Hayley Wilkins

Manager (HR & Legal), Michael Page Middle East

Hayley joined Michael Page Middle East from the UK in August 2013 to help build the Page Personnel business and the Human Resources practice. She started her career in recruitment in 2011 working for one of the leading consultancies in the UK. ​She currently manages the HR & Legal practices and specializes in placing mid to senior level HR professionals across UAE & KSA. She sits within a wide network of HR professionals and has established relationships with key HR figures in the region over the last 5 years. ​

Dr. Zaid Mahayni

Senior Vice-President for Legal, Chief Legal Consultant and Board Secretary, SEDCO Holding

Dr. Zaid Mahayni specializes in commercial law and dispute resolution, with a focus on the Saudi Arabian and Middle Eastern market. After qualifying as a lawyer in Quebec 2002, Zaid spent 10 years in private practice with the Law Firm of Hassan Mahassni, in collaboration with White & Case and other international firms. As a practitioner, Zaid has been praised by clients for his “professionalism and concise responses”, “cross border capability”, and “unparalleled local knowledge and client commitment” (Legal 500, 2011-2015). He has also been recognized as a ‘rising star’ (IFLR 1000, 2015). Subsequently, Zaid took up an in-house position within Saudi Economic and Development Holding Co, first as vice head of legal and, since February 2017, as head. His contributions in that role have so far earned him various accolades and awards, including the ‘General Counsel of the Year (Large Team)’ award in 2018 and inclusion in the Legal500 GC Powerlist in the Middle East. Zaid also dedicates much of his spare time to writing and teaching. He is a prolific author on Saudi law and practice.

Nasreen Alissa

Founder, The Law Firm of Nasreen Abdulrahman Alissa

Nasreen is an attorney specializing in corporate law with experience in foreign investments, company incorporation, labor law and bankruptcy law.

Prior to opening her own law firm, Nasreen worked as an attorney at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP in association with The Law Firm of Salah Al-Hejailan for five years.

She also participates in charitable work and provides advice in family law matters, in addition to helping women in Saudi Arabia understand their rights through her legal mobile application, KnowYourRights, aimed to empower Saudi women. The mobile application is the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia and in the region.

Areas of Focus: Corporate, Intellectual Property and Information Technology

Education: LLB from Nottingham Law School, BA in Sociology from the University of British Columbia, LLM from City University, LPC from City University

Thomas Bicknell

Partner, Pinsent Masons

Tom specialises in Financial services and corporate insurance.

Fatma Makki

Associate, Clyde & Co

Fatma is an Associate in the Corporate department of Clyde & Co’s Muscat office. She is a UK qualified solicitor and has worked in London and Dubai before returning to Muscat. She advises a wide range of clients from the private sector (local entrepreneurs to multi-national companies) and the public sector. Her practice is mainly transactional with a focus on energy, projects and infrastructure, however has also advised on transactions in healthcare, education and the finance sector.

Matthew Heaton

Head of Office, Head of Banking & Finance – Qatar

Matthew Heaton is the Head of Office in Qatar, and he also forms part of Qatar’s Banking & Finance practice.

Matthew has broad experience of all aspects of finance law, acting for both borrowers and lenders.  Prior to joining, Matthew was a banking & finance partner based in London at a leading global law firm.  He has particular expertise in acquisition and leveraged finance, corporate lending and real estate finance. He advises borrowers, funders, sponsors (including banks, equity and debt funds, listed corporates, private companies and mezzanine funders). He also advises on syndicated, club and bilateral financings. He has broad experience of leveraged finance and private equity transactions, and in advising purchasers and sellers of stressed and distressed loan portfolios.

In addition, Matthew has experience of general corporate and commercial transactions.

Thenji Moyo

Partner, Gateley Middle East

Thenji Moyo is an award-winning lawyer that heads the Gateley Middle East employment practice and is a qualified specialist Employment Legal Director advising on all UAE and DIFC employment law. Thenji is ranked in Chambers and Partners and a qualified specialist Employment Legal Director advising on all UAE and DIFC employment law.

Thenji has extensive experience working in employment law advising blue chip, multinational, regional, local and private clients from all industry sectors.

Thenji works closely with the employment local litigation counsel to file employment claims at the Dubai Courts via the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation and she is a legal practitioner registered with the DIFC Courts. Thenji works closely with the UAE free zones and currently volunteers with the DIFC and DMCC pro-bono clinic. Thenji is the appointed employee representative on the Supervisory Board for the newly established DIFC Employee Workplace Savings Scheme.

Thenji was awarded the Employment Lawyer of the Year at the first G.C.C. Lexis Nexis Women in Law Awards 2022 for her outstanding contributions to the legal industry. In 2021, she led the Gateley team in various gender equality initiatives and introduced an aggressive training campaign aimed at the promotion of equality within the workplace. The firm was awarded with the Equality Initiative of the Year at the Lexis Nexis Women in Law Awards and the Middle East Legal Awards 2022. Thenji is also a published author and an adjunct lecturer at Middlesex University (Dubai).

Amgad Husein

Partner, Hourani & Partners

Amgad is a US-trained and qualified Partner with almost two decades of experience in Saudi Arabia. Amgad specializes in advising major American, European, and Asian banking, industrial, and corporate institutions doing business in Saudi Arabia. Chambers and Partners cites Amgad as: “good, solid corporate and commercial regulatory lawyer” and that Amgad “consistently impresses with his advice and assistance”. Clients are full of praise for Amgad, with one saying: “much of the value comes from Amgad. He rolls up his sleeves and gives good, helpful advice. He is dedicated and always on call”. Amgad is recommended for his “practical approach and very good understanding of the Saudi commercial and governmental environment”.

Prior to joining the Firm, Amgad managed the Riyadh office of a global law firm.

Anas Akel

Partner, Hourani & Partners

Anas US-trained and qualified Partner with over a decade of corporate and commercial experience in the Kingdom. Anas regularly advises companies and foreign investors on a wide array of corporate, commercial, and cross-border transactions and disputes, and has handled matters in the United States, Latin America, and the Middle East. Chambers and Partners cites Anas as: “advises foreign companies and investors on the full gamut of corporate issues, including corporate governance and market entry. He also guides clients on regulatory compliance and employment matters.” His background also includes representation on corporate governance, regulatory compliance, insurance, and capital markets matters. Anas lecturers at the Prince Mohammad bin Salman College of Business and Entrepreneurship and advises start-ups at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.

Prior to joining the Firm, Anas founded and managed the Jeddah office of a global law firm. He also previously served as the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for a publicly listed insurance company in Saudi Arabia.

Edlyn Verzola

Senior Associate, ASAR, Kuwait

Edlyn Verzola is a Senior Associate with ASAR and has been with the firm since April 2002. She specializes in general corporate law, labour, immigration, intellectual property, franchising, agency, data protection, internet regulations and anti-bribery and corruption regulations of Kuwait. Edlyn is a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (since in 1993), UP Women’s Lawyers Circle and PI Gamma Mu Honor Society. Edlyn completed her Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications in  1998 and received her Bachelor of Law in 1992, both from the University of the Philippines. Edlyn’s practice languages are English and Tagalog.