes advising:

  • PIF in connection with a PIF-led consortium with Silver Lake and Affinity Partners on their USD 55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts Inc., the largest take-private ever.*
  • Investcorp Saudi Pre-IPO Growth Fund LP in connection with the acquisition of a majority stake in Nour Internet for Communication and Information Technology Company, one of Saudi Arabia’s largest pure-play providers of connectivity and information and communication technology
  • Aliph Capital, the Middle East’s first female led private equity firm, in its acquisition of The Pet Shop from Kasamar Holding.
  • PIF on its acquisition of a 40% interest in Selfridges Group from SIGNA Group, together with the related shareholders’ agreement, corporate governance, board oversight and post-closing asset management.*
  • PIF in a consortium partnership with Brazil’s Pátria Investments in connection with the consortium’s winning USD 1.2 billion bid for a 30-year concession of the Paraná Lot 1 highway system in Brazil, including governance and post-closing asset management.*
  • Delivery Hero SE on its acquisition of Zomato’s UAE food-delivery business and the proposed acquisition of The Chefz in Saudi Arabia.
  • A private equity sponsor on a SAR 574 million Murabaha acquisition financing facility involving regional banks and security documentation across Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi Global Market.
  • A leading Saudi transportation company on a SAR 750 million Murabaha club financing facility involving international and regional lenders.
  • PIF in relation to a U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations investigation concerning PIF’s foreign influence in the United States.*
  • PIF in relation to its investment in LIV Golf, including board governance, disputes and risk-management matters.*

* Experience gained while serving as in-house counsel at the Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Qualifications

Education

  • D., Cornell Law School, USA
  • Master Droit Economique (LLM, Global Business Law), SciencesPo, Paris, France
  • A., Claremont McKenna College, honors, cum laude

Admissions

  • California, USA
Languages
  • English