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• Khalifah H. Al-Yaqout – Managing Partner, Al-Yaqout and Al-Fouzan Legal Group
• Eric Bonnet-Maes – CEO LexisNexis Continental Europe, Middle East and North Africa
• Khalid Al-Suwaifan – Secretary of the Kuwait Bar Association

Moderator
Nikky Samuel – Corporate Counsel, Fouad Alghanim & Sons Group of Companies

Speakers

• Dr. Anwar Al- Fuzaie – Partner and Head of Litigation, YFLG
• Dr Fahad Al- Zumai – Associate Professor- Private Law Department, Faculty of Law-KU
• Hossam Abdullah – Legal Counsel & Managing Partner, Al-Hossam Legal (Al-Turqi & Partners)
• Abdulrahman Al-Khanna – CEO, Beyout Investment Group (BIG) Holding

Moderator

Abdulkareem Al-Gharabally – Senior Associate, YFLG

Speakers

• Waleed Al-Sharian – CEO Mabanee
• Abdullah Al-Shatti – CEO, A’ayan Leasing and Investment Co
• Abdullah Al-Baker – Chairman & CEO, AlBaker & Associates

Embracing the Future: Artificial Intelligence Revolutionizing legal research and practice

Lara Salem – Head of Content Strategy, LexisNexis Middle East & North Africa

Moderator

Amr Wageeh – General Counsel & FDI Policy Advisor, KDIPA

Speakers

• Khalifah Al-Yaqout – Managing Partner, YFLG
• Nasser Al- Habsi – Partner, Nasser Al Habsi & Saif Al Mamari Law Firm in association with Addleshaw Goddard
• Mubarak Al Sulaiti – Chairman, Al Sulaiti Law Firm- Qatar
• Ehab Elsonbaty – Partner in New York, chairs DLA Piper’s Middle East Initiative

Moderator

Dr. Ahmad Alshorbagy – Head of Projects and International Dispute Resolution, YFLG

Speakers

• Ahmed Barakat – Senior Partner, ASAR Legal
• Ucheora Onwuamaegbu – International Lawyer, ArentFox Schiff
• François-Xavier Licari – Associate Professor of Private & Comparative Law, University of Lorraine in France
• Dr. Affef Ben Mansour – Attorney at Law & International Arbitrator

• Khalifah H. Al-Yaqout – Managing Partner, Al-Yaqout and Al-Fouzan Legal Group

Senior Associate, Al-Yaqout and Al-Fouzan Legal Group (YFLG)

Abdulkareem has extensive experience in a broad range of commercial and corporate matters including mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, intellectual property, and general commercial transactions. He has significant experience advising on commercial and regulatory matters across the GCC countries and in various sectors, including telecommunications, logistics, and food and beverage. In addition, Abdulkareem has demonstrated experience advising private clients on the establishment and restructuring of family trust structures.

Abdulkareem holds a Juris Doctor from Northeastern University with concentrations in both Business and Commercial Law, and International Law and Human Rights. He is a registered attorney in the State of Massachusetts and the District of Columbia, Washington D.C.

Chief Executive Officer, Beyout Investment Group (BIG) Holding

Eng. Abdulrahman Al Khannah is an experienced Chief Executive Officer, where he heads Beyout Investment Group (BIG) Holding and its subsidiaries. With over 16 years of experience, he has worked on creating entrepreneurial dynamic companies under the group by building and implementing sophisticated world-class strategies, leadership and systems to meet the business growth needs, and to maximize the value creation by developing and deploying strategic management tools to ensure successful results for the organization which in turn has had positive impact on society.

Eng. Abdulrahman was on the board of several companies, and currently sits on the board of Imtiaz Investment Group – Kuwait. Eng. Abdulrahman holds a Master in Business Administration (MBA) degree from Gulf University for Science & Technology and a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering) degree from the University of Kuwait. He has also taken various executive courses in strategy and leadership.

