With almost a decade spent as Takamul Investment Company’s general counsel, Adrian Brown has been at the company, which is owned by the Oman government, since its incorporation in 2008...

Ahmad Zaky Ismail amasses over 24 years as an accomplished general counsel within the private and public sector, specialising in strategic regulatory management, corporate governance, mergers & acquisitions and pre...

Managing the legal matters of a healthcare company with operations across eight countries is not a small task, and one that requires the management skills of an exceptional general counsel....

Alex Ridout has always combined corporate ability with legal attributes in his career, but did not originally envision working in the oil and gas sector, originally qualifying in a boutique...

Alexandre Fathay has amassed almost 20 years of in-house experience in senior positions. Originally from France, Fathay’s in-house journey began at France Telecom where he served as corporate counsel in...

The Executive Affairs Authority is tasked with providing up to date strategic policy advice to the chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al...

Throughout his career, Ali Khalaf has always sought to combine his legal ability with business acumen. Indeed, he places this business expertise (honed using expert knowledge gained via an MBA...

In 1999, Saudi Chevron Phillips Company (SCP) was the first private sector investment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s petrochemical industry. The facility is owned 50 percent by Arabian Chevron...

Ahli United Bank is the largest bank in Bahrain by total assets, being founded in the year 2000 on the back of a merger between The United Bank of Kuwait...

Andrew Cooke welcomes the varied nature of his role as general counsel of FLASH Entertainment, the region’s premier live events company. Indeed, he recalls being thrown in at the deep...

Telecoms company du occupies an important place in the history of the diversification of the UAE’s economy, as it was the first domestic telecoms company to challenge the market upon...

One of the most significant achievements in Anuraag Malhotra’s career since joining the Dubai headquartered multinational conglomerate Landmark Group in 2004 has been establishing a well organised legal department; the...

Anwar El Khatib is a lawyer with over 21 years’ experience in both private practice and in-house environments, which has given him a ‘diversified and strong knowledge in litigation, consultancy...

SaudiGulf Airlines is the third domestic Saudi airline in operation, after Saudia and budget carrier flynas. Aiming to occupy a gap in the market in the airline industry in Saudi...

Listed on the Dubai Financial Market and boasting 2016 revenues of over $4.3bn, Emaar Properties is the largest and most prominent real estate developer in the UAE. Among other projects,...

Arab Bank is one of the largest financial services companies in the Middle East, and holds a place in history as the first private financial institution founded in the Arab...

Ben Swagerman’s varied career, involving positions at the very highest levels of private practice, state judicial and in-house, places him as one of the most experienced and well-respected corporate counsel...

Bernadette Baynie is a well-known presence in the Middle Eastern in-house legal community, frequently appearing in various media to provide the benefit of her immense experience to a wider audience....

Aldar Properties is the largest developer, investor and manager of real estate in Abu Dhabi. In recent years the Abu Dhabi property market has encountered some difficulties, and, although not...

Brigitte Zammit made the move from private practice in London to an in-house role with Emirates International Telecommunications (EIT) in 2008 and has not looked back, having been with the...

Bruce McAlister joined GE in 2000 as senior counsel for Europe, Middle East and Africa and has since assumed various positions within the company supporting the GE Aviation Division. In...

Operating in 70 countries, French utility company ENGIE earned over €66.6bn in 2016 from its three core business, namely electricity, natural gas and energy services. Currently general counsel for the...

Bank Audi is Lebanon’s largest bank in terms of customer deposits and total assets. The bank offers universal financial products and services including corporate and commercial, retail and private banking...

Clinton Hermes moved into the field of healthcare legal work soon after finishing his academic qualifications. ‘After I graduated from Harvard Law School, I went into a large firm practicing...

Since joining Caracal Light Ammunition, a producer of various calibre small arms ammunition for military, commercial and specialised purposes, Daniël Venter has established the legal department from scratch. Since 2015,...

As part of his role as head of group legal at Qatar National Bank, David O’Sullivan oversees one of the largest legal teams in the MENA region with 130 employees...

PepsiCo is one of the best known food and beverage companies in the world, owning a gamut of high-profile and market leading brands. In recent years the Middle East region...

Since 2008, Dean Stelfox has taken charge of the legal function for Dubai South (formerly Dubai World Central) as general counsel. Dubai South is an emerging 145 km2 city built...

Distinguished International lawyer Diego Felix joined Mubadala Petroleum in 2012 as legal counsel, and was shortly promoted to senior legal counsel. Through his proven dedication and 15 years of experience...

Originally from Puerto Rico, Doraliz E. Ortiz de Leon is a bi-lingual, US-qualified lawyer who moved to Dubai in 2009 after gaining first-rate litigation skills at the Puerto Rico’s Department...

