Contractual Risk and Operational Resilience in the GCC:
Legal Readiness During Regional Disruption

In today’s volatile business environment, organizations across the GCC are under increasing pressure to manage contractual exposure, protect supply chains, and maintain operational continuity during periods of disruption. From geopolitical instability to force majeure events and commercial uncertainty, legal readiness has become a strategic imperative.

Join LexisNexis Middle East and DIFC Academy, in partnership with HAS Law, for a premium CLPD-certified workshop exploring how legal professionals can navigate contractual risk and strengthen operational resilience within GCC legal frameworks. This expert-led session will examine force majeure, hardship, termination rights, and crisis-driven contractual challenges through a practical regional lens.

Bringing together senior legal practitioners from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UAE, the program offers a unique multi-jurisdictional GCC perspective, delivering commercially focused insights grounded in real regional practice and cross-border legal experience.

COURSE DETAILS

Date: 9 July 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (GST)
Modality: Online (Live via Zoom)
Accreditation: 2 CLPD Accredited Points
Certification: Includes comprehensive course handouts and a Certificate of Completion

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Analyse contractual risk provisions under GCC laws arising from regional disruption
• Evaluate force majeure, hardship, and termination clauses for legal effectiveness
• Apply legal readiness strategies to manage contractual exposure during crises
• Develop resilient contractual approaches that support operational continuity

SPEAKERS

	Hamdan Alshamsi (Speaker) Senior Partner & Founder – HAS Law Firm Hamdan AlShamsi is a UAE national and graduate of the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom. With nearly a decade of accomplished litigation experience across the United Arab Emirates, he has established himself as one of Dubai’s leading legal professionals.Hamdan began his career in the Banking & Finance department in a large regional firm at the DIFC office, where his curiosity and drive led him to contribute to a variety of legal departments beyond his initial focus. During this time, he qualified as a legal practitioner in the UAE and gained full rights of audience before UAE courts, including the Dubai Courts. He later joined the Infrastructure Department at a large semi government investment company in Abu Dhabi, where he worked on major real estate, construction, and finance projects, including university developments and other large-scale infrastructure initiatives. Following this, Hamdan founded HAS Law Firm, a full-service law firm combining litigation, advisory, and transactional practices. Under his leadership, the firm has managed many litigation cases and advised on many transactions. Hamdan is widely recognized for his expertise in corporate, banking & finance, and insurance law, representing both local and international clients as well as government entities in complex disputes.
	Sharif Akkad (Speaker) Managing Partner – Sharif Akkad Law Firm (MAK), Saudi Arabia Sharif Akkad is the Managing Partner of Sharif Akkad Law Firm (MAK) in Saudi Arabia, with more than 25 years of experience in corporate, commercial, franchising, real estate, litigation, and Islamic finance law. He is widely recognised as one of the leading franchise and commercial law practitioners in the Middle East.
	Mariam Alfailakawi (Speaker) Lawyer – Dar Almuhama Law Firm, Kuwait Mariam Alfailakawi is a lawyer at Dar Al Muhama Law Firm with over eight years of experience. She advises on commercial and civil matters, arbitration and dispute resolution, legal advisory work, and the preparation of contracts and agreements. She is also experienced in analysing complex legal matters and supporting clients with practical and effective legal solutions.
	Zainab Al Lawati (Speaker) Partner – ALC Lawyers & Counsels, Oman Sarah Zainab Al Lawati is a bilingual Omani lawyer qualified by the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs, with legal practice experience since 2017, following her graduation from Sultan Qaboos University. She has extensive experience in civil, commercial, labour, criminal, and human rights matters, having represented individuals and companies in local disputes, advised major airlines on commercial and labour claims, and handled cases for leading insurance companies. Zainab also has arbitration experience, having served as a legal clerk in both Arabic and English proceedings.
	Evgeny Yafasov (Moderator) Partner – HAS Law Firm, UAE Evgeny Yafasov is a Partner at HAS Law in the UAE, specialising in commercial transactions, corporate structuring, private wealth advisory, and cross-border asset protection across the UAE, GCC, UK, and EU markets.

TARGET AUDIENCE

This course is ideal for:

• In-house counsel and legal department leaders
• Corporate and commercial lawyers
• Risk and compliance professionals
• Contract managers and procurement professionals
• General counsel and legal advisors operating in the GCC
• Business leaders responsible for operational resilience and contractual governance

Secure your place early and benefit from exclusive registration pricing.

Gain practical GCC-focused legal insights from leading regional practitioners and strengthen your organisation’s contractual resilience.

CO-ORGANISERS: