Event information
The Legal 500 is delighted to formally announce the second edition of GC Summit Saudi Arabia, taking place on 22nd April 2025 in Riyadh.
Join leading practitioners and esteemed in-house counsel for comprehensive panel discussions, presentations, and networking opportunities.
Legal 500’s GC Summit Saudi Arabia will provide practical insights into the evolving role of in-house counsel and the challenges that in-house legal departments are set to face in 2025 and beyond.
In association with our partners for this event, the event will include a series of sessions covering a variety of cutting edge and up to date topics for discussion, such as:
-
The Evolving Role of GCs in Litigation
-
Competition Law
-
Navigating disputes and safeguarding deals through Arbitration in M&A
And more to be confirmed soon!
Drawing on the vast experience of our highly accomplished speakers, this event will provide practical, hands-on advice to all in-house counsel.
It is a must-attend event for in-house lawyers in Saudi Arabia looking to stay updated with the latest trends and developments, share best practice and to network with peers.
Don’t miss the chance to be part of this essential conference.
Agenda
9.30am – 10.00am Registration and breakfast
10.00am – 10.05am Opening Remarks
10.05am – 10.50am Dealing with Regulators: Strategies for Effective Engagement and Advocacy
Engaging with regulators is a critical responsibility for General Counsel, requiring a balance between protecting the interests of their businesses whilst ensuring legal and regulatory compliance and proper strategic advocacy and relationship management. This panel brings together senior regulatory representatives and experienced GCs to share insights on how legal teams can engage effectively with authorities, respond to regulatory inquiries, and influence decision-making processes.
Moderated by Z&Co., the discussion will explore practical strategies for building constructive relationships with regulators, handling complex negotiations, and positioning the legal function as a trusted bridge between business and government. Whether managing regulatory approvals, compliance discussions, or enforcement actions, this session will provide GCs with actionable approaches to navigate regulatory engagement with confidence.
- Sarah Gonem, partner, Zamakhchary & Co
- Martin Creek, partner, Zamakhchary & Co
10.55am – 11.45pm Shaping Competition Law in the Kingdom: Provisions, Practicalities, and Evolution
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has rapidly established one of the region’s most dynamic and comprehensive competition law regimes. As businesses navigate this evolving landscape, it is essential to understand both the provisions of the law and the practicalities involved in maintaining compliance. This panel discussion brings together international experts from Monckton Chambers, Saudi competition lawyers, and in-house counsel to explore how businesses can foster the right culture to prevent future issues and ensure compliance.
- Ewan West, KC, Monckton Chambers
- Lana Massad, senior associate, Al Akeel & Partners
11.45pm – 12.00pm Coffee Break
12.00pm – 12.50pm Friendly Until It Isn’t: Managing M&A Fallout Before it Starts
Arbitration provisions in M&A agreements are often treated as boilerplate—but in the event of a dispute, they can become critical determinants of cost, timing, enforceability, and outcome. This session will examine the increasingly important role of arbitration in the M&A lifecycle, with a focus on how in-house counsel can proactively manage dispute risk from the outset of a transaction.
Panelists will discuss best practices for drafting effective arbitration clauses in complex, cross-border deals, including considerations around seat selection, institutional rules, confidentiality, and interim relief. The session will also address strategic issues that arise in post-closing disputes, such as navigating parallel proceedings, preserving business relationships, and enforcing awards across jurisdictions.
Attendees will gain a practical framework for evaluating and negotiating arbitration terms in M&A agreements, along with insights into how arbitration strategy can support broader corporate objectives and risk management efforts. This session is particularly relevant for legal departments managing international operations, joint ventures, or high-value transactions.
- Marc Saroufim, managing partner, Al Akeel & Partners
- Lana Massad, senior associate, Al Akeel & Partners
12.50pm – 1.40pm Shareholder Disputes in Family Businesses and the Evolving Role of In-house Counsel in the Middle East
This discussion will focus on the unique challenges faced by in-house counsel in family-owned international businesses, particularly in the Middle East. It will explore the evolving role of legal professionals in managing family disputes and navigating the complexities of cross-border operations. Attendees will gain insights into how to handle conflicts of interest as well as effective strategies for dispute resolution, the impact of cultural and legal differences in a cross-border setting, and the importance of adapting to new challenges in a globalised business environment. Ultimately, this session aims to equip in-house counsel with the tools and knowledge necessary to effectively support their organisations in this dynamic landscape.