The Oman Investment Fund is sovereign wealth fund that was established in 2006, and provides medium to long-term investments, globally and domestically across several market sectors in order to diversify...

The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) is the organisation tasked with investing Qatar’s significant sovereign wealth fund, and possesses the ambitious goal of removing Qatar’s reliance on their hydrocarbon reserves for...

Serving as general counsel at Abu Dhabi Ports Company, Emil Pellicer stands out for his strong leadership skills, which have translated to impressive functional improvements to the legal unit. Joining...

The Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) is a highly influential organisation in the Middle East and worldwide, operating as the primary investment body for Dubai. As one might expect, the...

Gulf Steel Works is a steel fabrication company that undertakes projects for leading companies, such as Saudi Aramco, Sabic and Maaden in addition to international EPC contractors. Since joining the...

A multilingual lawyer that is responsible for ‘managing all aspects of the legal function as part of the risk management division’ at Mashreq Bank, Fadi Mudarres, in his role as...

After making the move into in-house legal work within brand-new company Gulf Aviation Academy in 2011, an organisation that trains captains and first officers for Gulf Air and other airlines,...

At the forefront of the legal financial sector of Kuwait, Dr. Fayez Al Kandari leads the legal department at Boubyan Bank, one of the emerging banks within the country, and...

Founded in 2008, Bahrain Airport Company is responsible for managing and operating Bahrain International Airport, which saw almost 10 million passenger pass through it in 2016 and is used as...

Feras Alkasab is unequivocal about the positives that in-house legal work can bring to any ambitious legal professional: ‘Going in-house is an absolute must for lawyers as it is an...

Firas Oggar has immense experience of senior in-house roles in the Middle East, having had four roles in the position of either head of legal or general counsel since moving...

An expert in corporate legal matters in the energy sector, Gavin Milne recalls he was ‘immediately drawn to the energy industry and new-build energy projects in particular’ going all the...

A mark of their commitment to quality throughout the organisation, Etihad recently became the first UAE-based airline to receive the highly coveted five-star rating by prestigious airline rating organisation SKYTRAX,...

Hessa Al-Twaijri emphasises the need for in-house lawyers to get to grips with the upper management of their businesses as much as possible: ‘The more you engage with top management...

A legal counsel with over 14 years of experience, Hussein Saleh has demonstrated a capacity to combine his knowledge and proficiency of different areas of the law to provide a...

Ismael Elnasri is a seasoned legal and compliance professional with over 15 years’ experience working in the investment and commercial banking industry. Praised for his understanding of Bahrain’s financial services...

Jacques Visser heads the legal affairs division of the Dubai International Financial Centre Authority (DIFC Authority), and holds the position of secretary to the DIFC higher board and the boards...

MBC Group is notable for being the first free satellite broadcasting company service available in the Arab world, being launched in London in 1991. It moved to its current headquarters...

John Davidson moved to Dubai in 2006, after gaining five years of private practice experience at Osler, one of Canada’s largest law firms. Davidson worked as an in-house lawyer at...

Judeh Bahnan can count upon a wealth of technical legal knowledge gained through a varied and rewarding private practice career to inform his in-house operations. He rose through the ranks...

An expert at acquisitions with a deep understanding of the real estate market – and an alumni of the prestigious Sorbonne University in Paris – Kamal Rhazali joined Katara Hospitality...

Karl Rogers is one of the most respected general counsel in the Middle East, as well as being one of the leading structured finance and derivatives specialists in the in-house...

Qatari satellite communications operate Es’hailSat, also known as the Qatar Satellite Company, employs a legal team that is charged with ensuring its range of satellite service provisions are legally sound...

Khalid Khan has almost unparalleled experience of legal work in the Middle East, having practiced at a high level at law firms and in an in-house capacity at a variety...

‘My role is a constant balance between being a trusted advisor, protective influencer, strategic thinker, risk taker and moral compass’, explains Kiran Scarr, general counsel of Dubai Multi Commodities Centre,...

Norway-trained lawyer Knut Aksel Asp began his career at ExxonMobil in 2003 as general counsel for the Russian legal division and has since held a number of positions within the...

The huge expansion of airline operations in the Middle East, especially the GCC states, has been one of the most obvious success stories of the region’s economic plan over the...

The Abu Dhabi Investment Council (ADIC) is one of the primary investment arms of the government of Abu Dhabi, operating and enlarging a highly varied portfolio of investments. The diversified...

Lois Allela’s career path has been, in her own words, ‘interesting’, and undoubtedly set her up incredibly well for her current position as head of legal for Europe, Middle East...

During his four-year tenure at Orpic, Oman’s national refining and petrochemical company, Lorenzo Bruttomesso has built, developed and expanded the legal and compliance function from the ground up, enabling the...

