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Panelists:

• Ali Al Rashdi – Managing Partner, Bait Al Qanoon
• Mohammed Al-Khalili – Partner, Al Khalili, Al Ghailani & Co.
• Raya Al Harthy – Partner, Trowers & Hamlins

Key Discussion Points:

• Subject jurisdiction: commercial, investment, IP, PPP & FinTech disputes
• Court structure: first instance, appeals, and execution judge
• Digital process and resolution timelines
• Enforcement via dedicated judge & e-platform
• Legal and commercial implications for businesses and investors
• Entry into force; court jurisdiction for cases already in the system

Moderator: Salim Al-Sinawi – Legal Counsel at a renewable energy organisation

Panelists:

• Mohamed Al-Mamari – Legal Counsel, Vodafone Oman
• Dr. Moufid Antoine El-Khoury – Assistant Professor, Sultan Qaboos University
• Nebahat Arslan – Group General Counsel and Compliance Officer, Goodnotes
• Azzan Al Yamadi – General Counsel, IGC Oman
• Alex Ford-Cox – Senior Associate, Trowers & Hamlins
• Lara Salem – Head of Content Strategy, LexisNexis Middle East & North Africa

Key Discussion Points:

• Legal framework for digital notarization (Tawtheeq) and e-government
• Regulatory implications of Oman’s updated Data Protection Law
• How AI can support Oman’s green vision
• Data governance, cybersecurity, and legal tech transformation
• In-house innovation: Live demonstration using Lexis+ AI

Partner, BSA Law – Al Rashdi & Al Barwani Advocates & Legal Consultants

Sahil is a corporate partner with more than twenty years of experience, out of which nearly twelve have been spent practicing in Oman.

Sahil specializes in cross-border investments, corporate restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, joint ventures and regulatory matters (where he is extremely active on the transactional front), but likes to think of himself as a strong generalist. Corporate/commercial advisory also forms a significant part of his practice, including, rendering legal advice and opinions on unique aspects of company law, securities law, corporate governance, anti-trust regulations, free zone rules and employment legislation. Sahil is also engaged in various dispute resolution mandates, particularly those relating to his areas of practice, eg. shareholder disputes, commercial arbitration, regulatory challenges and disputes relating to EPC contracts.

Sahil advises a wide array of clientele including multi-national corporations, investment companies, sovereign wealth funds, free zone operators and start-ups; in terms of industry expertise, he has substantial experience counseling clients in the investment, real estate, hospitality, retail, logistics and fisheries/aquaculture spaces.

Partner, Trowers & Hamlins

Raya Al Harthy is a Partner in Trowers & Hamlins‘ International Dispute Resolution and Litigation Department and heads up the team in Oman. She is involved in high quantum and complex local and international commercial and construction litigation and arbitration.

Raya has been ranked by Chambers Global: Dispute Resolution since 2019. She has also been ranked as a “Rising Star” by Legal 500 since 2020 and has continuously appeared in the Legal 500 Private Practice Arbitration Powerlist – Middle East Region since 2021.

Raya has been named as one of the top 10 dispute resolution lawyers in Oman by Business Today and is the only female lawyer on this list. She also won the prestigious Legal 500 MENA Award in the Dispute Resolution Rising Star of the Year category in 2024 and received honourable mention at the LexisNexis Women in Law awards in the Employment Lawyer of the Year category in March 2024. 

Raya has extensive knowledge on procedural aspects of ad hoc arbitrations and settlement of disputes involving court proceedings and mediation. She also has experience in ICC, LCIA and UNCITRAL arbitrations seated in Oman.

Raya specialises in commercial litigation, tax litigation, contentious construction and employment.  She has both English and Arabic drafting capabilities.

Partner & Head of Employment and Criminal Law, Bait Al Qanoon

Abdullah is a Partner and Head of Employment and Criminal Law. With more than 17 years of legal practice, he is recognized as one of Oman’s leading advocates. Before establishing Bait Al Qanoon, Abdullah worked with two international law firms, gaining extensive cross-border experience.

He regularly advises on labor policies, disciplinary regulations, and compliance with the new Labour Law No. 53/2023. His expertise also covers complex dispute resolution, with a proven record in both court litigation and arbitration.

Beyond his core practice areas, Abdullah counsels clients on joint ventures, partnerships, consumer protection, and real estate matters, with a particular focus on the regulatory frameworks governing Oman’s Integrated Tourism Complexes (ITCs). He also advises on corporate governance principles, supporting boards and management in aligning with best practices and regulatory requirements.

