Kuwait 2025
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Chief legal officer | Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA)
General manager and general counsel, head of legal affairs | National Bank of Kuwait
Assistant general manager, legal affairs division | Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait
Corporate counsel | Fouad Alghanim & Sons Group of Companies
General counsel and company secretary | Kuwait Food Company (Americana)
Lead of corporate legal affairs | Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPEC)
Director of legal affairs and compliance | The Arab Investment & Export Credit Guarantee Corporation
Senior vice president, legal and board secretary | United Real Estate (URC)
Senior group manager, legal services | Al-Sayer Group Holding
General counsel | Energy Solutions Co. Ltd Meroven Group Ltd & AMG Kuwait
Legal manager | United Projects for Aviation Services Company (UPAC)
Senior manager, board affairs, legal and compliance | Kuwait Credit Information Network Company (CINET)
Group chief general counsel and international advisor | Action Group Holding
Chief of legal and governance | Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO)
Senior legal counsel, head of international and subsidiaries legal affairs | Kuwait Finance House
It is with immense pride that we present the inaugural edition of the GC Powerlist: Kuwait 2025, a landmark moment in our ongoing mission to spotlight legal excellence across the region. After years of featuring Kuwait within our broader Middle East coverage, the country now takes centre stage with its own dedicated publication. This reflects not only Kuwait’s evolving legal landscape but also the strategic significance of its corporate counsel.
This edition honours the trailblazing general counsel who are redefining the role of legal leadership. Far beyond safeguarding legal interests, these professionals are driving innovation, shaping public policy, and influencing business strategy in an increasingly complex and competitive environment. Their work spans vital sectors including energy, finance, healthcare, and technology – demonstrating that their impact reaches well beyond the legal department.
The decision to launch a standalone Kuwait Powerlist was inspired by the exceptional calibre of legal talent in the country and the distinctive challenges they navigate. From steering regulatory reforms to orchestrating cross-border transactions, the individuals featured here embody the agility, foresight, and leadership that define the modern general counsel.
Inside, you’ll discover exclusive interviews and in-depth profiles of Kuwait’s most influential corporate lawyers, representing a rich array of industries. Their ability to craft legal strategies, mitigate risk, and align with business priorities underscores the increasingly pivotal role of in-house counsel in shaping organisational success.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to this edition – through nominations, interviews, and insights – and offer our warmest congratulations to the distinguished counsel featured within these pages. Their achievements reflect not only personal excellence but also the growing influence of legal leadership in Kuwait’s economic and institutional development.
On behalf of The Legal 500, thank you for joining us in celebrating this milestone. We look forward to continuing our mission to elevate the voices and stories of in-house legal leaders around the world.
Francisco Faria e Castro | Research Editor | GC Powerlist Series
The Legal 500 hosted the Green Forum Singapore 2025 at Allen & Gledhill’s offices on the 30th level of One Marina Boulevard, offering panoramic views across the Singapore Strait. The event brought together leading general counsel, sustainability experts, and legal practitioners from across Southeast Asia for an afternoon of insight and discussion on the fast-evolving ESG landscape.
As sustainability remains a defining challenge for global business, the Green Forum served as an essential platform for exploring how corporate legal teams can navigate emerging environmental, social, and governance risks while helping shape long-term responsible growth.
Opening remarks were delivered by Joe Boswell, Global Editor of The Legal 500’s GC Powerlist series, who highlighted the increasingly strategic role of in-house counsel in guiding organisations through the sustainability transition. He was followed by Jerry Koh, Managing Partner at Allen & Gledhill, who reflected on Singapore’s leadership in driving ESG progress across Southeast Asia and the importance of collaboration between the legal profession and industry in delivering meaningful change. He also spoke about the firm’s long-term commitment to sustainability. This extends to personal exertions by himself and the other staff at A&G, who recently engaged in rubbish-cleaning efforts in Singapore’s waterways.
The first panel, The Impact of Technology and AI on ESG: Considerations and Challenges, examined how rapid technological advancements are reshaping sustainability priorities. Moderated by Tham Kok Leong, Head of Technology & Corporate Intellectual Property Practice at Allen & Gledhill, the session featured Sophie Lim, Co-Head of ESG & Public Policy Practice at Allen & Gledhill; Doris Chen, Head of Legal, APAC at dsm-firmenich; and Richard Koh, Chief Technology Officer, Microsoft Asia, Enterprise Partner Solutions. Together they discussed the ethical and regulatory implications of AI adoption, the importance of governance and transparency, and how legal teams can leverage technology to drive sustainable value creation.
The second session, Sustainable Finance and Green Capital Markets: The Legal Counsel’s Role, turned to the evolving role of lawyers in guiding businesses through sustainability-related financial frameworks. Moderated by Elsa Chen, Co-Head of ESG & Public Policy Practice and Regional Co-Head of Competition & Foreign Investment Review Practice at Allen & Gledhill, panellists Mushtaq Kapasi, Managing Director and Chief Representative, Asia-Pacific, International Capital Market Association; Ong Kangxin, Partner at Allen & Gledhill; and Bridget Burns, Capital Markets Counsel at Wells Fargo explored Singapore’s pioneering Singapore-Asia Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance (SAT) and its implications for disclosure, risk management, and investor confidence.
The event closed with remarks from Elsa Chen, followed by networking drinks and canapés overlooking the Singapore Strait. It was the perfect way to end a successful and engaging afternoon that reaffirmed the legal community’s pivotal role in shaping a more sustainable and transparent business landscape.
