Meet Our Judges 2026

Adam Fenwick - Group General Counsel & Executive Vice-President – Corporate Affairs, Cladtek Group

Adam Fenwick is the General Counsel and Senior Vice President at Cladtek Group, where he oversees legal, ESG, contracts management, human resources and compliance across APAC, EMEA, and the Americas. With over ten years of experience in the UAE and globally, Adam works with companies in sectors such as oil and gas, mining, manufacturing, renewables, energy, and construction. 

An Australian-qualified lawyer with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Commerce, Adam has a strong background in contract and project management, as well as claims resolution. He has a proven track record in handling complex corporate governance and dispute resolution matters, with experience across a wide range of contracts, including FIDIC, BIMCO, and LTA. 

Adam is recognized for successfully closing complex disputes and transactions while effectively managing risk on large-scale projects. His combination of technical, financial, and strategic expertise enables him to engage with a diverse range of stakeholders, including leadership teams and human capital functions. As a thought leader, Adam regularly shares insights on dispute resolution, AI in legal practice, and the future of law. He is also the Co-Leader of the ACC MENA’s Construction, Property & Arbitration Chapter. 

Afshan Akhtar - Legal & Corporate Governance Expert

Afshan Akhtar’s career spans some of the most complex legal, financial, and governance landscapes in the Middle East. With over two decades of experience, she has built a reputation for combining technical legal expertise with strategic foresight. 

Afshan has held senior executive legal roles at Bank ABC, Alba, and the Bapco Energies Group, each appointment exposing her to different sectors and regulatory environments. At Bapco Energies, she served as Group Board Secretary and Board Governance Officer. Her work ensured that decision-making at the highest levels of the organisation was efficient, transparent, and aligned with international governance standards. 
 
At Bank ABC, Afshan advised on complex financing arrangements across multiple jurisdictions. At Alba, Afshan oversaw legal issues in heavy industry, including listed company regulations and capital programmes. 
 
Her career began in London with Clifford Chance, one of the world’s leading law firms, where she trained and practised in the Banking & Finance Department. 

Afshan is a Chartered Director (CDir) with the Institute of Directors (IoD) UK. She is one of the few legal professionals in the region to hold this designation, underscoring her dual identity as a lawyer and a governance professional of the highest calibre.  
 
She has consecutively featured in the GC Powerlist 500 for the Middle East and was named In-House Lawyer of the Year at the Legal 500 Legal Awards in 2025. She has served as a judge for numerous legal awards. 

Afshan is the recipient of the National Action Medal for exceptional service from HM the King of Bahrain for her contribution to the legal profession in the Kingdom of Bahrain. 

She regularly speaks at legal and governance forums on evolving board practices and the role of legal and governance frameworks in energy transition.

Amira Fayad - Associate Director - Legal & Company Secretary, Seddiqi Holding

Amira Fayad is a bilingual lawyer with over 13 years of exemplary experience in the legal field. She is currently the Associate Director and Company Secretary at Seddiqi Holding. Since joining the business in 2013, she has played a major role in building the framework for the Legal department within the business. Her role spans the Seddiqi Holding portfolio, covering corporate, commercial, intellectual property, regulatory, corporate governance, and employment. Additionally, Amira also established and currently oversees the Data Privacy Office at Seddiqi Holding. 

Amira's dedication to excellence is reflected in her attaining the Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) and Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe (CIPPE) certifications. These credentials underscore her commitment to upholding the highest standards in data privacy and protection. 

In 2024, Amira's contributions were recognized through her appointment as a member of one of the International Trademark Association (INTA) committees, specifically the Global Advisory Council (GAC). This prestigious role highlights her expertise in the realms of intellectual property and regulatory affairs.

Azzan Al Yahmadi  - General Counsel, Integrated Gas Company SAOC

Azzan Al Yahmadi is the General Counsel at Integrated Gas Company SAOC, a leading energy company oversee Oman’s entire gas supply chain. He leads the legal function and oversees the corporate governance and compliance matters of the company, with a focus on strategic and operational excellence.  

With over 15 years of experience in various sectors, including government, aviation, construction, and energy, Azzan has developed a strong expertise in energy, corporate and commercial law, cross-border M&A, dispute resolution. He has a proven track record of delivering high-quality legal solutions, managing complex and sensitive projects, and building trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders.  

Azzan holds an MBA with a minor in Finance from Franklin University (US) and a bachelor’s degree in Commercial Law from Sultan Qaboos University. He is a qualified Omani bilingual lawyer.  