Abdullah is licensed to appear before the Supreme Court of Oman.

Managing Partner & Head of Dispute Resolution, Bait Al Qanoon

Ali Al Rashdi began his career in 2006 with international law firms in Oman before co-founding Bait Al Qanoon in 2019. Over the past two decades, he has earned a strong reputation as a disputes lawyer, known for his command on Omani law and his composed approach in resolving legal matter.

Ali leads the firm’s Dispute Resolution practice, focusing on three main areas: labor disputes, criminal cases, and complex construction claims. In addition, he advises and represents clients in a wide range of commercial and corporate disputes, including shareholder conflicts. He appears before all levels of the Omani judiciary, from the Courts of First Instance to the Supreme Court and has been entrusted with high-profile and sensitive matters.

Beyond court litigation, Ali is also experienced in arbitration, both representing parties and serving as arbitrator. His approach in handling complex disputes makes him a trusted advisor to clients facing legal challenges.

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.

General Counsel, Goodnotes

Nebahat Arslan is a qualified lawyer in England and Wales. She serves as the Group General Counsel and Compliance Officer at Goodnotes, a digital note-taking app that collaborates closely with industry leaders such as Apple, Samsung, and Google.

Nebahat holds the position of Chief Partnership Officer at Women In AI, a non-profit organization focused on gender-inclusive AI. She also plays a significant role in the World Economic Forum’s AI governance and Alliance work and is a member of the EU AI Alliance.

Nebahat’s extensive experience as an AI and ethics lawyer, board member, and leader, as well as her significant experience in M&A and technology transactions, demonstrate her exceptional accomplishments. She has previously worked for companies listed on the London Stock Exchange, leading compliance, ethics, and AI functions by incorporating various technology solutions and artificial intelligence.

Legal Counsel, Vodafone Oman

Mohamed Al Mamari is part of the founding legal team at Vodafone (Oman), advising go-to-market teams across consumer and enterprise.

With 7 years of experience in the aviation and telecommunications sectors in Oman, he is interested in how in-house counsel can do more with less by leveraging AI, legal operations, and building systems that improve productivity.

Mohamed holds an LLB in Law with International Relations from the University of Sussex. His key focus areas include Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT), Information Law, and Commercial Contracts.

Legal Counsel, a government renewable energy organisation

Salim Al Sinawi is an Omani lawyer specializing in energy and environmental law. He has advised on complex projects across Oman and the UAE, with experience spanning both conventional oil and gas and the development of renewables including green hydrogen, solar, and wind.

Previously with Shell and an EIA subsidiary, Salim played a key role in overhauling contractual frameworks and advising on transactions. He now serves within a government arm of Oman’s renewable energy org, where he supports the country’s energy transition.

Salim’s expertise combines a deep understanding of Omani law with practical experience in structuring contracts and executing various projects, positioning him at the intersection of legal strategy and sustainable energy development.

Assistant Professor, Sultan Qaboos University College of Law

Dr. Moufid El-Khoury is an Assistant Professor at the College of Law, Sultan Qaboos University. His research work is focused on the intersection of law and technology, with a special emphasis on the legal landscape of the Middle East. His published research is centred on data governance, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.

Dr. El-Khoury’s recent research works have explored the impact of AI agents and full automation in the field of cybersecurity, the deployment of trustworthy AI and the evolving privacy landscape across the Middle East. He has also researched the data governance of healthcare-driven AI solutions and their deployment within various GCC privacy legal frameworks.

Dr. El-Khoury has taught law in France, Lebanon, Kuwait, and Oman. He is admitted to practise law in the State of New York, and has collaborated with regional law firms established in Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt. In this context, Dr. El-Khoury has the experience of advising multinational clients on complex transactional matters, technology-related regulatory compliance, and data protection.

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. She 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.

Legal Advisor, Al Fardan Group, Oman

Fatma Makki is an Omani lawyer qualified in England & Wales as a solicitor. Having completed her legal training in London & Dubai, she has worked in private practice for nearly 10 years, with a focus on corporate/commercial advisory in energy, projects, infrastructure and construction industries, before moving in-house.  

Fatma is currently legal advisor at Al Fardan Group in Oman, which operates across a variety of industries, notably real estate, automotive and hospitality.