Lisa Riddler

Lecturer, Middlesex University Dubai

Lisa studied LLB Law at Manchester Metropolitan University (UK) before undertaking the Legal Practice Course at The College of Law, Chester (UK). She is currently undertaking her MA Education and Linguistics at The Open University (UK). Lisa practiced in the UK as a Solicitor where she specialised in Family and Childcare Law. Lisa’s learning and teaching interests include the English Legal System, Equity and Trusts, Family and Children Law, Criminal Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Academic Writing and Legal Drafting.

Dr Dema Nasser Alwugyan

Dr Dema Nasser Alwugyan is an International Law professor in Kuwait University Law School. She is also a legal advisor of the Minister of Oil in Kuwait. Dr Alwugyan holds a Ph.D Degree from Kuwait Penn State Law University in the US. Previously to this, she completed a bachelor and Master degree at Kuwait University. She has been selected as a judge at Jessup international law moot court in Washington DC in 2015 and 2016 and is a legal international arbitrator in Kuwait Chamber of Commerce.

Nicholas Braganza

Nicholas is a dispute resolution and regulatory lawyer based in Dubai, with a wide range of experience in advising on internal and regulatory investigations, and also conducting litigation in court and arbitration proceedings in the Middle East.

Nicholas joined the Dubai Office of Clyde & Co in 2012, and has a broad range of experience in both commercial litigation and international arbitration in the UAE and elsewhere, advising local and multinational companies (as well as individuals) on a diverse range of complex disputes including real estate litigation, shareholder and JV disputes, and white collar matters.

Nicholas has developed a specific practice in regulatory and investigations work in recent years, and advised clients and conducted investigations on a range of topics including cases of pure theft and fraud, but also bribery and corruption, defrauding government authorities, antitrust infringements, sanctions breaches, and money laundering.

Nicholas has also expertise in the enforcement of foreign court judgments and arbitration awards in jurisdictions in the Middle East, especially in the developing jurisdiction of the DIFC.

Alya Al Zarouni

Alya Al Zarouni

Chief Operating Officer | DIFC Authority

As the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the DIFC Authority (DIFCA), Alya is responsible for setting the strategic direction of DIFCA’s operations and client experience. She brings more than 20 years of experience in developing and delivering technology-driven business services and solutions, providing outstanding client service, and driving internal efficiency through policy, process and digital transformation. Prior to her appointment as the COO, Alya assumed multiple roles across different functions in DIFCA and has led the transformation of DIFC services since 2010.

Alya was appointed as Board Member of the World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC) in 2023, an association registered in Belgium representing 19 leading international financial centres across four continents.

She has also been serving as a board member of Hawkamah: The Institute for Corporate Governance for over three years and led the DIFC Academy since its inception until 2022.

In terms of her education, Alya was at the top of her class and earned both her BSc in Computer Science and MBA from the American University of Sharjah. She has an LLM in International Business Law from the University of Paris II Pantheon Assas (Magna Cum Laude). She is a graduate of the prestigious Mohammed bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development, completing both the Young Leaders Programme and the Dubai Leaders Programme.

Hussain Hadi

Hussain Hadi heads the Middle East publishing arm of LexisNexis, which provides online access to legislation, regulatory news, case law, and practical guidance from across the MENA region. Prior to joining LexisNexis in 2011, his legal publishing experience includes roles at Oxford University Press and the Informa Group, where he managed a portfolio of commercial and banking law newsletters, books and websites. He launched the online version of the Lloyd’s Law Reports: Insurance & Reinsurance and also developed a series of legal training courses across a range of areas including patents, reinsurance, and contract drafting.

Hussain has overseen the publication of over 200 leading practitioner works on commercial and international law, as well as managing a portfolio of business magazines including the first dedicated monthly law magazine in the Middle East. Having advised government and industry associations such as the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and the General Arab Insurance Federation, Hussain has chaired and spoken at conferences in UAE, UK, Oman, Bahrain and Jordan.