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• Benjamin Filaferro – CEO, LexisNexis MENA
• Khalifah Al-Yaqout – Managing Partner, YFLG
• Khaled Al-Swaifan – Secretary, Kuwait Bar Association
• Ibrahim Al Awdhi – Chairman, Real Estate Union
• Feras El Hajjar – Founder & CEO, Lexzur

Corporate Mismanagement Liabilities & Minority Protection

Moderator:

• Omar Al Heloo – Partner, Hadef & Partners

Speakers:

• Khalifah Al-Yaqout – Managing Partner, YFLG
• Hossam Abdullah – Legal Counsel and Managing Partner, Al Hossam Legal
• Dr. Mohamed Sameh Amr – Dean Faculty, Cairo University
• Dr. Abdulwahab Sadeq – Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, Kuwait University

Combating Financial Crime in Kuwait: Navigating AML/CFT Reforms and White-Collar Risks

Speakers:

• Dr. Anwar Alfuzaie – Senior Partner, YFLG
• Adnan Abul – Chairman, Kuwait Bar Association
• Mazin Al Mamari – Head of Anti–Money Laundering, Counter–Terrorist Financing, and Financial Crime Compliance at Sohar International Bank

A New Era in Real Estate Development: Regulatory Challenges and Economic Aspirations in Kuwait

Moderator:

• Bader M. Al Moqatei – Partner, Almoqatei & Partners

Speakers:

• Dr. Ahmad Alshorbagy – Partner and Head of Projects and International Dispute Resolution, YFLG
• Ibrahim Al Awdhi – Chairman, Real Estate Union
• Abdulrahman Al-Khannah – Vice Chairman & Group CEO, Beyout Holding Company
• Eng. Ahmed M. Alansari – Acting Deputy Director General for Investment & Private Sector Projects, Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW)

Legal Tech & Legal Ops in the AI Age: Challenges and Opportunities in Practice

Moderator:

• Vincent Slingerland – Business Development Director, LexisNexis Middle East & Turkey

Speakers:

• Hussein Al Jardali – Chief Customer Success Officer & Chief Channel Management Officer, Lexzur
• Lara Salem – Head of Content Strategy, LexisNexis
• Sarah Mansour – General Manager of Legal Division, Commercial Bank of Kuwait

Vice Chairman & Group CEO, Beyout Holding Company

Mr. Abdulrahman Mohammed Saleh Al Khannah, Board Member and Group CEO, has been at the helm of Beyout Investment Group Holding as CEO since 2015, having previously served as Deputy CEO from 2010 to 2015. His tenure as Deputy General Manager at Kuwait Resources House from 2009 to 2010 further solidified his leadership credentials. In addition to his executive roles, Mr. Al Khannah has been an influential Board Member of Beyout Investment Group Holding since 2022 and has served on the boards of Imtiaz Investment Group since 2013 and The Egyptian Transport and Commercial Services Company S.A.E. from 2013 to 2017. He was also Vice Chairman of Kuwait Investment House Holding from 2010 to 2022. Mr. Al Khannah’s strategic vision and leadership have been pivotal in driving the growth and success of these organizations.

He holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the Gulf University for Science & Technology in Kuwait, completed between 2009 and 2011, and a Bachelor’s in Engineering from the University of Kuwait – College of Engineering & Petroleum, earned from 2001 to 2006.

Secretary, 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, YFLG

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 and Managing Partner, Al Hossam Legal

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, Kuwait Bar Association

Mr. Adnan Abul is the Chairman of the Kuwait Bar Association, with over 15 years of distinguished experience in litigation, arbitration, and legal advocacy. He previously served as the Vice Chairman of the Kuwait Association for Protecting Public Funds.

He holds an LLB in Law from Kuwait University (2007) and is licensed to appear before the Constitutional Court and the Court of Cassation. Mr. Abul is also a registered arbitrator with the Kuwait Bar Association Arbitration Center and the National Sports Arbitration Tribunal, in addition to being a member of the Association Internationale des Avocats du Football (AIAF).