Daniela Bartolo - General Counsel, Careem

Daniela Bartolo is the General Counsel at Careem, where she leads the Legal, Corporate Compliance, and Safety & Security teams. She has been instrumental in supporting Careem’s evolution into the region’s Everything App, enabling growth into digital payments, deliveries, and home services. Her team oversees legal matters across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and other key markets. 

At Careem, Daniela is focused on helping Careem respond to the fast-changing tech landscape with agility and strong legal foundations. She’s also focused on aligning legal strategy with business goals and building a purpose-driven, high-performing team. Prior to joining Careem, Daniela held legal roles at Vodafone Malta and e& UAE, building a strong foundation in the tech and telecom sectors. 

Daniela was named General Counsel of the Year (Large Team) at the 2025 LexisNexis Women in Law Awards, where the Careem Legal team also received an Honourable Mention for In-House Team of the Year.

Dawn Sanderson - Chief Legal & Compliance Officer, Al Dahra Holding Limited

Dawn Sanderson is the Chief Legal & Compliance Officer for Al Dahra Group, a UAE headquartered in global agribusiness with large scale farming platforms around the world.  

Dawn began her career with Eversheds Sutherland LLP in the UK, coming out to Abu Dhabi in 2008 to establish their Abu Dhabi office.  

Dawn moved in-house to Al Dahra Group in 2016. She was the first in-house counsel for Al Dahra Group, and has built up the function to include legal, governance and compliance functions. The global team is currently in UAE, Egypt, Serbia and Romania. Dawn led the team to secure Team of the Year in 2024 at the Oath Awards, Legal Era Middle East 2024. Her achievements include being named Woman Leader In-House 2024 by Legal Era Middle East and earning recognition in the Legal 500 GC Powerlist Middle East 2025 for Food, Beverage & Tobacco. She was also instrumental in leading her team to a shortlist placement for Legal Team of the Year (Small) 2025, further highlighting her commitment to legal excellence and leadership.

Dineli Gowribalan - General Counsel & Company Secretary, GRIP Investments

Dineli Gowribalan is General Counsel and Company Secretary of GRIP Investments, a global capital gateway comprising GRIP Horizon SARL, a Luxembourg based AIFM registered with the CSSF and GRIP (DIFC) Ltd, an Investment Banking and Fund Management firm established in the DIFC and regulated by the DFSA. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of private funds in BVI, Hong Kong and the Cayman Islands. 
 
Dineli is a dual qualified lawyer, admitted as a Solicitor of England & Wales and an Attorney-at-Law in Sri Lanka. She is an accredited ADR ODR International Civil/Commercial Mediator. She also has an Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Colombo. 

Dr. Abdullah Alajlan - General Counsel, Siemens Ltd. Saudi Arabia

Dr. Abdullah Alajlan is the General Counsel of Siemens Ltd. Saudi Arabia and a member of the Saudi Bar Association with extensive experience in a wide range of corporate and commercial transactions in the Middle East and internationally. He has experience working with a variety of international companies, local Saudi government and non-government entities on corporate and foreign investment matters.  

Dr. Abdullah has worked closely with government stakeholders on various initiatives and on Saudi Vision 2030 projects. He also drafted several publications regarding the application of Saudi Arabian law in corporate and commercial transactions including corporate governance, foreign investment and restructuring. Dr. Abdullah is a visiting scholar at Al Yamamah University where he teaches corporate law and corporate governance. 

Dr. Aseel Zimmo - International Commercial Arbitrator & IMI Certified Mediator

Dr Aseel Zimmo is an independent international commercial arbitrator. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) and a member of its teaching faculty. She specialises in arbitration disputes across a wide range of sectors, including telecommunications, construction, real estate, corporate matters, and the supply of goods and services, as well as civil and commercial disputes more generally. She has conducted numerous institutional and ad hoc proceedings in both Arabic and English under the rules of the ICC, DIAC, ArbitrateAD, CRCICA, GCCCAC, SCCA, OAC and UNCITRAL. She is listed on several regional and international arbitration panels, including those of the LCIA, ADGM, LAMC and ICADRP, and is also a registered arbitrator with the Bahraini Ministry of Justice. 

