Speakers

​Jeremy is an international corporate lawyer of over 25 years’ standing. He specialises in public and private mergers, acquisitions and divestments; public and private fund formation and asset management; PE/VC/buyouts; ECM and DCM; joint ventures; oil and gas projects (upstream and downstream); other greenfield and brownfield projects; and corporate and commercial law. He is Head of Corporate at SASLO and his practice has focussed on the Middle East since 2011.
Jeremy graduated with first class honours from Cambridge University in 1994 and is a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales. He joined SASLO in 2019 from a private equity law firm, where he was a partner. Jeremy has also worked in senior positions for UK magic and silver circle law firms out of Dubai, London, and Beijing and for a leading US law firm out of Singapore. He is recognised in the major legal directories and regularly contributes to legal journals and other publications in the region.

Malcolm Dickinson is SASLO’s first Chief Executive Officer. He is a successful law firm leader with particular expertise in strategy. He has a law degree from Cambridge University and trained as a solicitor in the City of London. He then spent several years as legal counsel in a global corporation before joining the UK Law firm Michelmores in 1989. As head of its corporate department, he advised on all forms of corporate finance work and a broad range of other corporate and commercial advice. Malcolm became the first Managing Partner at Michelmores in 2008 and stood down after 10 years in 2018. Under his leadership the turnover of the firm grew from £11 million to £40 million. He also has extensive experience of operating in China and advised on the creation of the first UK regulated ABS law firm owned by Chinese lawyers called Yangtze Law.

Asad is a leading senior capital markets, banking and finance, natural resources and corporate/commercial lawyer and, in addition to practising law in Oman, is a barrister of the Bar Council of England and Wales and is qualified to practice law in England and Wales, as a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales, and in Pakistan, as an Advocate of the High Courts of Pakistan. With over 23 years of experience gained in the Sultanate of Oman, Pakistan and the United Kingdom, Mr. Qayyum leads the multi-award winning boutique law firm, MAQ Legal (Al Maamary, Al Abri & Co.), which was awarded Rising Star Law Firm of the Year for the Middle Easy and North Africa by IFLR 2024 and which has had the privilege of advising on all IPOs in 2023 and 2024. In addition, MAQ Legal regularly the Government of the Sultanate of Oman, the Oman Investment Authority, Energy Development Oman, Total S.A., Oman Air SAOC, OQ SAOC, OQ Exploration and Production SAOG, OQ Base Industries SAOG, OQ Gas Networks SAOG, Abraj Energy Services SAOG, ASYAD Group and almost all of the banks in Oman. Mr. Qayyum is a highly regarded and ranked lawyer in all major publications and has had the distinct privilege of advising on a majority of debt capital market issuances in the Sultanate of Oman. Mr. Qayyum also led the Capital Markets Team at MAQ Legal on the successful IPOs of OQ Exploration and Production SAOG, OQ Base Industries SAOG, OQ Gas Networks SAOG and Abraj Energy Services SAOG with the distinction of being the only firm that advised on all IPOs in Oman in 2023 and 2024.

Riyadh is the Chief Executive Officer at Decree. Prior to working at Decree, he worked for over 16 years as a legal advisor in the Ministry of Legal Affairs and later its successor the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs. His areas of subject matter expertise include public international law, technology law, and intellectual property. He holds an LLB from the University of Cardiff, an LLM in IT and Commerce from Southampton University, and a PhD from SOAS, University of London.

Yousuf is the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors at Decree and a Senior Legal Counsel at Asyad. He is an Oman and English-law qualified lawyer with over 10 years of experience working for the government of Oman, in private practice, and in state-owned enterprises in the power, water, and logistics sectors. His areas of subject matter expertise include power projects, water desalination projects, climate change, and corporate governance. He holds an LLB from the University of Hull, an LLM in International Commercial Law from the University of Birmingham, and an MBA from Waseda University in Japan.

