Team size: 4 lawyers (out of 15 total in the department) 

What are the most significant cases and/or transactions that you have been involved in over the past year?  

The team has proudly established the necessary corporate structure for Aroya Cruises, with companies spanning from Marshal Islands, Malta, to Saudi Arabia. This includes all the necessary corporate, governance, and contractual documentation required for the operation of the cruise line. The team is also deeply engaged with the operational aspects of the ship. including the establishment of standard operating procedures, emergency plans, and all levels of government coordination.   

We have also been very busy with developing a new island destination for cruise lines. This includes design and development contracts, government permits, operational documents, and management of guests’ issues.  

Based on your experience, what is the key to collaborating successfully with business partners? 

The most important factor for a successful collaboration is trust amongst partners. Engagement between internal and external stakeholders must be established on a strong base of trust and confidence. This means that the legal team needs to be embedded within the business units at the very early planning stages to ensure that risks are well mitigated, documents are drafted, and resources are gathered ahead of issues becoming bottlenecks. The only way to achieve this level of collaboration is by having mutual trust between the leadership teams, whether such trust is in the capabilities or intentions of the individual leaders.  

What do you think are the key things to remember to motivate and manage the other members of your legal team? 

I am proud to be part of a team that is working on developing a major new sector in Saudi Arabia.  Our main motivation is seeing the influence of our work on newly created regulations, newly approved activities, and ultimately the smile on our guests’ faces. The impact that is made by the team within the company and around the nation has to be the best motivation for all of us.