In addition, Dr. Aseel is an experienced IMI-certified commercial mediator as well as registered mediator with DIFC, ADGM SCCA, AIAC and the Bahraini Ministry of Justice. She is a member of the advisory committee of the Mediation Hub, and a member of the Mediation Chamber. She is also affiliated with the ADR Centre Academy. She conducted many commercial mediations and facilitated discussion between commercial parties and shareholders to strengthen dialogue and prevent disputes. 

Dr. Aseel is dual-qualified in civil law and common law systems. She previously served as a senior advisor to the Bahrain Minister of Justice and the Chief Justice. Dr Zimmo holds a PhD in International Commercial Arbitration from the London School of Economics and an LLM in Construction Contracts from King’s College London. She has taught civil and commercial law at the London School of Economics, the University of Bahrain, the Royal University for Women, and the American University of Bahrain. She has also delivered professional training programmes for lawyers and practitioners on topics including drafting international commercial agreements, negotiation, arbitration, and mediation. 

Dr. Dina Imad - Chair of the Department of Public Law | Assistant Professor of Public Law, Abu Dhabi University

Dr. Dina Imad is Chair of the Department of Public Law and PhD in Law Program Coordinator at Abu Dhabi University, where she also serves as Internationalization Officer at the College of Law and Assistant Professor of Public Law. She is a Senior Fellow of Advance HE (SFHEA). Her academic expertise includes constitutional law and criminal law. 

In her current roles, Dr. Imad contributes to academic planning, curriculum development, faculty mentoring, research coordination, quality assurance, and international academic engagement, while continuing to teach and supervise students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. She is committed to advancing legal education through academic excellence, student support, innovation in higher education, and meaningful institutional collaboration. 

Previously, Dr. Imad served as Chair of the College of Law at Abu Dhabi University, where she led the reaccreditation of the Bachelor of Law, Master in Public Law, and Master in Private Law programs. She also played a leading role in the development of new academic offerings, including the PhD in Law and the Master of Laws in Cyberlaw and Artificial Intelligence. Before joining academia, she worked as a Legal Consultant in Abu Dhabi and as a Legal Researcher in Beirut. 

Dr. Imad earned her PhD in Law from the Lebanese University with High Distinction, a Master’s degree in Public Law from Montpellier 1 University with Distinction, and a Bachelor’s degree in Law from the Lebanese University with honours. 

Dr. Enas Qutieshat - Dean, Sohar University Faculty of Law

Dr. Enas Qutieshat is an Associate Professor of Law and the Dean of the Faculty of Law at Sohar University, Oman. She previously served as Deputy Dean and Head of the Law Department at Philadelphia University, Jordan.  

Holding a Ph.D. in Law from the University of Aberdeen (UK), Dr. Qutieshat brings extensive leadership experience in higher education and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2020.  

Dr. Qutieshat has made significant scholarly contributions in the field of law through her research on legal systems, higher education governance, and comparative legal studies.  

Dr. Enas has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, advancing discourse on legal education reform, professional training, and the role of law in sustainable development. Her work is recognized for effectively bridging theory and practice, and she is frequently invited to serve as a peer reviewer and contributor to international academic forums. 

Dr. Fawaz Mohammad Alawadhi - Chief Legal Officer, Alghanim Industries Group

Dr. Fawaz Mohammad Alawadhi is the Chief Legal Officer at Alghanim Industries Group, and an Assistant Professor of Private Law at the College of Business Studies. He is also a Board Member of Gulf Bank. 

Dr. Alawadhi holds a Doctor of the Science of Law (J.S.D.) from Washington University in St. Louis (USA), a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the University of California, Berkeley (USA), an MBA from London Business School (UK), and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from Kuwait University. 

In addition to his professional duties, Dr. Alawadhi is actively involved in various community and academic activities. He serves on several committees and advisory legal bodies in Kuwait and acts as an accredited conciliator and arbitrator at the Kuwait Commercial Arbitration Centre.

Dr. Rita Waked - Vice Dean, School of Law - Saint Joseph University Dubai

Dr. Rita Waked holds a PhD in International Law from Université Paris II, Panthéon-Assas and an LL.M. in Litigation, Arbitration, and Alternative Dispute Resolution.  

Dr. Waked currently serves as Vice-Dean of the School of Law at Saint Joseph University Dubai and has over 15 years of experience in legal education.  

In addition to her academic responsibilities, she regularly delivers legal trainings programs for professionals in different legal areas. 

Prior to her academic tenure, Dr. Waked spent over a decade as a legal consultant, advising clients on matters related to arbitration and construction-related disputes across various jurisdictions.  