Acting Deputy Director General for Investment & Private Sector Projects, Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW)

Ahmed Alansari is an architect, urban planner, and senior executive at the Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW), where he leads strategic Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and Government-to-Government (G2G) initiatives in Kuwait’s housing and city development. His portfolio spans residential, commercial, industrial, educational, leisure, and tourism projects, including the landmark Mirqab Development, the Residential Development Program under Law 118/2023, and international G2G collaborations.

With extensive experience in PPP structuring and global partnerships, Ahmed plays a key role in driving Kuwait’s transition towards sustainable, smart, and globally competitive cities.

Senior Partner, YFLG

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.

Partner and Head of Projects and International Dispute Resolution, YFLG

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.

Dean Faculty, Cairo University

Dr. Amr has extensive experience in corporate matters since started practice in 1987. He acts as Co-arbitrator, Presiding Arbitrator and Counsel under the Rules of Abu Dhabi Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration Centre (ADCCAC), Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA), Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), Dubai International Financial Centre – London Court of International Arbitration (DIFC-LCIA), International Chambers of Commerce (ICC), Qatar International Center for Conciliation and Arbitration (QICCA), and the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA).

Member of the Appellate Body of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA)

Member of the Board of Trustees of Cairo Regional Center of International Commercial Arbitration

Member of ICSID’s Panel of Arbitrators and Conciliators

Chairman, Real Estate Union

Mr. Ibrahim Al-Awadhi is the Chairman of the Real Estate Union in Kuwait, with over two decades of distinguished experience in real estate investment, development, and strategic management. He has been instrumental in driving several landmark real estate initiatives across Kuwait and the region, and is recognised for his efforts in promoting transparency, governance, and sustainable growth within the real estate sector.

Mr. Al-Awadhi has pursued advanced executive education at Harvard Business School (Harvard Manage Mentor, 2020) and holds multiple academic and professional qualifications. His career reflects a strong commitment to advancing the real estate industry and fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors to support Kuwait’s economic vision.

Partner, Hadef & Partners

Omar is a sought after UAE advocate. He represents clients in courts of all levels, and handles complex domestic and cross-border commercial and civil disputes where his wealth of experience in the procedures of UAE courts and depth of knowledge of UAE laws is highly valued by the firm’s clients.

Omar acts as UAE local counsel in domestic and international litigation and arbitration, including working closely with Hadef & Partners’ Engineering & Construction team representing and acting for various construction industry members.

As an UAE advocate, Omar has vast experience in advising corporates and individuals on business fraud-related matters and white collar crimes both domestically and internationally. He has expertise in both criminal and civil mutual legal assistance and also extradition.

Omar frequently delivers mandatory and accredited legal training sessions as part of the Dubai Legal Affairs Department’s CLPD programme. He is a member of the International Bar Association (IBA), the Society of Construction Law (SCL) and the International Association of Young Lawyers (AIJA) of which he is the national representative in the UAE.

He graduated with honors from the College of Shari’a & Law of the UAE University and obtained his LLM in International Commercial Law from the University of Leicester. Prior joining Hadef & Partners Omar trained with the Dubai Courts and the Dubai Public Prosecution.

Chief Customer Success Officer at Lexzur | Acting Chief Channel Management Officer

Hussein Al Jardali is the Chief Customer Success Officer and Acting Chief Channel Management Officer at Lexzur, leading global initiatives that drive enterprise transformation and partner ecosystem growth across markets. He oversees the implementation of Lexzur’s legal-tech solutions for large-scale enterprise and government clients while spearheading strategic alliances with global partners and system integrators to expand Lexzur’s footprint and accelerate market adoption.

With extensive experience spanning multinational corporations, government entities, and leading legal organisations, Hussein focuses on creating scalable frameworks that ensure measurable client impact, operational efficiency, and sustainable value realisation. His dual role integrates customer success with channel development, aligning client outcomes and partner capabilities to deliver cohesive, high-performance transformation programs.

