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

Over the past 12 months, I have been involved in a range of high-impact projects at PwC. A major focus has been strengthening governance and contracting frameworks across our Middle East network, ensuring consistency with evolving tax and regulatory requirements while preserving agility. I have also managed significant litigation and regulatory matters, where protecting the firm’s reputation and maintaining stakeholder trust were paramount. In parallel, I have supported senior leadership on strategic M&A initiatives, advising on deal structuring and risk allocation in transactions involving multiple jurisdictions. These projects required balancing technical legal analysis with commercial judgement and discretion. What has been most rewarding is the ability to integrate legal oversight into the firm’s broader strategic agenda — whether by resolving disputes, enabling growth, or helping to design the risk frameworks that underpin our long-term sustainability.  

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

One experience that shaped me early in my career involved negotiating the renewal of a high-value international commercial agreement between two parties whose partnership had spanned more than 50 years. The deal was at risk of collapse, but by listening carefully to each side’s fundamental concerns and reframing the structure around their shared objectives, my counterpart and I found an innovative legal solution that preserved the relationship. It was a lesson in creativity, but also in the importance of empathy and trust. At PwC, I have drawn on that lesson while helping to strengthen governance across our Middle East network. Bringing consistency to complex frameworks only works when you build confidence with stakeholders and understand their perspectives. These moments stand out because they taught me that being an effective in-house lawyer is as much about judgement and human connection as it is about technical legal skill.  

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

In-house counsel must balance legal rigour with commercial judgement and the ability to navigate complex, cross-border environments. Technical excellence is expected, but what distinguishes effective counsel today is the capacity to translate that expertise into pragmatic solutions based on well-informed risk allocation, enabling the business to act decisively. At PwC, this often requires harmonising governance and compliance across jurisdictions while recognising the cultural and organisational dynamics that shape decision-making. Discretion, integrity, and trust-building remain fundamental, but so too does the ability to engage stakeholders empathetically and with cultural awareness. Ultimately, our duty is to act as strategic partners — anticipating risk, fostering collaboration, and ensuring that legal advice advances both commercial outcomes and long-term organisational resilience.  

Based on your experiences in the past year, are there any trends in the legal or business world that you are keeping an eye on, of which you think other in-house lawyers should be mindful? 

One development I am monitoring closely is the accelerating pace of legislative and regulatory change in the Middle East, which directly affects how professional services firms like PwC deliver assurance and advisory work throughout the region. For in-house counsel in this environment, the remit extends beyond technical legal advice to ensuring that governance frameworks, contracting models, and risk controls remain aligned with both local requirements and global standards. Increasing scrutiny around transparency across a wide range of disciplines means our role is not just to manage compliance, but to safeguard trust in the firm’s brand and relationships. In my experience, the most effective in-house lawyers are those who can anticipate how these shifts intersect with business strategy and help their organisations adapt quickly without losing sight of integrity and long-term value.