Dr. Waked is admitted to the Beirut Bar Association. 

She has authored and contributed to several legal publications in Arabic, French and English. 

Duncan Wood - Legal Counsel, Dubai Government Legal Affairs Department

Duncan Wood has worked for the Dubai Legal Affairs Department for 12 years, leading key projects aimed at elevating standards across Dubai’s legal industry through human capital development, regulation, key stakeholder management and strategic initiatives.  

As well as being legally qualified Duncan holds a master’s in strategic human resource management, enabling him to design and manage projects by blending legal understanding with strategic human capital knowledge.  

Notable projects include the regions’ first Continual Legal Professional Development program, The Practice Management Quality Mark, and the new Legal Operations qualification with more on the horizon. Underpinning the Department’s commitment to developing more efficient and effective legal entities through better operational decisions and elevating knowledge, skills, and expertise.

Fadi M. Kilani - Chief Legal Officer, Al Khaleej Investment PSC

Fadi Kilani is an accomplished legal executive with over two decades of leadership experience spanning restructuring, governance, and capital markets across the UAE and Jordan. He currently serves as Chief Legal Officer of Al Khaleej Investment PSC (ADX-listed), where he oversees group-wide legal strategy, governance frameworks, and regulatory compliance, guiding M&A, capital-markets, and corporate-structuring initiatives that support the company’s strategic growth. 

Prior to his current role, Fadi was Chief Legal Officer at Drake & Scull International PJSC (DFM), where he led the first court-sanctioned restructuring of a DFM-listed company under UAE Bankruptcy Law, achieving a AED 4 billion debt write-down, AED 450 million capital raise, and a AED 365 million Sukuk issuance listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange. His work restored market confidence, settled more than 700 legacy disputes, and set a precedent for complex restructurings in the region. 

Helen Tung - Executive Officer, Australian Medical Association

Helen Tung is a barrister with almost 2 decades of experience in international commercial law, with a practice encompassing complex cross-border commercial disputes, international arbitration, and commercial advisory work. Her experience includes matters involving international trade, contractual disputes, regulatory compliance, Government and corporate governance. 

Helen has long maintained a professional interest in emerging technologies, including the legal and regulatory issues affecting the commercial space sector and space start-ups. She previously served as a Board Member of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL), contributing to the development of international space law and policy. 

She is a Lecturer in International Arbitration at The College of Law Australia, where she teaches international arbitration and dispute resolution. Through her academic work, she is committed to advancing legal education and fostering excellence within the legal profession. 

Helen serves as an Executive Officer at the Australian Medical Association, where she contributes to governance, regulatory policy, and strategic engagement on issues affecting Australia's healthcare sector. 

She has held numerous leadership positions within international legal organisations. She previously served as an International Committee of the Bar Council of England and Wales, founding member of Emirates Legal Network, Vice Chair of the Aviation Committee of the Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA) and currently serves as Vice Chair of the IPBA's Legal Development & Training Committee, leading initiatives to promote continuing legal education and professional development across the Asia-Pacific region. She also serves as a Board Member of CODA, contributing to organisational governance and strategic oversight.

Iryna Kovalchuk - General Counsel, ZMI Holdings

Iryna Kovalchuk is an experienced legal leader whose career has taken her from the Ukrainian Parliament to the energy and maritime sectors in the Middle East.  

Since joining ZMI Holdings (an ADNOC L&S company) in 2017, Iryna has led the company’s legal function across the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia where she is working at the intersection of law, business, and people, helping teams navigate complex challenges and support the company’s growth. 

Beyond her role, Iryna is passionate about building international professional connections and supporting women’s networks. She has been recognised in the Legal 500 GC Powerlist Middle East every year since 2019.

Karima Gassem - Legal and Compliance Director, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi

A distinguished legal expert whose exceptional career spans both French and Emirati jurisdictions. Currently serving as the Director of Legal and Compliance at the prestigious Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, Ms. Gassem brings a wealth of international legal expertise and institutional leadership to the LexisNexis Award jury panel. 

Her legal journey began in France, where she served with distinction as a Vice-President in the Paris Court and Cannes Court. With over 20 years of experience as a French judge, she has presided over numerous complex civil and criminal cases, earning recognition for her integrity, legal acumen, and commitment to justice. 

Karima’s career has evolved with a global perspective. In the UAE, she contributes to the development of the legal landscape as a Legal Advisor at the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, where her deep understanding of UAE law and judicial systems enhances institutional cooperation and legal harmonization across jurisdictions. 

