Conference programme - Tuesday 11 May 2010

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS:
Dr Hussein S. Akeil, group chief legal counsel, The National Commercial Bank
H.E. Justice Ali Al Madhani, judge, DIFC Courts
Roupen Avsharian, general counsel, The Investment Dar Company
Rindala Beydoun, partner, Vinson & Elkins
David Brimacombe, consultant, former GC Middle East, Africa, Pakistan, Standard Chartered
Julia Chain, managing director, Huron Consulting Group
Bob Chandler, head of FIDS, Middle East, Ernst & Young
Lachlan Davidson, general counsel, Millennium Finance Corporation
John Deykin, chief executive officer, TMH
Fawaz Elmalki, partner, Conyers Dill & Pearman
Mark Fisher, head of corporate communications, NASDAQ Dubai
Hassan Basil Hassan, associate general counsel Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, Turkey, Russia & CIS (EAGM), GE Healthcare
Elias Hayek, vice president legal EAME, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
Lanae Holbrook, senior vice president, general counsel and head of market regulation, NASDAQ Dubai
Sadiq Jafar, managing partner, Hadef & Partners
Lewis Jones, partner, Vinson & Elkins
Jahangir Khan, director - risk & compliance, DIFC
Khalid Khan, general counsel, GEMS Education
Scott Lane, director & principal, The Red Flag Group
Mona Ashour Madi, general counsel, Unilever North Africa & Middle East
Adam Malouf, director – legal and corporate affairs, Areit Management
Liam McCollum, general counsel, GE Corporate, MEA
Fadi Mudarres, VP & general counsel, Mashreq Bank
Nigel Murray, CEO, Trilantic
May Nasrallah, former head of investment banking, Morgan Stanley
Jamie Nelson, general counsel and managing director, Dubai International Capital
Neda Salmanpur, general counsel, Kuwait Energy Company
Paul Stothard, partner, Denton Wilde Sapte
Julianne Stringer, group general counsel, Transguard Group
Robert Swade, chief legal officer, Jumeirah Group

DOWNLOAD CONFERENCE PROGRAMME (pdf)

08:15 Registration and morning coffee

08:45 Welcome address
Aninder Khera, head of content, Incisive Media

08:50 Chairman’s opening remarks
David Brimacombe, consultant, former GC Middle East, Africa, Pakistan, Standard Chartered

09:00 Opening panel discussion: Reflections on the financial crisis and the role of legal in business transformation
The shift in economic conditions has had a knock-on effect for all businesses and undoubtedly they have needed to address the changing environment in which they are operating. This panel discussion will examine the direct and indirect consequences of the economic downturn for UAE businesses.

The panel will address:
• how they are overcoming the key challenges of operating in the current business climate
• how their businesses and legal teams are responding to the changes
• the role of legal to help position their companies for future growth
Panellists
Dr Hussein S. Akeil, group chief legal counsel, The National Commercial Bank
Elias Hayek, vice president legal EAME, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
Sadiq Jafar, managing partner, Hadef & Partners
Khalid Khan, general counsel, GEMS Education
Fadi Mudarres, VP & general counsel, Mashreq Bank
Julianne Stringer, group general counsel, Transguard Group

09:45 Panel discussion: Redefining your governance strategy in the light of tougher regulation – how to avoid failure of legal compliance
The management of business risk is becoming an increasing pre-occupation for in-house counsel. Conforming to market regulations and managing areas such as conflicts require increasing attention from lawyers and risk management specialists within organisations. Firms need to be able to identify risk and then build an integrated approach to manage it. The panel will address the state of corporate governance in the Gulf and how legal teams can meet the challenges of risk management for both the regulatory authorities and their clients.

Consideration will also be given to:
• examining the next steps in risk management and the role of general counsel in identifying risk
• managing recession risks and making them advantageous to the business
• ensuring high standards of corporate governance and transparency within your company’s culture
• responding effectively to regulators and market investigations
• managing legal risk and compliance on a global scale – identifying regulatory issues on managing cross-border transactions
• establishing an effective whistle-blowing process and understanding your ethical obligation
• identifying problems and understanding considerations, together with preserving privilege as a result of an internal investigation
• the future regulation of in-house lawyers – how can Government-owned companies rise to the challenge of ensuring good governance?
Moderator
Robert Swade, chief legal officer, Jumeirah Group
Panellists
David Brimacombe, consultant, former GC Middle East, Africa, Pakistan, Standard Chartered
Jahangir Khan, director - risk & compliance, DIFC
Scott Lane, director & principal, The Red Flag Group
Adam Malouf, director – legal and corporate affairs, Areit Management

10:45 Morning coffee break

11:15 Interactive focus groups
(Based on a boardroom-style format, the interactive sessions will allow delegates to actively participate in the discussion)