Raya is a Partner in Trowers & Hamlins’ International Dispute Resolution and Litigation Department and heads up the team in Oman, where she is involved in high quantum and complex local and international commercial and construction litigation and arbitration. Raya has been ranked by Chambers Global: Dispute Resolution since 2019, where she is described as “highly accomplished with a strong track record in construction and employment litigation. She is also experienced in both English and Arabic language ad hoc arbitrations, as well as appearing before the ICC”. Raya has also been ranked as a “rising star” by Legal 500 since 2020 and has continuously appeared in the Legal 500 Private Practice Arbitration Powerlist – Middle East Region since 2021. Raya has been named as one of the top ten dispute resolution lawyers in Oman by Business Today and is the only female lawyer on this list. Raya has also won the prestigious Legal 500 MENA Award in the Dispute Resolution Rising Star of the Year category in 2024 and received honourable mention at the LexisNexis Women in Law awards in the Employment Lawyer of the Year category in March 2024. Raya has extensive knowledge on procedural aspects of ad hoc arbitrations and settlement of disputes involving court proceedings and mediation. Raya also has experience in ICC, LCIA and UNCITRAL arbitrations seated in Oman. Raya was also an advocate before the Omani courts for 6 years. During that time, Raya gained extensive insight into local court proceedings. Raya specialises in commercial litigation, tax litigation, contentious construction and employment. Raya has both English and Arabic drafting capabilities.

Nic is Co-Managing Partner Oman and a market leading litigator. He is highly experienced in commercial, construction and insurance disputes. Nic has appeared in an array of major arbitrations before the International Chamber of Commerce, London Court of International Arbitration, Singapore International Arbitration Centre and in various ad hoc proceedings. Whilst practicing in the Sultanate of Oman, Nic has been instructed in some of the most significant and market leading disputes in the nation. He works closely with DLA’s in-house team of Omani advocates in advising clients on disputes before higher courts in the Sultanate. Nic regularly acts for major international investors and prominent commercial and government sector enterprises. He often advises on non-contentious matters such as insurance and cyber risk and construction project documentation, including Omani Standard Form and FIDIC contracts. Nic is ranked prominently in both Chambers & Partners and Legal 500, with one review noting: “Nic Henrikson has that valuable ability of quickly being able identify the key issues and advise on them unambiguously.’” One client remarked: “[He] is often seen as the first choice among larger international firms for advice on Omani law issues.” Another client remarked: “Nic Henrikson is very easy to deal with, commercial and sharp – highly recommended.” He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK).

Ali is a non-executive director at Decree. He has over 16 years of experience working as a lawyer for the government of Oman, in private practice, and in a state-owned enterprise in the waste management sector. His areas of subject matter expertise include environmental law, commercial law, and litigation. He holds an LLB from the University of Swansea, an LLM in French and European Union Law from Cergy-Pontoise University in France, and an LLM in International Commercial Law from the University of Dundee.

Leyan Al Mawali is the Group Chief Legal Officer at Asyad Group, Oman’s global integrated logistics provider, where she leads the legal function across the Group and its business units, with assets ranging from shipping, logistics, ports and freezones, public services and drydock. With more than 15 years of legal experience, Leyan has developed a wealth of expertise across a wide range of legal areas and sectors. She has worked previously in an internation law firm advising numerous national and international clients on matters related to corporate and commercial law, real estate, property, labour and energy projects . In her subsequent role as an in-house legal counsel for a state-owned enterprise, Leyan, more specifically, advised the company on the procurement and development of water and power projects, as well as the development and implementation of Oman’s electricity spot market. Leyan is a qualified solicitor at the Supreme Court of Queensland in Australia, having obtained her LLB and completed her Legal Practice Course in Australia. Outside Asyad Group, Leyan also serves as a Board member in a few entities.