Karima’s diverse background, combining academic insight, judicial experience, and regulatory oversight, makes her an invaluable asset to the LexisNexis Award. As a jury member, she exemplifies the principles of excellence, fairness, and innovation that define this prestigious recognition in the legal field. 

Luigia Ingianni - Commissioner, Qatar Financial Centre Employment Standards Office

Luigia Ingianni is a lawyer and policymaker with over 30 years’ experience in labour law and conciliation and adjudication of labour disputes. 

Luigia is Commissioner of the Employment Standards Office of the QFC. She is also a labour inspector trained by the ITCILO, and a certified Participatory Gender Audit Facilitator who supports organisations to comply with the “Social” element of ESG. 

Luigia holds a LL.M in Human Resources and Communication, and is a qualified conciliator, negotiator and mediator of labour disputes certified by the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organisation (ITCILO), the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) and trained by Harvard Law School.  

Luigia holds an executive programme on Women in Leadership with the London Business School, is a professional trainer on transformative leadership for the ITCILO and regularly speaks at international conferences, including Harvard Law School, Chatham House, International Labour Organization (ILO), World Health Organisation (WHO), UN Development Program (UNDP), International Bar Association (IBA) and International Employment Lawyer (IEL).

Manar Saleh - Manager – Legal & Board Secretariat, Bapco Energies

Manar Saleh is the Manager – Board Secretariat at one of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s leading oil and energy companies. She previously served as Head of Legal & Governance at Mazad Company B.S.C. (Closed) and, prior to that, held the position of Legal Manager & Board Secretary at The BENEFIT Company B.S.C. (Closed), where she spent over eight years leading legal, corporate governance, board secretariat, and strategic regulatory initiatives within Bahrain’s financial services sector. 

Manar holds a Master of Science in Legal Technology from the University of Law, UK, and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) with Business from Northumbria University, UK, where she was awarded the Global Scholar Prize in recognition of her outstanding academic achievement. She also holds international diplomas in Communication and Governance, Risk & Compliance. 

She is a Licensed Arbitrator in Securities Disputes accredited by the GCC Commercial Arbitration Centre, a Certified Board Secretary by the Dubai Financial Market, an affiliate member of the International Compliance Association, and has served as an active member of the Bahrain Association of Banks’ Legal Framework Committee 2017-2025. 

With almost ten years of experience, Manar is recognised for her expertise in legal affairs, corporate governance, board advisory, regulatory compliance, and legal innovation. 

Meltem Ozker Gunduz  - General Counsel, GE HealthCare - EAGM Zone 

Meltem Ozker Gunduz is the general counsel at GE HealthCare Eurasian and African Growth Markets (EAGM) Zone as of January 2025. Prior to that, she was regional general counsel and vice-president for legal, compliance and quality at Novo Nordisk for almost 15 years holding previous roles covering Asia, Africa, Middle East and Oceania.  

Earlier in her career, Meltem worked in the Istanbul and London branches of one of the biggest law firms in Turkey representing clients from various sectors.  

Meltem graduated from Galatasaray University Law Faculty. She was a board member of the Middle East and North Africa Chapter of Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC MENA) between 2019-2025 and currently serves as advisor to the Board of ACC MENA. 

Michael Patchett-Joyce FCIArb - Barrister, 3 Hare Court Chambers

Michael Patchett-Joyce is a barrister at 3 Hare Court Chambers, London. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a CEDR-accredited mediator. He has acted as Counsel in many cases heard by the DIFC and ADGM Courts. He sits as an arbitrator or acts as an arbitral Counsel, particularly in commercial arbitrations which are seated in the Gulf or wider MENA region. 

Michael has strong professional links across the Gulf and MENA regions. He is a long-standing supporter of the MENA pre-Vis Arbitration Moot competition, and of international legal education and capacity-building. He has a keen interest in international regulatory law, including environmental law. He is a frequent and popular speaker at professional and academic conferences. 

Michael is a member of the Court of Arbitration of the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation Arbitration Centre (OIC-AC) and sits on the international advisory committee of the Saudi Centre for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA).

Monita W. Barghachie - General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, Marafeq Qatar

Monita Barghachie is a seasoned legal strategist of distinguished experience hailing from private practice to leading corporate legal departments. She is currently General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Marafeq, a major district cooling and SNG provider in Qatar. 

