Robert Whitehead

ROBERT WHITEHEAD

Partner | HAS Law Firm

Robert Whitehead, Partner at HAS Law Firm, is a highly accomplished disputes lawyer with deep expertise in commercial fraud, asset tracing, and cross-border enforcement. His broad practice spans complex commercial and financial disputes involving property, infrastructure, banking, finance, and shareholder matters, often intersecting with allegations of fraud and misconduct.

Before relocating to the UAE, Robert practiced at Clyde & Co LLP in London, where he represented international blue-chip clients before the Commercial Court, Chancery Division, and the Court of Appeal in large-loss, multi-party, and cross-jurisdictional disputes. This foundation gives him exceptional insight into both common law litigation and international enforcement dynamics.

In the UAE, Robert has developed substantial experience before the DIFC Courts and various arbitral tribunals under DIAC, DIFC-LCIA, and ICC rules. His notable work includes leading a USD 90 million fraud claim in the DIFC Courts and successfully defending complex jurisdictional challenges on behalf of international liquidators and financial institutions.

With a focus on multi-jurisdiction enforcement of judgments and arbitral awards, Robert routinely advises clients on applicable law, jurisdictional conflicts, and strategic asset recovery. His ability to bridge DIFC and offshore legal frameworks positions him as one of the region’s foremost practitioners in fraud litigation and enforcement.

Holding an LLB (Hons) from Durham University and the LPC from York College of Law, Robert brings both academic rigour and extensive practical experience, making him exceptionally qualified to lead this course on commercial fraud and asset recovery in MENA.

Joywin Mathew

Joywin Mathew

Partner | DLA Piper

Joywin Mathew has a broad debt capital markets, structured finance and debt finance practice spanning over 19 years in London, Singapore and presently, in the UAE.

Joywin routinely handles a wide range of public and private international debt transactions, and other complex high value debt transactions including project bonds, loan-on-loan (back leverage facilities) transactions, hybrid finance and other innovative debt finance products. Joywin’s clients include investment funds, private credit funds, sovereign governments, multinational corporates, financial institutions and other alternative credit providers.

Joywin is “recommended” by Legal 500 UK, 2020 for Debt Capital Markets.

Darren Perrin

DR. DARREN PERRIN

Partner | Kearney

Dr. Darren Perrin, Partner at Kearney Abu Dhabi, brings over 25 years of global expertise in sustainability and public sector strategy. ​

​He has advised governments, regulators, and C-suite leaders, including for high-profile projects like NEOM on ESG policy, waste management systems, and circular economy strategies. With a PhD in recycling behaviour and a track record of training 2,000+ professionals worldwide, Darren combines deep technical knowledge with real-world impact. ​

​His experience leading environmental consulting across Europe, the Middle East, and Australia makes him uniquely qualified to guide lawyers and professionals through ESG compliance and strategy in the UAE and beyond.

Ammar El Banna

AMMAR EL BANNA

Founder and Managing Partner | Incept Legal

Ammar is the Founder and the Managing Partner of Incept Legal with offices in Dubai and Cairo. ​

​He brings 17 years of outstanding legal experience in the Middle East. He also worked at international firms, notably Stephenson Harwood (“SH”), and have advised and acted for multinational corporate clients and high-net-worth clients across contentious and non-contentious matters including clients in management consultancy, oil and gas, insurance, health and pharmaceutical, real estate development, government bodies, industrial, hospitality, media, entertainments, banks, payment solutions and finance. Before joining SH, Ammar worked over nine years with Hadef & Partners. ​

​Ammar is an approved legal trainer for the Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department, delivering continuing legal education and training to other law practitioners in both English and Arabic.

Lara Salem

LARA SALEM

Head of Content Strategy | LexisNexis Middle East

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 14 years 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.

Holding a bachelor’s degree in political science, a civil law degree, and a common law degree, Lara Salem brings a diverse and comprehensive understanding of the legal landscape. Lara’s commitment to personal growth and leadership is further exemplified by her certification as a coach, underscoring her multifaceted expertise and dedication to the legal tech industry.

Dr. Christel Marshall

DR. CHRISTEL MARSHALL

CMO | HAS Law Firm

Dr. Marshall brings over 27 years of experience in strategy, marketing, and business development across the legal, tech, and research sectors in Africa and the MENA
region. She specialises in transformational branding, rebranding, and demand generation through innovative platforms, high-impact events, and performance marketing.

