Event Report
On Wednesday 11th February, Legal 500 returned to Dubai for the GC Summit: Middle East. Hosted at the iconic One&Only One Za’abeel, the summit promised a full day of engaging and topic panels.
Isabel Caine, event content editor at Legal 500, kicked off the programme before introducing the first panel entitled ‘Digital diligence: the importance of robust data governance in AI adoption’, in association with LEGALFLY. Ruben Miessen, CEO & co-founder at LEGALFLY, took to the stage alongside Mumtaz Kynaston-Pearson, principal product and IP counsel at Mimecast; Raneen Stanley, data privacy lead – Middle East at Aon; and David Laliberte, general counsel at CPX, with Isabel Caine moderating.
The panellists drilled down into the meaning of ‘digital diligence’, discussing how in-house counsel can ensure AI is adopted securely and ethically within organisations. Conversation touched on how AI should be integrated from the top down, with all employees trained in its use, management and compliance. The speakers also covered key risks and common gaps in data governance processes, sharing practical strategies for responsible, long-term AI integration. Questions from the audience focused on the rapid pace of AI regulation, and how in-house counsel can manage the widening gap between technology use and legislation.
Behnam Khatami, founder and managing partner at Nami Associates, then delivered a presentation on the current political situation in Iran. He provided an overview of the country’s political developments, and explored how these can be translated into actionable solutions for in-house counsel navigating risk and uncertainty.
The next panel, in association with Spotdraft, examined how in-house counsel can use contract lifecycle management (CLM) not only within their legal teams, but also as a strategic driver for their organisations. Akshay Doshi, SVP, sales at Spotdraft moderated the session and was joined by Tarek Nakkach, director and general counsel – MEA at Kyndryl, and Kimberley Holland, VP – legal affairs at core42. The group discussed how they incorporate CLM into their daily practice to optimise business performance.
The packed agenda resumed after a lunch break with a panel in association with BREMER. The session, entitled ‘Managing merger control: navigating the regulatory M&A landscape in the MENA region’, looked at regulatory developments affecting transactions across the Middle East. Moderated by Dr Nicolas Bremer LL.B., partner at BREMER, the panel featured Mhairi Main Garcia, general counsel at Fajr Capital Group; Marcus Khoury, head of legal at Averda; Monita Barghachie, general counsel at Marafeq Qatar; and Hasan Al Kilany, senior legal advisor at the UAE Ministry of Economy. Each speaker brought a different regional and sector perspective, allowing for an in-depth and varied analysis of legislative changes and the handling of M&A within legal teams.
Disputes were the focus of the next discussion, with Al Naqbi & Partners sponsoring a session considering how to mitigate and manage conflict during transactions. Mohamad Fayad, senior managing associate at Al Naqbi & Partners, moderated the session and was joined by Jad Skaff, partner at the firm; Abdelrahman Sherif, deputy general counsel at VFS Global; Narguiz Birk-Petersen, regional general counsel – growth & emerging markets at Takeda Pharmaceuticals FZE; and Mohamad Malak, head of legal for commercial operations EMEA S&E at Fresenius Medical Care. The audience was keen to engage in the discussion around navigating disputes at every stage of a transaction, and were able to take away real-world solutions for conflict resolution.
Attendees then enjoyed a short coffee break, before returning for the next panel in the day’s comprehensive programme.
Omar Al Rasheed, founder and managing partner at Omar Alrasheed Law Firm, invited Majed Alharbi, CEO at Areeb Capital, to join him for an examination of Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding real estate market. Moderated by Isabel Caine, Legal 500, the panel considered how to bridge the gap between in-house counsel, senior management and other stakeholders throughout the course of real estate development. The speakers addressed potential disputes than can arise during construction, including case studies from their own experience, ways to build trust throughout the project lifecycle and how in-house counsel can effectively ‘translate’ between legal teams, clients and investors.
The final panel of the day, curated and moderated by Isabel Caine, considered the role of in-house counsel itself. She was joined onstage by senior in-house lawyers from across the region: Mahmoud Yousef, general counsel – Global at Foodics; Paola Kattar, head of legal at KEO International Consultants; Rima Hadid, general counsel at Emirates Investment Authority; Nadim ElHaj, chief legal officer at Abu Dhabi National Hotels; and Hadi El Kadi, group chief legal officer, Al Habtoor Group LLC.
Drawing on their extensive experience, the panellists examined how the role of general counsel has evolved in recent years. The speakers agreed that in-house lawyers are no longer seen solely as gatekeepers or ‘naysayers’, but as trusted partners relied upon to drive business growth within their organisations. Insightful questions from the audience prompted discussion on how in-house counsel can establish and maintain these relationships, leading to practical tips on how to build a reliable legal team from the ground up.
Legal 500 would like to extend thanks to all those who came together to sponsor the event: LEGALFLY, Nami Associates, Spotdraft, BREMER, Al Naqbi & Partners, and Omar Al Rasheed Law Firm, and networking sponsors Act Legal, Linklaters, Moebius Software, Provakil and BSA Law.