Interview with: Khalifa Hamed Alyaquot

What has been your greatest achievement, in a professional and personal capability?

Goals create a road map for success. Setting goals gives you long-term vision and for its achievement requires committed, concentrated and consistent work. Both professionally and personally, I do set many goals and targets to reach and I am striving for them individually and with my team at AlYaqout.

Although, I can say that I am very grateful that I was able to build AlYaqout Legal Group as a top-notch legal brand in Kuwait from the grounds set by my father after his passing, managing a leading law firm and striving for its equally larger goals to be achieved was not a cakewalk, especially as I was very young when I took over. But, with sheer commitment, resolute efforts and with the immense support of the ace team at AlYaqout, we crossed significant milestones to make my law-firm a top-runner in the sector.

Looking back and seeing what I was able to be achieved, whether it the clientele or other achievements like the increased goodwill, reliability and reputation etc., they are phenomenal and truly up-market.

 What do you do differently from your peers in the industry?

 The vital point that makes us different from peers is our out-of-the box thinking in assisting our clients in whichever way possible be that legal, regulatory etc. We perceive ourselves as a Legal Solution-Provider in quickest ever possible time and not as an old-fashioned lawyers who may perhaps compound the clients problems with mundane approach. We have wide network with key-personnel which can make many legitimate things to happen both in Kuwait or outside, in the nick of the time !

What advice would you give to your younger self?

 I would definitely tell my younger self to not give up. Some cases may seem impossible but no task is too big if you set your mind to it and the only limit that exists is the limit you create for yourself.

Can you give me a practical example of how helped a client add value to the business?

 Every client we represent at AlYaqout adds value to the business in their own way. Be that start-up entities,  young entrepreneurs who later become owners of big companies, to MNCs and major clients that are leading in their sector. We in fact never distinguish our clients as each one of them are very important and inevitable for us. Each client has added something to the experience of me and my team as legal professionals, therefore adding value to the firm. Ultimately the client-satisfaction is the key and at AlYaqout we leave no stones unturned to ensure all the legitimate aspects of our clients stands protected and well-taken care of.

 Within your sector, what do you think will be the biggest challenge for clients over the next 12 months?

 More than clients, it’s their lawyers face up the legal challenges head-on for their clients ! Saying that, there recently has been an new law regulating Intellectual Property in Kuwait and introducing new concepts. Clients may face a time race in who files their trademark or patent first and setting their IPRs well-protected. Having said that, I believe it is our job as legal professionals to make sure the challenges that the client faces are nothing but a small bump on the road.