Moeen Qayum is a Senior Associate based in the Oman office and co-heads the firm’s debt capital markets practice. Moeen is an English-law qualified debt capital markets specialist, with experience of representing (corporate, financial institution, quasi/ sovereign and supranational) issuer and underwriter clients across a broad spectrum of conventional and Sharia-compliant securities offerings with a particular focus on emerging markets. Moeen has advised on several innovative and landmark transactions and has consistently been ranked, since 2017, as a ‘Rising Star’; by the IFLR1000 (Middle East) and The Legal 500 (UK), with The Legal 500 (UK) describing Moeen as a ‘key advisor to both issuers and managers’. Prior to joining Trowers & Hamlins, Moeen worked at top tier international and Magic Circle law firm in London and Dubai. Selected experience -Advised Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa on the establishment of its LSE- listed EMTN Programme. -Advised on the Investment Corporation of Dubai on the establishment of its AED4,000,000,000 EMTN Programme. -Advised the Commercial Bank of Dubai in relation to its USD3,000,000,000 EMTN Programme.

Manal Al-Adawi oversees legal, compliance, and fund operations at Rakiza, an infrastructure investment firm managing fund commitments of over USD 1 billion and investing in infrastructure projects across Oman and KSA. At Rakiza, Manal has worked on acquisitions in logistics, power, telecom towers, broadband infrastructure, and social infrastructure. Manal has previous experience in the telecom, banking, and oil & gas sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of Nottingham (UK), a Master of Laws from Fordham University (USA), an MSc from King’s College London (UK), and certificates from London Business School.

Salman is a partner and is the head of Trowers and Hamlin’s Oman banking and capital markets practice and the wider GCC. Salman has led the team on the establishment of five successful programmes in Oman. Salman is regularly cited as one of the world’s foremost experts in Islamic finance by, amongst others, Chambers and Partners, IFN and the Legal500. He is an expert on Islamic laws in Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia. Clients are impressed by the fact that “”he picks up on issues and is able to anticipate counterparty responses before they happen; he’s a fantastic lawyer”” (Chambers Global 2020). He is recognised by The Legal500 from 2014 through to 2017 editions as well as Chambers Global 2017 (Up and Coming) as a leading finance and capital markets practitioner. He is a frequent speaker and author on securities laws. He is one of the very few lawyers to have a specialist capital markets qualification from the International Capital Market Association. Salman has extensive experience representing issuers and financial institutions in connection with public and private offerings of securities including perpetual Sukuk (domestic and international), Tier 1 and 2 issues and liability management exercises.
Selected experience
-Lead Partner: Advised Meethaq Islamic Banking, bank muscat S.A.O.G. on the first Sukuk programme, and also the first retail Sukuk, issued in Oman.
-Lead Partner: Advised Maisarah Islamic Banking Services, Bank Dhofar on a domestic focused senior secured and guaranteed Sukuk programme to be issued by Golden Group (GG) through an Omani incorporated trust issuer. This is the first domestic programme in the GCC to be structured in this manner using a Wakala structure secured by both mortgage and personal guarantee.
-Lead Partner: Advised Bank Nizwa on its debut mandatorily convertible programme and the first series in 2024. This is the first mandatorily convertible programme established by a financial institution in the GCC.

James is an energy and projects lawyer with extensive experience in managing risk and executing domestic and cross-border deals and projects. He has worked in Oman for over ten years in both private practice and in-house roles.

Sultan Al-Ghafri is a co-founder and the Managing Partner of K&Co. He holds a Bachelor of Laws in Commercial Law from Sultan Qaboos University and a Master’s degree in International Trade Law from Paris-Descartes University (Paris V). He has also completed professional development programs in commercial contracts, financial law, and investment at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Mr. Al-Ghafri is an experienced litigator and dispute resolution specialist with a focus on commercial arbitration, particularly in cases involving financial disputes and construction disputes governed by FIDIC Contracts and Omani Standard Terms and Conditions (1981 and 2019 Editions). He is actively involved in legal research and has contributed to scholarly work on commercial arbitration, human trafficking, and commercial competition. His Master’s thesis focused on commercial competition and its protection in the European Union and GCC states.

