What are the key projects that you have been involved in over the past 12 months?

As chief legal officer of the QFC Authority and director of legal affairs at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, I have been privileged to lead and contribute to several special initiatives of strategic importance to Qatar and its national priorities.

At the QFCA, I have overseen the enactment and enhancement of the QFC Digital Assets framework, a comprehensive and innovative regime for the creation and regulation of digital assets. I have also led reforms to the QFC Companies Regulations, Arbitration Regulations, Employment Regulations, QFCA Rules, Non-Regulated Activities Rules, and Trust Rules, all with the goal of enhancing and strengthening the QFC’s legal framework.

On behalf of MOCI, I am honoured to lead the historic and comprehensive reform of Qatar’s business laws, including drafting a new corporate and personal insolvency law – from scratch, and leading the reform to the Commercial Companies Law; Commercial Registry Law; Licensing Law; Foreign Direct Investment Law; Competition Law; and Public-Private Partnership Law.

Have you had any experiences during your career as a lawyer that stand out as particularly unique or interesting?

In recent years, I have been heavily involved in leading legal reform of key areas impacting the State of Qatar’s business environment, including amendments to the insolvency regime, competition law, public-private partnerships, and special economic zones.

My involvement in these projects has led to some of the most memorable moments in my career, presenting the proposed legal reforms directly to senior leadership in the State of Qatar. The intention behind the reforms is further enhance the legal environment in line with the State of Qatar’s National Development Strategy, creating conditions that strengthen the business climate and ultimately benefiting both the private sector and the state’s long-term economic objectives.

What do you think are the most important attributes for a modern in-house counsel to possess?

In my view, it goes without saying that a modern in-house counsel needs to possess a detailed understanding of their entity’s business model and strategy, and its place in the wider sector and business environment, along with legal excellence and a proactive and future-focused mindset. A good in house counsel (regardless of level of seniority) has a valuable role to play in seamlessly aligning legal strategy with commercial objectives; proactively identifying risks and opportunities to support long-term growth and resilience. Ultimately, it is critical that the legal function is seen, not as a roadblock, but as a strategic enabler, protecting the business while actively contributing to its momentum and success

What is a cause, business or otherwise, that you are passionate about?

I am passionate about strengthening the legal framework both within the QFC and across the State of Qatar to support the private sector and drive sustainable, long-term national success. I’ve been involved in a number of legislative reforms (including planned changes to a range of laws including insolvency, public-private-partnership and commercial registration laws), which are designed to make the market more attractive to foreign investors and offer a globally leading business environment. I know firsthand how a well-designed legal system allows businesses to operate confidently, attract investment, and innovate, key pillars in Qatar’s economic diversification under the National Development Strategy 3. I firmly believe that legislation must be practical, accessible, and tailored to the needs of its users, and accordingly I prioritise stakeholder engagement, ensuring that key stakeholders, such as government entities, banks, consultants, and private sector leaders, contribute to policymaking and development of legislation. A recent highlight was organising Qatar’s first-ever public consultation event on the Foreign Direct Investment Law, which brought public and private sectors leaders together to openly and meaningfully engage in legislative reform.