Hussein brings a unique blend of academic depth and executive execution. His expertise in organisational behaviour, performance management, and technology-driven transformation enables Lexzur to bridge the gap between people, process, and technology. His research in these fields has been featured in several internationally recognised, peer-reviewed journals, underscoring his commitment to evidence-based leadership and strategic innovation.

Head of Anti–Money Laundering, Counter–Terrorist Financing, and Financial Crime Compliance at Sohar International Bank

Mazin bin Ali bin Saif Al Mamari is a specialist in anti–money laundering (AML), counter-terrorist financing (CFT), and financial crime compliance. He began his career at the Public Prosecution in the Sultanate of Oman, where he gained extensive experience in investigating and managing cases related to public funds, money laundering, terrorist financing, and financial crimes.

He currently serves as Head of Anti–Money Laundering, Counter–Terrorist Financing, and Financial Crime Compliance in the Compliance Division at Sohar International Bank.

He previously served as a member of the Terrorist Financing Targeting Center (TFTC) under the U.S. Department of the Treasury and was a member of Oman’s delegation for the FATF Mutual Evaluation process, representing the Public Prosecution Authority.

He holds a Master’s degree with a thesis titled “The Role of the National Center for Financial Information in Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing,” and he is currently pursuing a PhD focusing on governance and compliance in the banking sector for AML/CFT.

Partner, Almoqatei & Partners

Bader M. AlMoqatei is a Kuwaiti lawyer and Partner at Almoqatei & Partners, specializing in commercial litigation, legislative drafting, and corporate legal advisory for leading companies and public figures.

Holding a Master’s degree in Public Law, he is a member of several prestigious regional legal institutions and the founder of a legal-tech initiative that enhances access to justice, reflecting his vision for modern, innovative, and impactful legal practice.

Bader embodies ambition, influence, and refined professionalism.

Founder & CEO, Lexzur

Feras El Hajjar is a visionary leader in Business Transformation & Technology with extensive multinational experience, having led companies and teams across major global hubs such as Paris, London, Singapore, Dublin, Beirut, Cairo, Riyadh and Dubai.

As the Founder & Chairman of Infosysta Group (www.infosysta.com), the founder & chairman of the AI arm Futurate (www.infosysta.com/futurate), Feras has built a world-class AI technology solutions provider that partners with tier-1 institutions across EMEA. From banks and telecommunications companies to governments and over 500 enterprise organizations, Infosysta & Futurate empower businesses to thrive with cutting-edge technology, digital and AI transformation.

Feras is also the Founder & CEO of Lexzur (www.lexzur.com), a pioneering AI legal-tech company that’s redefining the legal-tech industry providing best-of-breed and enterprise grade Legal Practice Management & Contract Lifecycle Management and Automation Solutions, powered by AI. Lexzur serves clients in 67 countries, spanning multiple industries and market segments, driving innovation and transformation in the legal-tech space.

Feras’s leadership philosophy centers on cultivating high-performing teams capable of delivering groundbreaking ideas and executing them to perfection. His commitment to excellence has earned him a reputation as a thought leader and trusted advisor to top-tier institutions in San Francisco, Amsterdam, and Dubai.

He is a sought-after speaker at Agile, AI and Legal Tech Summits and an influential voice in the Agile & AI Transformation Community, where he actively contributes to shaping its ecosystem.

CEO, LexisNexis MENA

As Chief Executive Officer of LexisNexis Middle East & North Africa (MENA), Benjamin Filaferro leads a dynamic team dedicated to delivering innovative legal information solutions that empower corporate, government, and legal organizations across the region. Since assuming this role in 2020, he has focused on driving strategic growth, client satisfaction, and regional impact—guided by LexisNexis’s mission to advance the rule of law.