This discussion will focus on the unique challenges faced by in-house counsel in family-owned international businesses, particularly in the Middle East. It will explore the evolving role of legal professionals in managing family disputes and navigating the complexities of cross-border operations. Attendees will gain insights into how to handle conflicts of interest as well as effective strategies for dispute resolution, the impact of cultural and legal differences in a cross-border setting, and the importance of adapting to new challenges in a globalised business environment. Ultimately, this session aims to equip in-house counsel with the tools and knowledge necessary to effectively support their organisations in this dynamic landscape.
1.40pm – 2.40pm Lunch
2.40pm – 3.10pm How to successfully implement Legal AI: A step-by-step guide
AI has huge potential for legal teams, but how do you turn that potential into real value? This session breaks down the key steps to successfully implementing AI in your legal team. We’ll cover what Legal AI is, what to look for in a provider, and why generic AI tools won’t make the cut. You’ll learn how to choose the right use case, create a strong business case, and run a successful pilot. Plus, we’ll share tips for a smooth rollout and the first steps to kickstart your AI journey. Join us for a practical, no-nonsense guide to making Legal AI work for you.
- Ruben Miessen, CEO & co-founder, LEGALFLY
3.10pm – 4.00pm Panel 6 discussion in association with Meysan Partners
4.00pm 4.10pm Closing Remarks
4.30pm – 5.30pm Networking session
Speakers
Sarah Gonem, partner, Zamakhchary & Co
Sarah Gonem is a Partner at Z&Co., with her core practice in commercial litigation. Being a UK qualified solicitor, and having practiced for many years in London prior to joining Z&Co., Sarah acts as an essential conduit between the local Sharia and judicial context and international best practices in the management of complex commercial issues and disputes.
Martin Creek, partner, Zamakhchary & Co
Martin is Head of Z&Co’s transactions practice and has been based with the firm in Riyadh since 2013. His experience prior to joining Z&Co. includes working in the corporate department at Slaughter and May in London. Martin has considerable experience of advising clients on a wide range of matters including M&A, joint ventures, foreign investments, projects, bank financings and capital markets.
Martin received his law degree from the University of Oxford, BA in Jurisprudence and is admitted as a Solicitor in England and Wales.
Ewan West, KC, Monckton Chambers
Ewan West has a high-profile practice spanning all kinds of commercial disputes, with particular expertise and experience in the field of Government contracting, acting for both private companies and public bodies. Prior to coming to the English Bar he was a senior civil servant in the UK Department for Transport. As well as dealing with the full run of matters relating to contractual formation and performance, his practice also covers the areas of public procurement, competition, state subsidy and trade disputes, including under the new post-Brexit regime. He also acts for and against regulatory bodies, including regulators in the utilities sector, as well as providing a full range of related advisory services. He holds an MBA from Cranfield University and is CEDR-accredited mediator.
Lana Massad, senior associate, Al Akeel & Partners
Lana is an Associate that has worked on transactions that cover a wide spectrum of legal sectors, from litigation, mediation, and arbitration, to corporate/commercial matters for clients operating in various industries.
Lana’s litigation experience includes handling disputes involving the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority for alleged dues and fines claimed to be in the hundreds of millions of Saudi Riyals. On the corporate/commercial side, Lana’s experience includes advising on laws and regulations involving the Saudi Capital Market Authority (i.e. IPOs. rights issues, etc.), foreign investment, corporate restructuring, construction, employment, intellectual property, agency/distribution, franchising, and conducting legal due diligence reviews on corporate entities operating in the Kingdom. Lana’s requested legal opinions spanned assessment of minority shareholder rights, real estate fund regulations, and fund management authorities.
