Focus on: Pragmatic legal solutions with a business-driven approach

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” This powerful ethos has been the driving force behind Saideh Ahmadloo’s distinguished career in the legal profession. As a visionary leader in business legal advising and legal operations, Saideh has consistently pushed the boundaries of what’s possible, transforming challenges into opportunities for innovation and growth.

Saideh demonstrates a commitment to legal excellence through her extensive international education and diverse expertise. Her academic credentials, earned from distinguished institutions worldwide, have conferred upon her a comprehensive understanding of multijurisdictional legal frameworks. Her proficiency extends to several key legal systems, enabling her to navigate complex transnational legal matters with notable acumen.

Saideh’s legal career commenced with her providing pivotal advisory services for major infrastructure projects across the Middle East, encompassing energy, power, telecommunication and transportation sectors. This experience laid a robust foundation in complex, multi-jurisdictional legal frameworks.

Her transition into corporate in-house counsel materialized with her appointment at Sinopec, a major player in the global energy sector. In this capacity, Saideh rapidly distinguished herself through her adept leadership in negotiations for EPC and Buy Back Agreements with industry giants. This pivotal experience served to refine her expertise in regulatory compliance and international negotiations, impressing upon her the critical importance of precision and foresight in legal practice within high-stakes corporate environments.

Seven years ago, seeking to broaden her expertise and embrace new challenges, Saideh made a strategic decision to transition to the fast-paced FMCG sector, joining Unilever. This move allowed her to apply her sharp legal acumen and international experience to a more diverse range of products and markets, while also delving into the exciting realm of consumer goods law.

In her current dual role at Unilever, she provides strategic legal support to the Beauty & Wellbeing Business Group while also leading Legal Operations for EU, UK, Middle East, and ANZ regions. This unique position has allowed her to drive legal innovation on both operational and strategic levels, establishing her as a transformational figure in the legal world.

At Unilever, Saideh has played a key role in transforming the legal function. Collaborating with cross-functional teams, she has helped implement innovative solutions that have significantly enhanced the efficiency and strategic value of the legal department. Her efforts have focused on leveraging technology to streamline processes, improve the quality and timeliness of legal advice, and align legal operations more closely with business objectives.

Saideh’s approach to legal operations is driven by a commitment to making the legal team an enabler of growth. By embracing innovation and fostering collaboration, she has been able to provide more agile, strategic support to the business. Her implementation of AI-driven solutions and advanced analytics at Unilever showcases this philosophy in action, not only improving efficiency but also enhancing the quality of legal services provided to the business.

For Saideh Ahmadloo, the journey from an ambitious young legal counsel in diverse industries to a transformational leader at a global FMCG giant is just the beginning. She stands ready to tackle the next big challenge in the legal world, armed with her extensive experience, innovative approach, and dedication to excellence.