Launched in 2002 with the aim of attracting tourists for medical services and treatments, Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) is a healthcare free economic zone that aims to meet Dubai’s demands...

Lubna Qassim is the group general counsel of Emirates NBD, the largest banking group in the Middle East, which, owing to its reputation and a total asset portfolio worth around...

CNOOC Iraq is the largest overseas subsidiary of CNOOC, China’s biggest producer of offshore crude oil and natural gas. As the Iraqi branch of the parent company, CNOOC Iraq is...

In 2014 Nebras Power – a joint venture between Qatar Electricity and Water Company, Qatar Petroleum International, and Qatar Holding – was established to invest in large-scale power and water...

Marie-Therese Auger joined Qatar Cool, the leading commercial provider of district cooling services in the country, in 2011 as the company’s first general counsel. This required Auger to develop the...

Markus Federle places his decision to make the transition to in-house legal work as among his career highlights. Indeed, it was a momentous decision to leave behind a hugely successful...

Formerly known as Saudi Hollandi Bank, Alawwalbank is the first bank in Saudi Arabia founded in 1926 as a branch of the Netherlands Trading Society. Plagued by financial and political...

Vodafone Qatar turned on its network in March 2009 and, now into its eighth year of operations, its growth plan continues alongside solid revenue postings for 2017 so far. Matthew...

M1 Group is a family-owned Lebanese investment company, with origins in the construction and telecom sectors. Because the Group today operates in a diverse range of sectors in countries across...

Menha Samy is no stranger to high-value transactions, having worked on multiple significant projects during the course of her 16-year career. Samy recalls that, while engaged as a private practice...

As general counsel of one of the most prestigious and prominent non-profit organisations in the world, Michael Mitchell holds unique insight into how these organisations are run, and is among...

Having joined Amec Foster Wheeler in October 2013, prior to which he was general counsel (MENAT) for GE, Mohamed el Roubi has recently taken on global responsibilities for legal support...

Mohammed Al Noor is group chief legal officer and international advisor for internationally-invested Action Group Holdings, an investment company headquartered in Kuwait with subsidiaries in Europe, North America, Australia, and...

Qatar Petroleum is a state owned petroleum company in Qatar that is responsible for all phases of the oil and gas industry in the country. With activities including exploration, production,...

General counsel of Credit Suisse Dubai for over 13 years, Mohammed Hijazi manages the legal and compliance department for CS offices in the Middle East and Africa region, including operations...

Mohammed Noaman is highly regarded by peers in the in-house Middle East community for his ability, experience and track record of in-house legal success. Indeed, the GE Power and Water...

An expert in JVs, corporate, commercial and companies’ laws, franchise agreements and compliance matters, Mona Hussein has operated in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait during the course of her career....

One of the most talked about business events globally in recent memory is the upcoming IPO of Saudi Aramco, perhaps unsurprisingly for a company whose value is often estimated in...

Described by peers as a ‘valued advisor’ and ‘superb business leader’, McKinsey’s Nadia Anani has substantial experience of providing high quality legal support with a strong focus on corporate work,...

Nasser Al-Taweel’s rapid rise to his current position as chief legal officer and secretary to the board at the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority – preceded by a number of...

Responsible for a wide range of corporate, commercial, investment and financing matters, the general counsel position at GFH was filled by Nicholas Polley in June 2017. The Islamic investment bank...

Nimer Basbous has recently taken on a new role as head of legal for personal banking at First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), a new financial giant born out of the...

It is fair to say that Oliver Hallsworth has had a unique career for an in-house lawyer – his experience spans from the UK Bar, to investment banking in Jersey,...

With an extensive in-house legal career in the oil and gas sector, Olof Arnman brings a wealth of experience to the Eastern Hemisphere activities of Grey Wolf Drilling (Precision Drilling),...

An Islamic banking specialist, based on both academic attainment in the subject and real-world application of these principles at a senior level, Omar Al-Mudarra is one of the leading financial...

Dr Pascal Dutru, general counsel of Qatar Communications, is one of the leading telecoms professionals in the entire Middle East. He brings with him a wealth of experience operating at...

Landmark Group’s Praveen Maheshwary is an analytical lawyer with 17 years of experience of handling legal affairs in India and the Middle East. A professional who has demonstrated excellence in...

Dr Raed Al-Saadouni has amassed over 24 years of legal and business experience at reputable organisations and law firms. Al-Saadouni highlights his first in-house role, as general counsel for Arabian...

In January 2015, Rasha Alsaeed joined global professional services firm company Aon as its general counsel for the Middle East with responsibility for all legal matters related to insurance, re-insurance,...

Arab Bank for Investment & Foreign Trade (Al Masraf) traces its history back to 1975, when it was formed with the goal of promoting cooperation in financial matters between Arab...