Hussein Al-Toubi is the Managing Partner of Hussein Al-Toubi Law Firm, where he provides strategic direction and oversees the firm’s operations. Mr. Al-Toubi holds a Bachelor of Laws from Sultan Qaboos University (2014) and is licensed to practice law before both the Primary Court and the Court of Appeal in Oman. He is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Alternative Dispute Resolution (Arbitration and Mediation) at Queen Mary University of London. He also holds a High Diploma in Alternative Dispute Resolution from Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom. With over a decade of experience in the legal field, Mr. Al-Toubi specializes in dispute resolution, including litigation and arbitration. He has a proven track record of successfully managing complex legal matters.

Yaman Al Samman serves as the General Counsel for OQ Exploration and Production SAOG (OQEP). He is a seasoned player in OQEP, having joined the group in 2012 and having delivered different projects for the company.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts of Law from the University of Damascus (Syria), a Diploma in Graduate Studies majoring in Private Law, a University Diploma majoring in Diplomatic and International Relations and a Master’s Degree in Law from Beirut Arab University (Lebanon) and a Master Degree of Economics and Social Sciences majoring in Banking, Finance and International Trade from the University of Bordeaux IV (France). Yaman led OQEP legal team during its IPO which was largest IPO in the history of the Muscat Security Exchange and in the Middle East and North Africa in 2024.

Karim is the Head of the IP Gulf Company, a full-service firm dedicated for the protection of intellectual property within the Group of Al Alawi & Co. With over a decade of experience at leading organizations, Karim specializes in a wide range of high-level IP matters across Oman and multiple jurisdictions. His extensive legal expertise encompasses all facets of intellectual property, including global IP registration, cross- border transactions, enforcement, and dispute resolution. Additionally, Karim’s strong foundation in economics enables him to excel in IP valuation and portfolio assessment. Karim has recently completed his master’s degree in economics, and currently pursuing a PhD in IP and economics. He is an active contributor to the IP community, having published articles in prominent outlets and contributed to the Omani Intellectual Property Association, sharing insights on current trends and developments in the field of intellectual property.

“Nour Eldin is a legal consultant at Al Alawi & Co., specializing in commercial, corporate, and intellectual property (IP) matters. With over five years of experience across multiple jurisdictions, Nour has developed a robust expertise in both national and international IP law. He has successfully managed extensive global IP portfolios for diverse clients, overseeing thousands of IP rights. His work encompasses a wide range of IP-related transactions, including valuations, assignments, and licensing agreements. Currently, Nour leverages his deep understanding of IP to enhance corporate compliance and governance, serving as the legal retainer for major global corporations. His dynamic role integrates IP strategy with corporate objectives, ensuring that clients navigate the complexities of Commercial, Corporate, and IP laws seamlessly and effectively. In addition to his practical experience, Nour supports his legal acumen with a solid academic foundation, holding a master’s degree in law and various diplomas in public, administrative, and intellectual property laws.”

Dania joined Ominvest’s Legal and Compliance Department in September 2019 and currently serves as Legal Manager. She brings extensive expertise in corporate and commercial law, compliance, and governance, developed through her experience in leading law firms and corporate environments. At Ominvest, Dania provides comprehensive legal and regulatory guidance across the company and its subsidiaries, supporting a wide range of transactions. She also oversees regulatory disclosures and maintains active engagement with key regulatory bodies, including the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Before joining Ominvest, Dania worked as an Associate in the Commercial Department of Al Busaidy, Mansoor Jamal & Co. There, she advised both international and domestic clients on matters related to corporate and commercial law, company formation, franchise and agency laws, intellectual property, and Oman’s labor law. She also gained significant experience collaborating with government and quasi-government entities on regulatory and compliance matters. Dania holds an LLB from the University of Leicester in the UK and an LLM in International Law and Human Rights from Brunel University London. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys running, baking, and hosting game nights with friends and family.

