People

Simon O'Connell Schizas Baker Botts Riyadh
Simon O'Connell-Schizas
Senior Associate
Simon O'Connell Schizas Baker Botts Riyadh
Simon O'Connell-Schizas
Senior Associate

Overview

Simon O'Connell-Schizas is a Senior Associate in the Corporate (M&A) practice based in the Riyadh office. He is dual-qualified (England & Wales, and New York) and registered with the Saudi Bar Association. Simon advises corporations, financial institutions, and government-related entities on complex domestic and cross-border M&A, joint ventures, equity capital markets transactions, and strategic investments across the technology, oil and gas, energy transition, mining and sectors.

Simon has particular depth in energy transition transactions, including hydrogen and industrial gases projects, and provides counsel on the technology and regulatory dimensions of corporate transactions, including data protection and privacy compliance, cybersecurity governance, and artificial intelligence strategy. His practice spans the Middle East, with significant experience advising on Saudi Arabian corporate, capital markets, and foreign investment matters.

Prior to joining Baker Botts, Simon was a Senior Associate at a leading international law firm in Riyadh. His experience also includes practicing at another prominent global U.S. law firm in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh. Additionally, Simon brings valuable commercial insight from his previous work as an analyst in the securities division of Goldman Sachs in London.

Admissions & Affiliations

  • Saudi Bar Association, 2023
  • Qualified Solicitor, England & Wales, 2022
  • New York State Bar

Education

  • Master of Laws, University of Law
  • Legal Practice Course, University of Law
  • Bachelor of Laws, University of Portsmouth

Experience

  • Air Products Qudra (APQ) in relation to the sale of a 50% interest in Blue Hydrogen Industrial Gases Company (BHIG), a wholly-owned subsidiary of APQ to Saudi Aramco.*
  • A confidential client in relation to the acquisition of hydrogen assets (H2 Assets) in the Middle East.*
  • A confidential client on a proposed JV relating to the production of industrial gases (incl hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen) .*
  • A confidential client on an offtake agreement with Saudi Aramco.*
  • UPL on its joint venture with Masarrah Investment Company.*
  • Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma'aden) in relation to its share purchase of 9.9% interest in Ivanhoe Electric (Ma'aden's first international share acquisition which is on the NYSE), coupled with the formation of a 50:50 joint venture with Ivanhoe Electric to explore 48,500 sq km of land across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.*
  • A sponsor consortium (consisting of Japanese general trading company Sojitz Corporation and FAS Energy and Infrastructure, the renewable energy development arm of Saudi Arabia's Fawaz Al Hokair group) on a district cooling plant in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Cenomi Centers.*
  • Public and private entities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on strategic acquisitions, joint ventures and general corporate matters in the infrastructure, mining, finance, telecommunications, food and beverage industries, among others.*
  • Multiple companies involved in different business activities in relation to their initial public offering, joint ventures, and private acquisitions.*
  • Post-closing matters for Saudi Aramco's US$9.1 billion acquisition of a 70% stake in Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) from the Public Investment Fund (PIF). The transaction was named "M&A Deal of the Year (Over US$ 50 billion)" by the M&A Advisor (2020) .*
  • stc’s on a sell-down by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of 6% of stc’s share capital worth US$3.2 billion, through a Reg S/144A Fully Marketed Offering.*
  • The Industrialization and Energy Services Company (TAQA), an affiliate of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), on its acquisition of the entire share capital of Al Mansoori Petroleum Services LLC (AMPS).*
  • ABB Ltd on the carve-out of Accelleron Industries Ltd (ABB Turbocharging) in preparation for listing on SIX Swiss Exchange.*
  • HSBC Saudi Arabia as lead manager, financial advisor, bookrunner and underwriter on the US$ 320 million IPO of Alamar Foods Company (the master franchisor of Dominos and Dunkin Donuts in MENA) on the Main Market of the Saudi Exchange.*
  • HSBC Saudi Arabia, Morgan Stanley Saudi Arabia and SNB Capital Company as financial advisors and co-underwriters in relation to the US$966.4 million IPO of Solutions by stc on the Main Market of the Saudi Exchange.*
  • HSBC Saudi Arabia, SNB Capital Company as financial advisors and co-underwriters, in relation to the US$1.36 billion IPO of AlNahdi Medical Company on the Main Market of the Saudi Exchange.*
  • Riyadh Cables Group on its US$378 million IPO on the Main Market of the Saudi Exchange.*
  • Perfect Presentation on its US$200 million IPO on the Main Market of the Saudi Exchange.*
  • Nayifat Finance Company (Nayifat) on its US$317 million global Reg S IPO on the Main Market of the Saudi Exchange.*
  • GIB Capital and Albilad Capital as financial advisors and co-underwriters on the US$400 million IPO of Arabian Contracting Services Company (Al Arabia) on the Main Market of the Saudi Exchange.*
  • Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, GIB Capital and NCB Capital Company as bookrunners and underwriters, in relation to the US$585 million global Reg S IPO of Bindawood Holding Company on the Saudi Stock Exchange.*

* Prior to joining Baker Botts