Starting off as a private practice lawyer at Nabarro in 2000, Richard McLaughlin’s subsequent in-house legal career has taken him to various locations across the world, having headed legal teams...

Emirates is one of the premier airlines globally, ideally placed to serve international routes and connect East to West from its headquarters and primary hub Dubai International Airport – it...

Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company is an investment arm of the Kingdom of Bahrain, with the stated goal of managing and expanding an ever expanding portfolio of diverse assets internationally. Rima...

A perennial high-flyer, Rowan McBrien recently brought his considerable talents to bear on the Middle East energy market, having taken on the role of general counsel for Total E&P Qatar...

Safwan Said is an Australian-qualified General Counsel, with seven years’ experience at Waha Capital, an ADX-listed investment company, and ten years’ experience in top-tier law firms in Australia and the...

The Al Baraka Banking Group is a leading international Islamic banking group providing retail, corporate and investment banking services in countries across the Middle East and North Africa, and benefits...

Operating across the entire hydrocarbon value chain, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) is one of the world’s largest oil companies by production, and has played a key role in...

One of the most exciting and high-profile development in the last twelve months of the Middle Eastern business timeline was the successful merger of First Gulf Bank and National Bank...

Shaun Johnson has practiced as a lawyer for 18 years, one third of which was in private practice at Ashurst in Melbourne, Australia and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in London, which...

With over $3bn in revenue and more than 63,000 employees, Kuwait-headquartered Americana Group is the largest integrated food company in Middle East. It has activities across 13 countries in the...

Air Arabia is a low-cost airline operating a fleet of 45 Airbus A320 narrow-body airliners based out of five regional hubs located in the UAE, Egypt, Morocco and Jordan. The...

A hugely experienced lawyer, Siddig Hussein has spent time in academic, private practice, legislative and in-house legal roles. As such, he contributes a wealth of experience to Al Rajhi Bank’s...

Upon joining the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company, Simon Price undertook the ambitious task of streamlining his company’s processes and procedures by means of imbedding the role of the legal...

Soliman Abdel-Meguid is a vastly experienced and distinguished lawyer in the Middle East and the banking sector. His professional legal career began in Egyptian public prosecution between 1962 and 1982...

Sophie Moloney has had a decorated in-house career since moving on from the TMT practice of UK law firm Ashurst in 2003. After a seven year spell as a principal...

Appointed group general counsel at the Commercial Bank of Dubai in 2013, Souhayel Tayeb has since implemented new technological changes aimed at streamlining work within the legal function. Legal portals...

Stephen Bodley, chief legal counsel for $2.5bn-revenue Saudi mining company Ma’aden, has made the most of his time in the Middle East. ‘Working in the Middle East has been amazing’,...

Qatar First Bank is a Doha headquartered bank and one of the first Shari’ah compliant financial institution regulated by the Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority. Formed in 2009, the bank...

Ulf Bathke recently took on the general counsel role for Industrialization & Energy Services Company (TAQA), a Saudi business operation aimed at developing the industrial capacity of Saudi Arabia, particularly...

Vivek Gambhir is no less than an expert in international energy law. Much of his experience was gained during 12 years as a partner for law firm CMS Cameron McKenna...

Abdul Latif Jameel is a Saudi Arabia based diversified business comprised of independent entities that operate in financial services, automotive, real estate and many other sectors. Maintaining consistently excellent legal...

Zahid Kamal leads the three-member legal team at Fajr Capital, a Dubai-based private equity investor whose shareholders include sovereign investors from Abu Dhabi, Brunei Darussalam, and Malaysia, as well as...

SEDCO Holding (Saudi Economic and Development Company) is a leader in Sharia-complaint investment management, with a broad portfolio including real estate, private equity and operating companies. SEDCO’s diverse holding sees...

Established in 2009, the Qatar International Court (QICDRC) was designed to be an international-tier dispute resolution centre and court aimed at cementing Qatar’s place as a global financial centre. The...

Hikma Pharmaceuticals is a Jordanian-headquartered multinational pharmaceutical company that manufactures both branded and non-branded pharmaceutical products for a wide range of markets. Zeid El-Uteibi is the head of legal for...

The Kuwait headquartered Agility is one of the world’s leading providers of integrated logistics with more than 22,000 employees in over 500 offices and 100 countries. The company operates a...

The domestic luxury retail company, UAE Trading, opened the first boutique store offering luxury brands to the domestic market, back in 1972. Today it owns and operates 24 multi-brand boutiques...

‘Brilliant, extremely trustworthy and able to understand business concerns,’ Ziad Zarka leads the team responsible for legal and compliance support of the global activities of Muntajat, a wholly owned government...