People Archive - Page 2 of 41 - LexisNexis Middle East

Dragos Fundulea

19/09/202519/09/2025
by Maristela Albores

DRAGOS FUNDULEA

VP- Sustainable Practice | Kearney

Dragos Fundulea is a sustainability expert, with 15 years of experience in implementing innovative solutions for companies in the energy, industrial, and transportation sectors.

With both an engineering and business background, Dragos specializes in alternative/ green technologies (e.g., low-emission vehicles & infrastructure, liquid and gaseous biofuels, renewable solutions, energy storage), as well as the development of decarbonization and environmental strategies.

He has extensive experience across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Passionate about pragmatic approaches, he firmly believes that tailored solutions for each region/ market context should be crafted to drive zero-/ and low-carbon solutions, with coordinated efforts from all key stakeholders in the ecosystem.

Dragos advocates that sustainability will be the major driver in the future for enhanced competitiveness, superior talent acquisition & retention, as well as customer loyalty.

Nitin Agarwal

26/08/2025
by Tanya Jain

Nitin Agarwal – Director, Indirect Tax Operations at Majid Al Futtaim Holding

As Director of Indirect Tax Operations at Majid Al Futtaim Holding LLC, Nitin leads the Group’s indirect tax strategy and operations across 15+ countries, covering diverse verticals including Retail, Real Estate, Entertainment, Communities, and Digital.

He is spearheading the centralisation and transformation of the Group’s indirect tax function—building a center of excellence, standardizing processes, embedding automation, and delivering scalable, risk-managed solutions. He also serves on the UAE Federal Tax Authority’s Business Advisory Group for VAT and Excise, and have actively contributed to the UAE e-invoicing consultation group, shaping the country’s digital tax future.

Previously, he led the award-winning tax function at Majid Al Futtaim Carrefour UAE, recognised as ITR’s In-House Indirect Tax Team of the Year (EMEA) in 2023, and earned back-to-back nominations as In-House Indirect Tax Leader of the Year (2023 & 2024). With 20+ years of experience in tax, audit, finance, and project management, Nitin Spearheaded major tax initiatives, including ERP integrations, tax technology rollouts, and cross-border compliance programs in collaboration with Big 4 advisors and global teams.

He is known to lead with a people-first mindset, combining strategic clarity, technical depth, and a passion for innovation to elevate the role of tax as a value-generating function.

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.

Halil Erdem

19/08/2025
by Tanya Jain

Halil Erdem

Vice President of Tax | Tax Lawyer | Author | Lecturer

With over 13 years of extensive tax experience across Europe and the Middle East, Halil has guided international companies through complex tax landscapes in Europe and the MENAP region. His career blends advisory expertise with nearly 5 years as an in-house tax advisor, where he provided strategic guidance and successfully implemented effective tax solutions.

Halil also spent 8 years working at Big 4 firms, KPMG and PwC, where he gained invaluable experience advising clients on a wide range of tax matters. This foundation helped him build a strong technical background and the ability to address complex tax challenges with confidence.

In his most recent role, Halil established and developed a comprehensive tax function in response to the UAE’s introduction of Corporate Tax, Transfer Pricing, and Pillar 2 rules. His work included designing compliance frameworks, optimizing corporate structures, and embedding tax processes into business operations. This hands-on approach showcases his ability to translate complex regulations into practical, actionable solutions.

Halil holds a Bachelor’s in Dutch Law, a Master’s in International and European Taxation (Direct Taxes) from the University of Amsterdam, and a Post Master’s in Indirect Taxes from Maastricht University. He is the author of Fundamentals of GCC VAT, a reference for tax professionals in over 20 countries, and is currently working on a new book in the Direct Tax space. Additionally, he lectures at Middlesex University Dubai and the University of Amsterdam.

Known for his thoughtful and collaborative approach, as well as his ability to build meaningful relationships, Halil is valued by peers and professionals across the UAE, GCC, and Europe.

Kanupriya Sharma

19/08/202519/08/2025
by Tanya Jain

Kanupriya Sharma, Advocate

Kanupriya is a licensed attorney with over five years of experience specializing in corporate tax advisory, litigation, and international tax. She holds a dual degree in law and business administration, along with a master’s in tax law. Having worked with Big 4 and Tier 1 law firms in India, she has advised multinational corporations, investors, and businesses on navigating India’s tax and regulatory landscape. Her expertise includes cross-border taxation, treaty interpretation, and tax policy. She regularly writes on international tax developments, providing insights into the evolving global tax framework.

Bilal Asif

19/08/202519/08/2025
by Tanya Jain

Senior Manager Finance Operations & Taxation
ArcelorMittal Tubular Products Al Jubail

Bilal Asif is a seasoned finance and tax professional with extensive experience in tax compliance and regulatory matters. With a deep understanding of the Saudi tax landscape, he has helped corporations navigate complex taxation challenges while optimizing their tax positions.

Bilal regularly shares insights on tax developments and the digital transformation of taxation, particularly in Saudi Arabia and the GCC. He has participated in industry panels and discussions on e-invoicing and tax technology, offering thought leadership on emerging regulatory trends.

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.