CEO, A’ayan Leasing and Investment Co

Abdullah Al-Shatti joined A’ayan Leasing and Investment Co. in 2006 and was promoted within the Investment Department ranks until becoming the Chief Investment Officer in 2021. He has an experience of 20 years in the investment field. Mr. Al-Shatti began his career with the Engineering Training Program at the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, moving on afterwards to Private Equity with the Kuwait Financial Center (Markaz). He is the Chairman of Mubarrad Holding Co. and Vice Chairman of A’ayan Real Estate (Both listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange), and sits on the Board of Directors of 3 other companies in various Middle Eastern countries. Mr. Al-Shatti holds a Bachelor Degree in Computer Engineering from Kuwait University and a Master Degree in Business Administration from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Mr. Al-Shatti is a CFA® chartered holder.

Secretary of the Kuwait Bar Association

Khaled Jamal Al-Suwaifan is a lawyer accredited before the Court of Cassation and the Constitutional Court in Kuwait. He serves as the General Manager of Al-Hasban & Al-Suwaifan Law Firm and Legal Arbitration Consultancy. Khaled is also an accredited arbitrator at the Kuwait Lawyers Association Arbitration Center and the National Sports Arbitration Tribunal (NSAT). He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law, a Master’s in Public Law, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Public Law at Cairo University.

Currently, Khaled is the Secretary of the Kuwait Bar Association and has been a board member since 2017. He has held several leadership positions, including serving as a board member at Kuwait Airways and Vice Chairman of various executive committees within the airline. Additionally, he is a member of the International Association of Lawyers (UIA), the Arab Lawyers Union, and the Kuwait Journalists Association.

Khaled has contributed to numerous legal conferences and seminars and has been writing for Al-Anba newspaper since 2009. He also holds the position of Deputy Editor-in-Chief at Al-Haqiqa Online Newspaper.

Managing Partner, Al-Yaqout and Al-Fouzan Legal Group

Khalifah H. Al-Yaqout serves as a Managing Partner at Al-Yaqout and Al-Fouzan Legal Group and has held this position since 2015. As a lawyer and arbitrator, he has led multiple delegations in various international forums. In 2019, he headed the Kuwaiti delegation to the United Nations Council and the US Department of Commerce. He is also actively involved with the Commercial Law Development Program of the United States Department.

In addition to his current work with Al-Yaqout and Al-Fouzan Legal Group, Khalifah serves as a legal consultant for the Minister of Electricity and Water and Renewable Energy and the Minister of Social Affairs and Community Development. His approach to Corporate and M&A practice is to use practical and commercially focused tactics to successfully close the deal whilst protecting his client’s interests and minimising their risks.

Legal Counsel & Managing Partner, Al-Hossam Legal (Al-Turqi & Partners)

Hossam Abdullah is the Legal Counsel and Managing Partner at Al-Hossam Legal (Al-Turqi & Partners), a premier multi-practice law firm in Kuwait, renowned among clients and peers for delivering top-quality legal services. Hossam has distinguished expertise in corporate law, banking and finance (including Islamic finance), capital markets, and mergers & acquisitions. His practice spans complex transactional work, high-value commercial litigation, and arbitration.

Known for his successful track record, innovative legal strategies, and thorough knowledge of evolving court precedents, Hossam has been consistently recognized by leading industry publications. Best Lawyers International, Euromoney’s Expert Guides, and IFLR 1000 have featured him among Kuwait’s top legal professionals, with clients and peers frequently describing him as an “excellent lawyer” and “effective legal strategist.”

Alongside his legal practice, Hossam is an accomplished writer and speaker on business legal matters, contributing to prominent international and local forums and publications.

Chairman & CEO, AlBaker & Associates

The Founder and CEO of “AlBaker & Associates” Law Firm in Kuwait. His journey in the legal Domain began in 2003 as a trainee under the Loyac training program. During this period, he received legal training at the office of Meshari Al Ghazali, specializing in commercial and investment disputes and contracts on both local and international fronts. Abdullah’s dedication and commitment led him to continue his training until 2006.