Lana has authored several publications and studies in relation to international humanitarian law and business law. Lana earned her LLB at Birzeit University in Ramallah, State of Palestine, and is a member of the Palestinian Bar Association and the Palestinian International Arbitration Chamber. She is fluent in English and Arabic.
Marc Saroufim, managing partner, Al Akeel & Partners
Marc is the Managing Partner at Al Akeel & Partners. He is a US-trained legal consultant with over 20 years’ experience, providing advisory services on a wide range of legal matters in the corporate and commercial spheres. His career spanned practices in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the USA, and in addition to being recommended as a corporate legal consultant of note by the prominent publication ‘Corporate Law Experts’ in 2019, he was nominated by the IFLR for Managing Partner of the Year for Middle East-Based Law Firms in 2022.
Marc has advised a variety of clients, including local and international entities/conglomerates, family-owned businesses, high-net-worth individuals, government organisations, and small and medium-sized enterprises, on transactions involving joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, rights issues, real estate development, agency and distribution, franchises, intellectual property, corporate formations, employment, and company restructuring.
His experience includes counsel on a wide variety of Saudi laws and regulations and the drafting of appropriate legal documentation associated with the types of transactions listed above. Marc obtained his Juris Doctor degree from Valparaiso University School of Law in Indiana, USA and his Bachelor of Arts in international relations from Boston University. Marc is fluent in English, Arabic, and French
Ruben Miessen, CEO & co-founder, LEGALFLY
Ruben Miessen is the CEO and co-founder of LEGALFLY, revolutionizing the legal industry by enabling legal teams to focus on strategic work through automation. Under his leadership, LEGALFLY is developing cutting-edge AI with security at its core, streamlining legal workflows and driving efficiency for firms worldwide.
In just 18 months since its inception, LEGALFLY has raised €17 million from top-tier investors, grown to a team of 30+ employees, expanded to offices in London and Ghent, and is now competing with leading U.S. players. With a bold product vision and a commitment to responsible AI, Ruben is positioning LEGALFLY as the global category leader in enterprise legal AI.
Prior to founding LEGALFLY, Ruben spearheaded high-impact tech initiatives, earning recognition from Tinder, the European Commission, and Web Summit.
In association with...
Mishcon de Reya is an independent law firm, which now employs over 1400 people with more than 650 lawyers offering a wide range of legal services to companies and individuals. The firm has grown rapidly in recent years, showing more than 40% revenue growth in the past five years alone.
With presence in London, Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore and Hong Kong (through its association with Karas So LLP), the firm services an international community of clients and provides advice in situations where the constraints of geography often do not apply.
The work the firm undertakes is cross-border, multi-jurisdictional and complex, spanning seven core practice areas: Corporate; Dispute Resolution; Employment; Impact; Innovation; Private; and Real Estate.
With more than 20 years of international experience, including serving as a director for over 30 companies, Mila Trezza is a former General Counsel for a Fortune Global 500 energy company and an award-winning executive coach. Her contributions to legal leadership have been recognised by Women Influence & Power in Law UK, where she received the Lifetime Achievement Award (In-House). In addition to running her own business, Coaching Lawyers by Mila Trezza, Mila also serves as an expert adviser and consultant to global organisations.
We are a leading set of barristers’ chambers, based in London. We practise across a wide range of commercial law, with a particular focus on EU, competition, commercial litigation and arbitration, trade, duties & administrative law.
We are recognised as market leaders in specialist advocacy, advisory and dispute-resolution services. We are renowned for our intellectual rigour, commercial focus and ability to get results.
This experience means that members are sensitive to the commercial objectives of private clients and also have a good understanding of governmental and regulatory issues.
There are currently 74 members of Chambers, including 26 KCs, aided by an outstanding team of practice managers, all committed to providing the highest level of service to our clients.
Z&Co. delivers forward-thinking legal solutions, helping clients navigate regulatory complexities, anticipate risks and capitalize on opportunities to stay ahead.
We are unique amongst Saudi Arabian law firms in having a full-service offering with dedicated practice heads in Dispute Resolution; Public Policy & Regulatory; Corporate & Commercial Advisory; Transactions; and Tax Disputes & Advisory.