Islamic finance: Deal structuring top tips to financing projects
- Understanding the changing boundaries
- Examining the new concepts in Islamic finance that will catch fire in 2010
- Exploring the new initiatives to financing projects
Fawaz Elmalki, associate, Conyers Dill & Pearman
Adam Malouf, director – legal and corporate affairs, Areit Management

Crisis management: Maintaining stability through effective communication in a crisis
- Avoiding exposure and protecting yourself and the business
- Ensuring a suitable communications policy and establishing when legal directors should seek independent advice
- Protecting the company brand and reputational risk
- Handling negative publicity and cleaning up your company’s reputation
- Developing a successful contingency plan
Bob Chandler, head of FIDS, Middle East, Ernst & Young
Mark Fisher, head of corporate communications, NASDAQ Dubai
Lachlan Davidson, general counsel, Millennium Finance Corporation

Alternative career progression: Moving over to the business side
- Growing and succeeding in your career as general counsel and branch out to other management roles
- Understanding the key people and leadership issues/skills associated with this transformation
- Analysing the challenges and opportunities available in the organisation
- Establishing the right time to hang up your legal hat and transfer your skills to another part of the business
Hassan Basil Hassan, associate general counsel, Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, Turkey, Russia & CIS (EAGM), GE Healthcare
Liam McCollum, general counsel, GE Corporate, MEA
Nigel Murray, CEO, Trilantic

12:30 Networking lunch

13.30 Interactive focus groups
(Based on a boardroom-style format, the interactive sessions will allow delegates to actively participate in the discussion)

Team development: Effectively managing your team’s career development while adding value in the legal department
– Analysing to what extent do you let your team members grow?
– Effective delegation of duties and team management - exploring better ways to motivate team members
– Ensuring both you and your team develop and achieve a greater degree of job satisfaction
– Integrating performance management and KPIs
– Engaging with your teams and creating value to ensure high levels of retention
Julia Chain, managing director, Huron Consulting Group
Lanae Holbrook, senior vice president, general counsel and head of market regulation, NASDAQ Dubai

Arbitrate or litigate: Constructive ways to get out of disputes
- Navigating the variables when choosing between arbitration, mediation or litigation
- Balancing the pressures for quality and cost reductions - effective cross-border litigation and case management
- Assuming a pro-active role in dispute management
- Examining GCC wide arbitration judgements
- Enforcing foreign judgements in the UAE courts
Mona Ashour Madi, general counsel, Unilever North Africa & Middle East
H.E. Justice Ali Al Madhani, judge, DIFC Courts
Neda Salmanpur, general counsel, Kuwait Energy Company
Paul Stothard, partner, Denton Wilde Sapte

Restructuring your business for optimal performance: Avoiding common pitfalls
- Understanding the increasing importance of the role of legal in the restructuring processes
- Aligning your in-house team with the business and demonstrating maximum ROI
- Exploring the critical areas of exposure and avoiding common pitfalls
- Positioning the business for recovery and identifying it as a strategic leader
Roupen Avsharian, general counsel, The Investment Dar Company
Rindala Beydoun, partner, Vinson & Elkins
Lewis Jones, partner, Vinson & Elkins
May Nasrallah, former head of investment banking, Morgan Stanley

14:45 Afternoon coffee break

15:15 Masterclass: Positioning the general counsel as a brand and becoming the go-to person
In the legal sector, excellence and expertise are expected as the norm and to stand out requires clear differentiation created through a strong, clearly-defined brand. This masterclass, led by branding expert John Deykin from the leading international brand agency, The Media House, will explore how to achieve your brand by creating a highly-focused team that shares a common approach to shaping the legal department as the go-to place and the general counsel as the go-to person.

Master how to:
• get total commitment to quality and accountability via branding and become recognised as a leader within your organisation
• strive to be the best and deliver precisely-engineered communications between your teams and the business
• articulate yourself in a compelling and powerful way that can be easily understood internally and externally
• create a legal brand that resonates with the organisation and become an invaluable go-to person for business development
• harness creativity with a long-term strategic vision to drive your business forward
John Deykin, chief executive officer, TMH

16:45 Closing keynote address: Managing the balance between your role as in-house counsel and a successful business leader
As the role of general counsel is progressing to that of a business leader, this keynote will explore how corporate counsel can demonstrate value to the boardroom and be regarded as a trusted business partner.

The session will examine:
• the necessary skills and competencies that are needed to fulfil this role
• whether lawyers are well suited to this role or whether the functions should be kept separate
• what it takes for a good lawyer to become an exceptional business leader and how in-house counsel can make that transition
Jamie Nelson, general counsel and managing director, Dubai International Capital

17:20 Closing remarks from chairman
David Brimacombe, consultant, former GC Middle East, Africa, Pakistan, Standard Chartered

17:30 Close of conference and networking reception