Speakers Archives - LexisNexis Middle East

Sam Wakerley

21/04/2026
by Hannah Gutang

SAM WAKERLEY

Partner | HFW

Sam is an English qualified lawyer and Head of Insurance and Reinsurance for HFW in the Middle East.

Sam has been based in the Dubai office since 2005 and has advised on some of the region’s largest energy, marine, property, liability, construction and PI insurance/reinsurance claims as well as complex treaty reinsurance disputes covering a range of risks including motor, medical and life. Sam also advises on commercial disputes within the insurance industry and generally, including broker E&O, TPA, shareholder, JV and other commercial disputes. His work involves general advisory work, all forms of arbitration, supervising local court litigation, DIFC / ADGM court work, English High Court work and mediation.

Sam is a registered practitioner with rights of audience before the DIFC Courts (Part II), and ADGM Courts. Sam is also a DIAC-registered arbitrator.

Ahmed Elnaggar

25/03/2026
by Hannah Gutang

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.

Dr. Aseel Zimmo FCIArb

13/11/202513/11/2025
by Hannah Gutang

DR. ASEEL ZIMMO FCIARB
Commercial Arbitrator, Mediator, Lawyer & Director, Traction4Business

Dr. Aseel Zimmo FCIArb is a distinguished international commercial arbitrator, mediator, and lawyer with over 15 years of experience in dispute resolution across the Middle East and beyond. Her expertise spans complex disputes in construction, telecommunications, real estate, corporate transactions, and general commercial matters. She has acted in both institutional and ad hoc proceedings conducted in Arabic and English under leading arbitration rules, including ICC, LCIA, DIAC, CRCICA, OAC, GCCCAC, and UNCITRAL.

A Fellow and faculty member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), Dr. Zimmo serves on numerous regional and international arbitration panels such as the LCIA, SCCA, DIAC, CRCICA, LAMC, and OAC. She is also a registered arbitrator and mediator with the Bahraini Ministry of Justice and sits on the advisory committee of the Mediation Hub. Her mediation practice covers commercial, corporate, family business, real estate, and construction disputes. Notably, she contributed to the drafting of
Bahrain’s mediation law and regulations, demonstrating her leadership in shaping the region’s ADR landscape.

Dr. Zimmo has designed and delivered advanced training programs in arbitration, mediation, and negotiation through globally recognized institutions including CIArb and the Judicial and Legal Studies Institute. She is a frequent speaker at international conferences such as Dubai Arbitration Week, Riyadh International Disputes Week, and London International Disputes Week, where she shares insights on dispute resolution trends and institutional developments.

Previously serving as an advisor to Bahrain’s Chief Justice and Minister of Justice, she played a key role in legislative drafting and reforms to the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (BCDR). Dr. Zimmo holds an LLM from King’s College London and a PhD in International Commercial Arbitration from the London School of Economics, and is admitted to practice in both New York and Jordan, bridging civil and common law.

Robert Whitehead

12/10/202512/10/2025
by Hannah Gutang

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.

HANAN AL QENNAH

03/10/202503/10/2025
by Maristela Albores

HANAN AL QENNAH

Partner | HAS Law

Hanan Al Qennah is a seasoned legal strategist with nearly 30 years of experience advising governments, corporations, and international institutions across the UAE, Jordan, and the wider MENA region. Her expertise spans regulatory frameworks in tourism, oil and gas, construction, and corporate law. She has held senior roles including Head of Policy Advocacy at Dubai Chambers and Legal Counsel at the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, where she played a key role in shaping sector-wide legal reforms.

Hanan has collaborated with Big Four firms on regulatory development and compliance strategies, and her work has influenced legislation across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Oman. She is known for her ability to translate complex legal landscapes into actionable policy and governance models.

With over 500 lectures delivered on law, regulation, and policy advocacy, Hanan brings a wealth of practical insight to emerging legal challenges—particularly in the fast-evolving field of artificial intelligence. She holds an LLM from Warwick University and executive training from Harvard, and is admitted to practice in Jordan. Her session will bridge global AI regulatory trends with UAE legal realities, offering legal professionals strategic tools for compliance and advisory.

Joywin Mathew

21/08/202512/11/2025
by Benjamin Filaferro

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

12/08/202519/09/2025
by Benjamin Filaferro

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

12/08/202514/08/2025
by Benjamin Filaferro

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

23/07/202514/08/2025
by Benjamin Filaferro

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.

Hamdan Al Shamsi

22/07/2025
by Benjamin Filaferro

Hamdan Al Shamsi

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.