Previously, Monita was Group Legal Director at Power International Holding, a Qatar based international conglomerate. Prior to pursuing corporate counsel role, Monita practised at the international law firms of Squire Patton Boggs, Pinsent Masons, Clyde & Co, Addleshaw Goddard, and prominent Qatari law firm Sultan Al-Abdulla & Partners. 

Monita’s skills portfolio includes corporate governance and compliance, legal department management, legal operations, strategic planning, and stakeholders and people management. Her professional experience spans from corporate commercial advisory and transactions including M&A, IPO and listing, restructuring and reorganization, FDI, corporate establishment and JVs, to construction, hospitality, real estate development and disputes resolution. 

Monita is qualified with the Lebanese Advocates Association, a member of the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) and an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb). 

Monita holds the designation ‘’In-house Counsel Certified (ICC)’’ by the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Credentialing Institute and is a Legal 500 GC Powerlist: Middle East 2025. 

Monita has contributed to numerous World Bank publications, authored trending legal topics, and featured on domestic and regional legal forums. 

Naveen Thakur - General Counsel, Khaleeji Bank B.S.C.

Naveen Thakur is a dual-qualified (India and New York) seasoned legal professional with over 25 years of extensive experience in corporate governance, banking and finance (including Islamic finance), Private Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions, Investment Funds, Debt and Capital Markets and General Corporate matters. Currently, he is a General Counsel at Khaleeji Bank B.S.C., a leading Islamic retail bank in Bahrain and have previously worked in India, Kuwait, Bahrain, Cayman Islands and Hong Kong.  

Naveen graduated with LL.M. in Corporate Law from New York University School of Law (New York) and LL.B. from the University of Delhi (India).   

Having worked in Bahrain for over 18 years in private practice and in-house positions, Naveen has been part of the ever-changing and evolving legal landscape and regulatory framework of Bahrain and has advised and represented local, governmental and international clients over the years.

Noora Janahi - Group General Counsel, SICO B.S.C.(c)

Noora Janahi joined SICO Group in 2024 to manage its legal affairs across the group entities in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. She has over 16 years of private practice experience focused on investment banking, corporate law, and offering legal services in banking and finance.  

Noora has orchestrated numerous major transactions in Bahrain, including mergers and acquisitions and public and private capital markets transactions.  

Noora is licensed to appear before the Court of Cassation and Constitutional Court of Bahrain and is a practising arbitrator. She holds a master's degree in international business law and a License in Law, both from the Université de Bourgogne, France. She was also recognized as a leading lawyer in 2020, 2021, and 2022 by Thomson Reuters and highly regarded lawyer in 2024 by IFLR1000.

Omar Almudarra - Chief Legal Officer, Arab National Bank

Omar Almudarra is Chief Legal Officer at Arab National Bank and has more than 25 years of experience in banking, financial services, corporate governance, and legal affairs. Throughout his career, he has held senior legal leadership positions, including Chief Governance & Legal Officer at Al Rajhi Bank and General Counsel at Samba Financial Group, advising boards and executive management on complex regulatory, governance, financing, and strategic matters. 

Omar combines extensive legal expertise with a multidisciplinary perspective on business and organizational leadership. In addition to his Master of Law degree, he holds an Executive MBA from London Business School and is an Executive Master in Change candidate at INSEAD. This combination enables him to bridge legal, commercial, and organizational considerations when advising on complex governance and strategic matters. 

Paola Kattar - Head of Legal & General Counsel, KEO International Consultants

Paola Kattar is a seasoned lawyer and construction contracts and claims specialist with over 25 years of experience. After graduating from law school in 2000, she was admitted to the Law Bar and practiced litigation and corporate law with leading Lebanese firms. In 2008, she moved to the GCC and joined an international project management and claims consultancy, gaining hands-on experience in contract management and risk advisory on high-profile projects. 
 
Paola’s career took a focused turn in 2014 toward construction claims and dispute resolution, where she played a key role in a global claims’ consultancy firm. There, she managed claims preparation, review, and settlement, and supported dispute avoidance and arbitration efforts, contributing to favorable outcomes for clients. 
 
In 2019, Paola joined KEO International Consultants, a renowned multidisciplinary consultancy. She now leads the legal, contracts, and claims division across KEO’s offices in the GCC and Europe. Paola advises the executive team on risk strategies, oversees corporate and contractual matters, and plays a critical role in shaping company policies and procedures. 
 
Paola’s strong interpersonal and negotiation skills have consistently led to the successful resolution of major contracts and claims, reinforcing her reputation as a trusted advisor in the region’s construction and legal sectors. 