In 2007, Abdullah graduated from Kuwait University and subsequently became a registered lawyer in the Kuwaiti Lawyers Association. He further honed his legal skills as a lawyer in Al Ghazali’s office until 2015. Following his extensive experience, Abdullah embarked on a new chapter in 2015 by establishing his legal firm, “AlBaker & Associates Law Firm.”

His firm specializes in diverse legal areas, including business, commercial transactions, investments, IT, technology, and sports. Abdullah’s expertise encompasses handling contracts, disputes, and transactions, both locally and internationally. Through his specialization, he provides valuable services, advice, and support, contributing to the growth of the commercial, SME, IT, and sports sectors in Kuwait.

Partner and Head of Litigation, Al-Yaqout and AL-Fouzan Legal Group

Anwar is a reputable Kuwaiti lawyer who has extensive experience in litigation and international arbitration. He excels in handling complex cases. He is trilingual (Arabic, English and French). Prior to joining YFLG he held a number of prestigious titles, including serving as Legal Advisor for the State Audit Bureau and National Focal Point (UNCC), member of the Consultative Counsel for Islamic Investment Companies under the Capital Markets Authority as well as General Reporter and Member of the Committee of Experts for the application of Conventions and Recommendations in the International Labor Organization from 1998 to 2012. His recent appointment as Chairman of the Kuwait Commercial Arbitration Center further underscores his esteemed reputation and dedication to promoting fair dispute resolution.

Head of Projects and International Dispute Resolution, Al-Yaqout and AL-Fouzan Legal Group

Dr. Alshorbagy heads YFLG’s Projects and International Dispute Resolution departments. With over 15 years of experience, he has extensive experience in a wide range of matters including corporate law, projects and international dispute resolution.

Dr. Alshorbagy gained extensive experience advising the Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects. Over the past few years, he has advised in over 15 projects across various sectors.

Dr. Alshorbagy also has significant experience in International arbitration, where he represented clients in arbitrations under the ICC, ICSID, HKIAC, UNICTRAL, and LCIA.

In addition to his years of experience, Dr. Alshorbagy is the author of several legal books and articles that are published with reputable publishers and learned international law journals in Egypt, the U.S., the U.K., and Germany.

Partner, Nasser Al Habsi & Saif Al Mamari Law Firm in association with Addleshaw Goddard

Nasser Al Habsi is a leading Supreme Court lawyer and founder of Nasser Al Habsi & Saif Al Mamari Law Firm in association with Addleshaw Goddard (Middle East) LLP in Oman. His firm is celebrated for its legal expertise, having been named “Firm of the Year 2024” by Chambers and “Law Firm of the Year” by The Lawyers.
As an appointed arbitrator, Nasser has successfully handled complex arbitration cases and provides comprehensive legal advice in both Arabic and English. He holds a degree in commercial law from Sultan Qaboos University and an LLM in International Commercial Law from Reading University. Nasser’s experience includes managing a wide range of legal issues, from commercial disputes to white-collar crimes, and he is recognized as a skilled mediator in the Omani market, committed to facilitating amicable resolutions.

Chief Executive Officer, Mabanee Company (K.P.S.C)

Waleed Alsharian holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, USA (1984). With over 39 years of experience in real estate development, operations, manufacturing, and public transport, he began his career at Kuwait Public Transport Company (KPTC), ultimately serving as Assistant Managing Director – Operations. Waleed then took on leadership roles at Transport & Warehousing Group Co. and Global Logistic & Warehousing Co. Before becoming Chief Executive Officer at Mabanee Company in 2006, he was Vice Chairman and Managing Director at Refrigeration Industries & Storage Co. S.A.K (RISCO). He is also involved with Shomoul Holding Company and Al Sorouh Management Company.

