About

Zain Group, headquartered in Kuwait City, is one of the largest telecommunications companies in the Middle East and possesses a growing service in Africa to boot. The company provides services to over 45 million customers, and has grown its coverage steadily over time through prudent acquisitions and mergers. Given this expansive business strategy, Zain’s legal department is especially important both for due diligence on these deals and for their input into strategic decision-making. Adlai Shalabi, group head of legal since 2015, leads the function and provides input based on his vast experience of the legal profession. These run the full gamut from corporate structuring and strategy to human resources, though perhaps the most significant impact has been through advising the company on its major transactions. During Shalabi’s tenure, the legal team has had a major role in transactions valued at over $10bn, and litigations valued over $11bn. During this period, the legal team was also involved in the initial public offering of Zain Group in Iraq, a market that has grown steadily despite the challenges faced in this region.