Payal Manhas - General Counsel, Brands For Less (BFL) Group

Payal Manhas is a distinguished legal strategist with over 20 years of expertise in architecting commercially aligned legal frameworks for global markets. As a strategic advisor to Executive Boards, she specializes in high-impact transactions, enterprise risk management, and EBITDA-protective governance. 

Currently serving as General Counsel at Brands For Less Group, Payal orchestrates the Group’s international partnerships, legal strategy, and cross-border governance. Her career is defined by senior leadership roles at Noon E-Commerce, Landmark Group, Trident Group, and Jubilant Group, where she developed scalable compliance frameworks and led complex mergers and acquisitions. Payal is recognized for aligning legal risk mitigation with aggressive operational growth and large-scale retail and e-commerce scaling. 

Prof. Susan Karamanian - Dean, Hamad Bin Khalifa University College of Law

Professor Susan L. Karamanian is Dean of the College of Law at the Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Doha.   

Before joining HBKU Law, Professor Karamanian was Provost at the American University of Sharjah, Associate Dean for International and Comparative Legal Studies and Burnett Family Professorial Lecturer at the George Washington University Law School, and a Partner in Locke Lord LLP in Dallas.  

Professor Karamanian has sat on the board of various institutions, including the American Society of International Law (ASIL).  She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a life fellow of the American Bar Foundation and the Texas Bar Foundation.  She is a graduate of Auburn University (B.S. Econ.), Oxford University (B.A. Hons.) where she was a Rhodes Scholar, and the University of Texas (J.D.). 

Reem Al Alawi is an accomplished legal and corporate governance professional with over 17 years of experience across diverse sectors including telecommunications, oil and gas and semi-government entities. 

Currently serving as Chief of Legal and Governance at the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), (previously held position of Chief of Legal and Monitoring), Reem continues to contribute to national development initiatives by providing expert legal counsel, contract negotiation and governance on multi-million dollar contracts for high impact national projects geared towards serving the Labour Fund’s mandate of creating a thriving and sustainable private sector with a highly skilled Bahraini workforce. 

Reem is also responsible for legal enforcement and operations, ensuring compliance and adherence to the Labour Fund’s mandate.

With experience across corporate and public sector environments, Reem is recognized for managing complex legal and contractual frameworks and delivering strategic, compliance-focused advice. Before joining Tamkeen, she served as General Counsel at Bapco Upstream, where she negotiated international oil and gas agreements. She also held legal counsel roles at the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and Batelco. Reem holds a BA Honors in Law and Business Administration and an LLM in International Commercial Law from the University of Kent and serves on the Board of Eskan Bank.

Roula Khaled - General Counsel, Khazna Data Centers

Roula Khaled is the General Counsel of Khazna Data Centres, a joint venture between G42 and Etisalat. She has over 20 years of experience leading and advising on cross-border and domestic M&A transactions (including acquisitions of data centres and telecom operators), joint ventures, finance deals, restructuring matters and on a wide variety of corporate, commercial and strategic transactions in several jurisdictions including the Gulf Cooperation Council, Asia and Africa. 

Before moving in-house, Roula started her career as a private practice lawyer in Paris, Lebanon and the UAE. Her most recent roles were as a Regional Senior Legal Counsel at IBM, where she worked on technology and consulting deals (including GBS) in the UAE and KSA and as a Regional Senior Counsel at Majid Al Futtaim Ventures, where she handled the corporate, commercial, employment, IP and litigation matters, covering UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Lebanon and Egypt. Before that, she spent six years as a Legal Counsel Mergers and Acquisitions at Etisalat working on some of the biggest deals in the region, including the acquisition of Maroc Telecom, the sale of Zantel and Canar, and the merger of Etisalat Lanka with Hutch Lanka. 

Roula is a Lebanese-qualified lawyer. She has a Degree in Law from the Saint Joseph University in Beirut, an MA in Internal and International Business Law from the French affiliate of the Lebanese University (Filière Francophone de Droit), and a certificate in the Essentials of Business from the American University of Beirut.

Salim Al Sinawi - General Counsel, TotalEnergies (Saudi Arabia)

Salim Al Sinawi is a qualified Omani counsel specialising in energy and environmental law. He has advised on niche projects across Oman, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with experience spanning conventional oil and gas, petrochemicals, and the development of renewables including green hydrogen, solar, wind and battery storage systems. 