President of Qatari Lawyers association
Founder and Chairman of Al Sulaiti Law Firm | Senior Legal Consultant

Mubarak Al-Sulaiti founded Al- Sulaiti Law Firm in 2002. As an experienced lawyer and arbitrator with over 27 years’ experience in Qatari law, Mubarak has extensive knowledge and experience advising in construction, commercial, insurance, employment, and sports law including civil and criminal litigation. During his many years as a litigator before courts and tribunals on all levels, including the Court of Appeal and the High Court, he has provided legal counsel to both domestic and international companies (including state and private companies) and has interacted routinely with regulators and law enforcement authorities. He has a diverse experience of resolving disputes through negotiation, mediation, arbitration and litigation. Having served on the board of the Qatari Lawyers Association since 2014, Mubarak Al-Sulaiti became the President of Qatari Lawyers Association in 2022. Prior to establishing Al Sulaiti Law Firm Mubarak led the Qatari Ministry of Transportation’s Legal Affairs Department. Mubarak is an active commission member of the ICC Global Arbitration and ADR Commission, representing the State of Qatar.

Associate Professor- Private Law Department- Kuwait University

Dr. Fahad Ali Al Zumai holds his PhD in Law from SOAS- University of London and an LLM in International Business Law from the University of Manchester. He is admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales and is admitted to the State Bar of California and the State Bar of Kuwait. He is a fellow at the International Bar Association.

Currently he is an Associate Professor of law in the Private Law Department-Law School in Kuwait University and is the former editor in Chief of the Law Journal published by Kuwait University.

Dr. Fahad Al Zumai research interest includes, Companies and capital markets laws, bankruptcy and banking law. In addition, Dr. Al Zumai has published in a number of journals on topics relating to capital market regulations in the Middle East and Europe,law and economics and jurisprudence.

Senior Partner, ASAR – Al Ruwayeh & Partners

Ahmed Barakat, Senior Partner at ASAR – the largest tier-one law firm in Kuwait – brings over 35 years of legal expertise, with three decades spent in Kuwait. He specializes in litigation across construction, tax, banking, and insurance, as well as local and international arbitration, while advising clients on corporate and commercial matters.

Recognized as a leading lawyer by Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500, Ahmed is consistently ranked in the top tier of practicing lawyers and has earned a place in The Legal 500 Hall of Fame. Known for his “strong litigation acumen” and deep understanding of the Kuwaiti market, he is lauded as “the Dean of Kuwaiti legal practice.”

Ahmed has published extensively in prestigious legal journals and is a sought-after speaker at conferences, including ICC Kuwait and GAR Dubai.

Attorney at Law & International Arbitrator

Dr. Affef is a distinguished French-Tunisian attorney and arbitrator based in Paris. With a focus on investment and commercial arbitration, public international law, and European law, she has represented clients in complex disputes across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Her industry expertise spans construction, oil and gas, mining, telecommunications, and post-M&A issues.
Dr. Ben Mansour has served as counsel and arbitrator under various international rules, including ICSID, UNCITRAL, ICC, and OHADA. She actively contributes to global legal discourse, participating in UNCITRAL Working Group III on ISDS reform and advising organizations like the International Organisation of La Francophonie. She also sits on numerous arbitration panels, including those of the ICC and the Vienna International Arbitration Centre.
A former practitioner at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, Dr. Ben Mansour holds a Doctorate in Public International Law from Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense University, where she continues to contribute as an associate researcher. She has published extensively on international law and regularly speaks at global forums. Fluent in French, Arabic, and English, Dr. Ben Mansour brings a wealth of experience and insight to the international legal community.

Partner in New York, Chair DLA Piper’s Middle East Initiative

Dr. Ehab Elsonbaty is a partner in the New York office of DLA Piper and serves as Chair of the firm’s US-Middle East Initiative. He advises DLA Piper’s inbound and outbound clients, including Middle Eastern clients doing business in the Americas or America’s clients seeking to do business in the Middle East. Ehab’s extensive transactional and regulatory experience with Middle Eastern government entities, sovereign wealth funds, family offices and both private and publicly traded companies enables him to provide efficient and effective legal support in a wide variety of business matters. Ehab joined DLA Piper from the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund and one of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world. He is one of the drafters of Santiago Principles, the most important international standards for sovereign wealth funds, and of the prominent global initiative One Planet Framework for Sovereign Wealth Funds, the global standard for SWFs regarding ESG principles.