As the key focus of his leadership involves championing AI transformation, both internally—by enhancing operational efficiency and decision-making across teams—and externally, by deploying AI-powered LexisNexis products that provide sharper insights and greater value to clients. Under his direction, the MENA team is committed to ensuring the responsible and forward-thinking integration of technology into legal and regulatory workflows.

With more than 20 years of international experience, Benjamin brings a results-driven approach grounded in business development, P&L management, and growth strategy. He joined LexisNexis in 2016 and previously led international business development before taking on the MENA leadership role.

Benjamin holds an Executive MBA from ESCP Europe and a Master of Science in Engineering from Arts et Métiers ParisTech. He remains passionate about innovation, team empowerment, and advancing the digital transformation of legal ecosystems across the MENA region.

General Manager of Legal Division, Commercial Bank of Kuwait

Bachelor’s degree in Law – Kuwait University 2006

Sarah Mansour has been heading the Legal Division at the Commercial Bank of Kuwait since January 2023, with previous experience at Al Tamimi & Co., Kuwait office.

She successfully led initiatives that enabled the bank to recover approximately 100 million KWD in outstanding non-performing loans, significantly reducing credit losses. She also spearheaded the restructuring of the division’s workflow, streamlining processes and improving operational efficiency. These efforts resulted in faster turnaround times, enhanced risk control, and measurable improvement in overall financial performance.

She has effectively managed external factors impacting debt recovery, including negotiations with external stakeholders, collaboration with legal advisors, and coordination with regulatory authorities to ensure compliance with banking standards. Throughout her leadership, she has adapted strategies to changing economic and legal conditions, mitigating potential risks to maintain consistent performance despite external pressures, ultimately reducing credit exposure, safeguarding the bank’s portfolio, and aligning the division’s legal work with organisational goals.

Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, Kuwait University

Dr. Abdulwahab Sadeq is the Acting Head of the Private Law Department and an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law, Kuwait University. He is also a Partner at Meysan Partners, and serves as a Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands, as well as the Vice Chairman of the National Sports Arbitration Tribunal in Kuwait.

Dr. Sadeq holds a Ph.D. in Business and Financial Law from Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., where he also earned a Master’s degree in International Business and Economic Law. He received his Bachelor of Laws (LLB)from the Faculty of Law, Kuwait University in June 2007.

He is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States (since June 2024), the District of Columbia Bar (since September 2023), and the New York State Bar (since September 2013). He has also been a member of the Kuwait Bar Association since July 2007.

Head of Content Strategy, LexisNexis MENA

Lara Salem is a legal tech expert with over 17 years of experience in digital publishing and legal content strategy across the MENA region. As Head of Content Strategy at LexisNexis, she manages three key platforms: Middle East Online, Lexis MA for North Africa, and Tolley’s tax platform, while also driving the development of new legal platforms and AI-powered solutions for the region.

Lara is a recognised AI champion within LexisNexis, leading efforts to integrate generative AI into legal workflows. She supports teams with AI training, prompt engineering, and the design of new use cases that enhance editorial processes and legal research. Her work bridges technology and content to future-proof legal publishing in the Middle East.

She is also involved in expanding regional legal and tax content and collaborates with product and technology teams to ensure LexisNexis delivers cutting-edge, relevant solutions.

A frequent speaker at industry events and conferences, Lara shares insights on AI, legal innovation, and the evolving role of content in legal tech.

Business Development Director, LexisNexis Middle East & Turkey

Vincent holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a dual Master’s degree in Finance and Economics from Normandy Business School. With over a decade of experience in the legal technology sector, he has built his career within two of the world’s leading Legal Tech companies.

Currently serving as Business Development Director at LexisNexis Middle East & Turkey, Vincent leads the commercialisation of innovative legal research solutions, including LexisNexis’ cutting-edge Legal Artificial Intelligence tools. His work focuses on driving digital transformation and empowering legal professionals through technology-driven insights and solutions.