Sami Habib is a Portfolio Manager at Sohar International Bank where he leads the strategic management of the bank’s proprietary book, Mutual Funds, and tailored strategies. He focuses on long-term risk assets in equity and fixed income to achieve superior risk-adjusted returns. Mr. Habib has a proven track record of successfully diversifying portfolios across jurisdictions to enhance returns and minimize risk. He leverages proprietary research and macroeconomic analysis to refine investment decisions, consistently generating alpha returns. He also actively engages with clients, conducting in-depth meetings to deliver tailored investment solutions aligned with their financial goals. Prior to joining Sohar International Bank, Mr. Habib held various roles at Ahli Bank Oman, where he optimized investment portfolios, produced comprehensive market reports, and spearheaded product development for innovative investment strategies.

Maladh is a seasoned Senior Legal Counsel at Omani Qatari Telecommunication Company SAOG (Ooredoo), where she leads the legal team in providing comprehensive support across the organization. In her current role, she is responsible for overseeing contract review and negotiations, risk management, regulatory compliance, dispute management and leadership of the Legal team. She works closely with senior leadership and key stakeholders to integrate legal considerations into the company’s strategic decision-making processes, ensuring business objectives are achieved while effectively managing legal risk. With over 16 years of extensive legal experience, Maladh has developed a broad expertise across a range of legal disciplines, including Labor Law, Contract Law, Mergers and Acquisitions, Intellectual Property, Regulatory Compliance and Claims Management. She is known for her strategic approach to legal challenges, offering practical solutions that drive business success and safeguard the organization from legal and regulatory risks. Maladh has a proven track record in leading legal teams, managing external counsel relationships, and advising on high-stakes legal matters. Her ability to distill complex legal issues into clear, actionable advice has been instrumental in helping Ooredoo stay ahead of evolving regulations and reduce exposure to legal challenges. Before joining Ooredoo, Maladh held key legal advisory and board secretarial positions at leading organizations, including Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), Asyad, Omani Oil Marketing, and held short-term secondments at Shell International Marketing B.V. and OIA. These roles allowed her to gain in-depth knowledge of the Energy, Logistics, and Telecommunications sectors, enhancing her ability to address industry- specific legal concerns and corporate governance expertise. Maladh holds an LLM in International Business Law from the University of Leeds and an LLB in Law from Nottingham Trent University. Beyond her legal career, she is passionate about self-development and life coaching. She has completed Level One of ICF-accredited Coaching Education and is enthusiastic about supporting fellow lawyers and colleagues through coaching. With her unique combination of legal expertise, leadership, and personal development skills, Maladh continues to contribute to the success and growth of Ooredoo while mentoring and empowering others within her professional network.

Ibrahim Al-Akhzami is a lawyer with experience in the Omani public and private sectors. He is currently the General Manager of Regulatory and Legal at Omantel, focusing on telecommunications law and regulation. Ibrahim has previously held positions such as the Board Member at Wadi AL Jizzi Power Co. SAOC and Al Ghubrah Power and Desalination Company. He also served as Legal Advisor at Haya Water and began his career in public service, providing legal support to the Office of the Minister of State & Governor of Muscat. Ibrahim holds an LL.M. from Valparaiso University and an LL.B. from the University of Jordan.

Tariq is a Fund Director at the Oman National Investments Development Company (TANMIA), where he oversees the management of the TANMIA Small Cap Fund, focusing on deal origination, execution, and portfolio management. With 18 years of experience, Tariq has driven strategic investments across sectors such as metals, oil infrastructure, renewables, and small and medium-sized enterprises. He is deeply involved in identifying high-potential opportunities and structuring deals. Previously, Tariq held roles at Oman Oil Company (now OQ), GlassPoint Solar, and the Oman Investment Authority (OIA), where he specialized in portfolio management, valuations, and transaction execution. As the founder of Brevity Consulting, he advised clients on fundraising, portfolio strategy, and investment decision-making. Tariq currently serves as a board member at several local private companies. He holds an MBA from HEC Paris, a Master’s in Financial Management from the Australian National University, and a Bachelor’s in Information Technology from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.

Asma is a Junior Associate at Al-Alawi & Co. She brings a unique blend of marketing and intellectual property expertise. She has experience working in trade mark matters domestically and internationally.