Mezzan – GC Powerlist
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Middle East Teams 2018

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Mezzan

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Middle East Teams 2018

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Mezzan

About

The legal team of Mezzan Holding Company (KSCP) is led by group legal manager Walid Khalil. He joined the company in 2006 as a senior legal assistant and over the years his work saw him achieve promotions and ascend to his current role. The legal team, made up of seven lawyers and two administrative paralegal staff, has transformed in operation since 2015 having been restructured to support the listing of Mezzan Holding Company KSCP on the Kuwait Stock Market (Boursa Kuwait) and shifting the majority of legal tasks previously outsourced to external law firms to the in-house team. The team focused on compliance with corporate governance rules which went through many amendments in the past three years in addition to building a strong in-house team for review and support of business in terms of international contracts for foreign vendors and suppliers. The change in regulatory environment in Kuwait and the Gulf Cooperative Counsel states in the past two years was the main force that impacted the way the team has operated, and in response it developed an action plan to be ahead in monitoring and reporting such changes to group stakeholders and management. Additionally, the team also supported the acquisition of 70% of AlSafi Foods in Saudi Arabia from AlFaisaliah Group, 100% shares of KITCO – KBC & GPM Companies Group in 2015, and 100% shares of Unitra International and METS Group in UAE and the distribution rights of Red Bull and San Pellegrino. The team advised on the sale of group shares in Awal Gulf Industries in Bahrain, the execution of various contracts for Kuwait and offshore subsidiaries with International organisations such as the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and commercial suppliers such as Danone, General Mills, Reckitt Benckiser and more. The team also worked in negotiation with the public sector in a discussion with MOSAL on transfer of labour under government tender contracts between employers which resulted in many amendments of labour law in the private sector in 2016. Finally, the group has expanded its role in the protection of the company’s IP profile organising the registration of all group master brands and sub-brands such as, Kitco, NICE, Khazan, Aqua Gulf, AlWazzan trademarks in Kuwait, GCC, MINA, Europe, OAPI, China, USA and Canada as well as full and complete registration of distributorship agreements with relevant authorities in Kuwait. About the team’s ambition and leadership, Khalil says: ‘Our team’s strategic mission is to consult and advise the company on legal aspects of operations through recommending and implementing appropriate policies, practices, and procedures that contributes to the company-wide team effort to maximise the company’s return to its shareholders’.

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