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Rome: Capturing the pulse of the Arab legal community, the 4th Arab Lawyers Forum gathered 300 delegates at the Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria Resort to discuss the impact of global trends and regional regulatory reform. Timed to take place alongside the International Bar Association (IBA) Annual Conference (7th-12th October) in Rome, the Forum has expanded in scope since it was previously held in Morocco, Egypt and Bahrain.
The event was brought to a close with a powerful speech from Mohamed Salah Ben Aissa, the former Minister of Justice for Tunisia and Emeritus Professor of Public Law. Professor Mohamed shared the lessons of the Tunisian experience in strengthening the rule of law; for which the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet was awarded the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize for "its decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia in the wake of the Tunisian Revolution of 2011". A key lesson learned was the importance of focusing on strengthening the economy during the democratic transitional period, and not on constitutional reform alone.
Speaking on behalf of the event organizing committee, Essam Al Tamimi, Senior Partner (Al Tamimi & Co) said: “In hosting the Arab Lawyers Forum on the periphery of one of the largest legal gatherings, and opening attendance to all Arab lawyers in private practice and General Counsel positions worldwide, the Forum provides an elevated platform to comingle international and Arab expertise, discuss the most pressing challenges and trends shaping the legal services industry, and foster deeper ties with the international legal community.”
With 25 industry leading speakers and panellists – including Fadi Ghandour, Founder (Aramex), Najwa Attiga, General Counsel (Emirates Investment Authority), and Asma Muttawa, General Counsel (OPEC) – the Arab Lawyers Forum explored the latest trends and put forward recommendations across a range of topics including:
Family matters: While family-run businesses account for 70-80% of the private sector across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), research reveals that less than 40% of families have a formalized succession plan in place. Lawyers and regulatory authorities must do more to help businesses navigate governance and management structures, while addressing the risks of inheritance disputes.
Legal tech: In the race to innovate, law firms and companies are responding to new technology trends including document automation, machine learning, and contract analytics, as well as the emergence of online marketplaces and disruptive outsourcing models. Balancing client expectations with engrained practices and cautious cultural mind-sets requires bold leadership.
General counsel and law firms: As corporate counsel continue to deal with the “more for less” challenge through seeking greater efficiency, the call for streamlining the relationship with outside counsel grows stronger. A fresh look at team tactics should consider cultural differences notable within Arab law firms.
Arbitration: The increasing sophistication of arbitration in the GCC is highlighted by ongoing regulatory reform; including the UAE’s new arbitration law and recent executive regulations clarifying Saudi Arabia’s arbitration law. Arab lawyers recognize the importance of comparing civil and common Law approaches to arbitration, particularly with reference to witness statements, disclosures, and evidentiary hearing.
LexisNexis, which provides the largest legal database in the Middle East, is one of the strategic partners of the event and is supporting the thought leadership objectives of the Forum. Guillaume Deroubaix, Managing Director MENA (LexisNexis) said: “We are delighted to partner with Al Tamimi on this ambitious event, which reflects the commitment of the Arab legal community to embracing global engagement and best practice.”
The Arab Lawyers Forum organizing committee was thankful for the support of the event sponsors including the International Bar Association, Al Tamimi, Al Aidarous Advocates, Deloitte, RAK International Corporate Centre, Saffery Champness, Arab Arbitration Forum, and LexisNexis
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About Al Tamimi & Co
Al Tamimi & Co is the largest law firm in the Middle East with 17 offices across nine countries. The firm has unrivalled experience, having operated in the region for over 25 years. A full-service firm, it specializes in advising and supporting major international corporations, banks and financial institutions, government organisations and local, regional and international companies. Our main areas of expertise include arbitration & litigation, banking & finance, corporate & commercial, intellectual property, real estate, construction & infrastructure, and technology, media & telecommunications. www.tamimi.com
About LexisNexis
LexisNexis is a leading global provider of legal, regulatory and business information and analytics that help customers increase productivity, improve decision-making and outcomes, and advance the rule of law around the world. As a digital pioneer, the company was the first to bring legal and business information online with its Lexis® and Nexis® services. LexisNexis Legal & Professional, which serves customers in more than 130 countries with 10,000 employees worldwide, is part of RELX Group, a global provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries. www.lexis.ae
Media contacts:
Sharon Danso-Missah
S.Missah@tamimi.com
Sanahine Kassabian
Sanahine.kassabian@lexisnexis.fr
www.arablawyersforum.com
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