Salim now serves as General Counsel for TotalEnergies in Saudi Arabia, leading the legal framework behind its commercial operations and advising on various types of projects including dispute resolution. Previously with FALC, Shell, an EIA subsidiary, and a government arm of Oman's renewable energy organisation where he led the bidding for the Sultanate's largest wind IPP as of date, Salim played a key role reviewing most of the power purchase agreement and the ancillary connecting agreements. 

Salim's expertise combines a deep and extensive niche experience in the legal field with an unconventional approach on dealing with unique challenges within organisations, making him stand out as one creative lawyer. 

Sanaa Daakour - Holding Chief Legal Officer, Estithmar Holding Q.P.S.C

Sanaa Daakour is the Holding Chief Legal Officer at Estithmar Holding Q.P.S.C., a publicly listed investment group based in Qatar. With over 20 years of legal experience across the Middle East, she is a strategic legal leader specializing in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory compliance, and complex cross-border transactions. 

Sanaa has led and advised on high-impact, multi-jurisdictional projects, including landmark capital market transactions, public-private partnerships in healthcare infrastructure, and large-scale international investments. Acting as a trusted advisor to boards and executive leadership, Sanaa plays a central role in shaping governance frameworks, managing risk, and enabling sustainable business growth. 

In her current role, she drives legal strategy across diverse sectors, leads high-level negotiations with government entities, and structures innovative financing and investment solutions. She is also committed to developing high-performing legal teams and fostering a culture of excellence and accountability. 

Sanaa was awarded General Counsel of the Year 2025 at the LexisNexis Qatar Business Law Forum Awards, recognising her outstanding leadership and contribution to the legal profession.  

Sanaa is admitted to the Beirut Bar Association and is recognized for her strategic approach, strong negotiation skills, and commitment to excellence in legal practice.

Taher Al Khateeb - Head of Legal Affairs & Executive Director, Gulf Insurance & Reinsurance Co. (Kuwait)

Taher Al Khateeb is the Head of Legal Affairs, Executive Director at Gulf Insurance & Reinsurance Co. (Kuwait) where he also served as Head of Corporate Communication. In this senior leadership capacity, he oversaw the company’s legal strategy, corporate governance, compliance operations, and high-level negotiations with governmental entities, the oil sector, and international organisations. His role included leading major legal appraisals, developing reinsurance and coinsurance arrangements for national health sector projects, and managing disciplinary and auction committee functions. 

Taher previously served as a Board Member at Alargan International Real Estate Co., a major publicly listed real estate company, where he chaired the Risk Committee and contributed to governance and oversight at the board level. He also serves voluntarily as Chairman of the Legal & Technical Affairs Committee at the Kuwait Insurance Federation, supporting regulatory alignment, sectoral coordination, and regional representation. 

Earlier in his career, Taher held legal roles with the OPEC Fund for International Development and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, focusing on international finance, development lending, and cross border agreements. Prior to that, he spent 15 years with Taher Group Law Firm (TAG), rising to Acting COO and leading major litigation, corporate advisory work, and regional transactions. 

Taher is recognised by IFLR1000 as a Highly Regarded lawyer and by Legal 500 as a GC Powerlist leading general counsel.

Umar Azmeh - Registrar, Qatar International Court & Dispute Resolution Centre (QICDRC)

Umar Azmeh is the Registrar of the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre (QICDRC). He is a dual-qualified solicitor and barrister, and has practiced as a self-employed barrister, within government for the Attorney General for England and Wales, and in private practice as a solicitor. Umar has a master’s degree from the University of Oxford (Worcester College), where he graduated at the top of his class, and a doctorate in law from the same university (St Anne’s College). 

Victor Leginsky FCIArb, CArb - Chartered Arbitrator and Certified Mediator, Arbitralis ADR

Victor Leginsky is a Chartered Arbitrator and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He has served as Arbitrator in well over 100 cases, a large proportion of which are high-value construction cases and conducts both institutional and ad hoc arbitrations. He is certified as a mediator through the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (London) [CEDR]. He conducts mediation including construction-related mediations. He confines his practice to that of a neutral (arbitrator / mediator), largely in construction and energy-related disputes. 

Victor is an elected member of the steering committee of the ICC UAE Commission on Arbitration & ADR for the term 2023-2025. 

Given the many cases he has been appointed to as arbitrator in the Middle East, Victor is adept in the civil law of the region, as well as the common law of Canada, England & Wales and others.