Christine Khoury

Christine Khoury is a leading TMT lawyer with over 15 years of experience advising multinational corporations, government entities, and global technology companies across the GCC on data protection, cybersecurity, and AI regulation. Recognized by Chambers and Legal 500 and named a 2026 Next Generation Partner, she offers strong practical insight into complex regulatory frameworks, cross-border data transfers, and evolving compliance requirements in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Oman. Her work covers digital transformation projects, AI strategy, and emerging technology regulation, enabling her to translate legal risk into clear, commercially focused guidance for organizations operating in a rapidly evolving cyber and regulatory environment.

Clive Burrows

CLIVE BURROWS

Principal | Baker Tilly

Clive Burrows is a principal with Baker Tilly’s forensic, litigation and valuation services practice. He has more than 15 years of experience in quantifying complex forensic accounting and financial investigations for the legal and insurance markets, including loss of profits/business interruption, fraud investigations, cover holder reviews, subrogated recoveries and commercial disputes. His case work in Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific projects has brought industry knowledge in sectors relating to petrochemicals, power generation/energy, metals, construction and retail, and included leading a catastrophe response team in the Japanese insurance market following the Thai floods and Japanese earthquake.

In December 2014, Clive relocated to set up and run the Dubai office, which services the Middle East and North Africa regions.

Ahmed Elnaggar

 

AHMED ELNAGGAR
Founder | The Jurist

Ahmed Elnaggar is a seasoned legal consultant and corporate structures specialist with over a decade of experience advising businesses across the UAE, GCC, and international jurisdictions. He is the Founder and Managing Partner of Elnaggar & Partners, Founder of The Jurist, and President of the Emirates Legal Network.

Ahmed specialises in corporate and commercial law, with particular expertise in company formation, regulatory compliance, cross-border structuring, and corporate governance across UAE mainland, Free Zones, and offshore jurisdictions. His practice also covers mergers and acquisitions, real estate, labour law, and investment structuring, enabling him to deliver commercially aligned legal solutions in complex regulatory environments.

Ahmed regularly advises corporates, investors, and high-net-worth clients on managing legal risk, protecting assets, and maintaining operational continuity amid market volatility and regulatory change. His work integrates legal, commercial, and strategic considerations, particularly in areas such as contractual risk management, compliance frameworks, and business resilience.

In addition to his advisory practice, he actively contributes to the legal community through thought
leadership and professional initiatives, equipping legal professionals with practical insights to navigate
disruption and support effective decision-making.

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 | Squire Patton Boggs

Joywin Mathew is a debt capital markets lawyer and partner at global law firm Squire Patton Boggs advising sovereigns, corporates, financial institutions and asset managers on complex international debt transactions.

Joywin is also an industry recognised expert on blue finance and climate finance and works with a diverse group of stakeholders on advancing the cause of a sustainable ocean economy and in particular on how blue finance and blue bonds can play a critical role in unlocking financing for ocean initiatives including the implementation of the SDGs related to the ocean.

Joywin serves on the United Nations Global Compact’s Ocean Investment Protocol Advisory Board and a member of the Legal Experts Committee of the Centre for Sustainable Development set up by the University of Cambridge and the Commonwealth Secretariat to provide legal and strategic advice on appropriate regulatory frameworks that could enable access to funds to Small Island Developing States.

Joywin is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Blue Bond Accelerator (BBA), a new initiative from the Ocean Risk Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA) designed to drive long-term, large-scale capital flows from global fixed-income markets into the sustainable blue economy, with a particular focus on low and middle-income countries.

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.