Associate Professor of Private & Comparative Law, University of Lorraine in France

Dr. François-Xavier Licari is an Associate Professor of Private and Comparative Law at the University of Lorraine in France, as well as a consultant and arbitrator. His areas of research include comparative law, legal theory, business law, and arbitration law. Dr. Licari has authored numerous articles featured in prestigious law journals such as Revue de l’arbitrage, Revue Internationale de Droit Comparé, The American Journal of Comparative Law, Louisiana Law Review, and Tulane Law Review. Additionally, he has published and edited acclaimed books on Comparative Law with renowned publishers like LexisNexis, Dalloz, and Cambridge University Press.

International Lawyer, ArentFox Schiff

Dr. Ucheora Onwuamaegbu is an international lawyer at ArentFox Schiff LLP in Washington, DC, specializing as an arbitrator in international disputes. He advises a diverse range of private and sovereign clients on dispute settlement related to transactions, policymaking, and complex project implementation.

A former Senior Counsel at ICSID (World Bank) and ex-UN Compensation Commission member in Geneva, Uche has been involved in over 80 international arbitrations as a presiding, sole, or co-arbitrator, as well as counsel and tribunal secretary across sectors like agriculture, finance, energy, hospitality, and technology.

He serves on the Board and in leadership at the Silicon Valley Arbitration and Mediation Center, co-leading its Europe/Middle East/Africa User Group, reflecting his commitment to advancing international arbitration practices.

Head of Content Strategy, LexisNexis Middle East & North Africa

Lara Salem is a seasoned legal tech professional with a rich 17-year career in digital publishing and content creation, specializing in developing legal series. With the majority of her experience dedicated to the Gulf region, Lara has honed her expertise in managing dynamic teams of legal researchers and translators, while fostering strong author relations. Her contributions extend to the development of rule of law projects that have significantly impacted the region.

Lara’s impressive trajectory in the legal tech industry has recently been elevated by her role at LexisNexis, where she joined a year ago as the Head of Content Strategy for the MENA region. In this capacity, Lara oversees two pivotal platforms, Middle East Online and Lexis MA for Morocco, steering the content expansion strategy in collaboration with the product teams. Her leadership ensures that LexisNexis remains at the forefront of legal research and content strategy in the MENA region, reflecting her deep commitment to innovation and excellence in the field.

Her recent endeavours include spearheading the transition of legal research through the integration of AI tools. She has been instrumental in training teams on AI utilization, crafting effective prompts, and seamlessly incorporating these advancements into existing processes.

Corporate Counsel, Fouad Alghanim & Sons Group of Companies

Nikky is a lawyer with over a decade of diverse commercial legal experience in both common and civil law jurisdictions. She specializes in guiding clients and organizations through the complexities of commercial law, enabling them to achieve their business objectives whilst effectively managing legal, ethical, and reputational risks.

Nikky brings a wealth of knowledge, and a diverse skill set across various sectors from top-tier law firms, international corporations, and governmental organizations. Her background and experiences enable her to offer a unique perspective on broad issues and frameworks allowing the delivery of strategic legal advice and compliance solutions.

Nikky’s expertise includes family office advisory, legal counsel, regulatory compliance, and U.S. government acquisition. Nikky currently works in-house at Fouad Alghanim and Sons Group as a Corporate Counsel.

General Counsel & FDI Policy Advisor

Amr is an internationally recognized General Counsel with over 20 years of experience in the investment management industry, specializing in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), corporate governance, and legal innovation. He has been featured five times in the Legal 500 GC Powerlist Middle East for his leadership and contributions to the legal profession.

Recently honored at the LexTalk World Conference in Singapore with the Lex-Falcon Global Award for Inspiring In-House Counsel of the Year 2024, Amr was recognized for his work in Corporate/Commercial, Regulatory & Compliance, and FDI Policy. This accolade underscores his commitment to innovation and excellence in the legal field.

With a deep understanding of the GCC and Middle East markets, Amr advises corporations and governments on navigating complex legal frameworks in cross-border operations. He is known for integrating cutting-edge legal technology to streamline processes, foster growth, and ensure robust corporate governance.