Known for turning insight into action, she designs bespoke strategies that drive sustainable ROI and business growth. Dr. Marshall is recognised for building high-performing, diverse teams and developing best-practice frameworks adopted across firms.
A confident lecturer and communicator, she cultivates strategic networks and delivers thought leadership that inspires change. Her passion lies in positioning legal services
for growth through bold, research-driven marketing.

Salma Achour Khouaja

SALMA ACHOUR KHOUAJA

Senior Associate | HFW

Salma is a Senior Associate in the Dubai insurance and reinsurance team. She joined HFW as an Associate in the Dubai office in January 2016.

Before that, in 2012, Salma joined the legal and compliance department of a leading Abu Dhabi based national insurance company and gained significant experience working with Underwriting, Risk Management and Claims departments. She understands client’s expectations and needs.

Salma has completed a masters degree in professional liability insurance and has extensive experience in professionals liabilities insurance including medical malpractice and professional indemnity claims.

As well as handling litigation, coverage, regulatory and commercial matters, her duties also included participating in the Abu Dhabi Department of Health (previously HAAD) project for the standardisation of the group medical insurance policy. Salma worked also on a project of standardisation of the Arabic version of insurance policies for a leading Dubai based insurance company.

Salma’s practice focuses on insurance/re-insurance litigation, including subrogation/recovery claims, defence work, coverage disputes, civil and commercial litigation.

John Barlow

JOHN BARLOW

Partner | HFW

John heads the Middle East Financial Institutions and Regulatory Practice at HFW.

John advises banks, insurers and reinsurers of Financial Institutions in connection with their fidelity, computer crime, D&O, PI/Civil Liability and cyber liability programmes, and on claims that arise under these products. John has handled and settled many of the most significant global claims to find their way into the London insurance and reinsurance market over the last two decades.

As part of his practice, John advises the broad swathe of financial institutions, insurers and brokers in the Middle East region on all regulatory issues.

As head of HFW’s regulatory practice in Dubai, John assists insurers, brokers and MGAs wishing to establish a presence on the DIFC platform and in the broader region. John and his team’s work includes advising on set-ups and compliance and guides clients from the initial approach to the relevant regulatory authority (in whichever jurisdiction) to the obtaining of the required licence. John advises also on the selling of financial products, admission of insurers and the dealing of sophisticated financial instruments.

Philip Punwar

PHILIP PUNWAR

Independent Arbitrator | Outer Temple Chambers

Philip Punwar is an English qualified practitioner with more than twenty-five years’ arbitration experience.

His recent arbitral engagements have concerned real-estate Mega Projects in the Gulf, investment treaty claims arising out of the MENA and South Asia regions, aircraft charter agreements, concession agreements in the water sector and technology disputes in the finance and healthcare sectors.

Philip has appeared as counsel before all levels of court in England and the Dubai International Financial Centre, up to and including the Courts of Appeal of each jurisdiction. He was the first practitioner resident in the UAE to be registered as a DIFC Courts advocate, and the first DIFC Courts practitioner to be appointed by the DIFC Courts to the role of Supervising Legal Representative (SLR).

He was an International Dispute Resolution Partner at both Fulbright & Jaworski LLP (2009-2013) and Baker Botts LLP (2013 – 2022).

Philip has significant experience of the laws and practices of both civil and common law jurisdictions gained as counsel and arbitrator in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. He has a proven ability to work collaboratively as part of a team and when necessary to assemble and lead interdisciplinary teams of geographically dispersed professionals in the prosecution and defence of complex and high value disputes.

He is a member of the Abu Dhabi Global Markets (ADGM) Panel of Arbitrators, the Saudi Centre for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA) Panel of Arbitrators and the International Panel of the Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa (AFSA).

Peter Smith

PETER SMITH

Legal Director | Charles Russell Speechlys LLP

Peter is a Legal Director at Charles Russell Speechlys LLP based in the firm’s Dubai office.

Peter is barrister with experience of a wide range of civil and commercial disputes and sectors, including
arbitration, banking and finance, company, employment, insurance, insolvency, media, real estate, technology
and construction, and professional negligence.

In the Legal 500 (UAE Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and International Litigation), Peter was recommended as a
‘Rising Star’ in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 and was described as “notable” in 2019. He was included in the
inaugural Legal 500 Arbitration Powerlist Middle East in 2022 and again in 2023.

Peter is admitted to practise in England and Wales (barrister), Dubai International Financial Centre (Part 1 and
Part 2 registered), and the Emirate of Dubai. He has appeared before the ADGM Court of First Instance and has
rights of audience at the Astana International Financial Centre Court (2019).