08:30

Registration & refreshments

09:15

Welcome address
Ramsey Jurdi, Partner, DLA Piper

09:20

Opening Keynote: Leading Through Transformation – AI, Innovation, and the Future of Legal Work

Ali Haidar, Head of Legal Affairs, Microsoft Middle East

09:35

Fireside chat: Navigating Middle East opportunities - trade, strategy, and global partnerships

As global developments reshape trade and investment in the Middle East, businesses must stay ahead of emerging opportunities and risks. This session will explore global forces, regional priorities, the GCC Free Trade Agreement, potential bilateral deals, and how international partners - including the UK - can support growth in the region.

Speakers:

• Edward Hobart, HM Ambassador to the UAE
• Vincent Keaveny, Senior Adviser at DLA Piper and former Lord Mayor of the City of London

10:10

M&A Spotlight: Trends and predictions for the year ahead

Explore the trends shaping the year ahead in M&A - from the fast-paced deal landscape in the Middle East to evolving global shifts across the US, EU, and APAC. This session provides key insights into regional M&A activity and shows how in-house counsel can proactively position themselves to drive and secure successful cross-border transactions.

Speakers:

• Rob Salter, Partner and Global Co-Chair, M&A and Head of M&A Strategy, DLA Piper
• Tim Sunar, Partner, DLA Piper
• Mona Lemp, Legal Director, DLA Piper

10:30

Networking break

First round of concurrent breakout sessions

10:50

The perfect crypto storm: What every in-house lawyer needs to know

As global finance transitions from traditional banking models to tokenised, decentralised alternatives, in-house legal teams are under pressure to advise on unfamiliar risks while supporting innovation. This session will unpack the legal and regulatory fault lines emerging from fintech disruption, token-based finance, and alternative funding structures - and explain why crypto exposure is now a board-level / C-Suite issue no GC can ignore.

Speakers:

• Andrew Mackenzie, Partner and Head of Litigation, Arbitration and Investigations, Middle East, DLA Piper
• Adrianus Schoorl, Of Counsel, Leading the Financial Services Regulatory (MENA) Practice, DLA Piper

Essential GCC tax developments for legal professionals

Navigate the fast-evolving GCC tax landscape in this practical session focused on the issues that matter most to legal professionals. Through real-world examples, discover how tax considerations impact audits, controversy, workforce matters, and M&A transactions, while learning to manage risks and advise effectively where tax and legal intersect.

Speakers:

• Ton Van Doremalen, Partner and Head of Tax, Middle East, DLA Piper
• Nils Vanhassel, Legal Director, DLA Piper

Second round of concurrent breakout sessions

11:35

From sanctions to supply chains: Practical insights on third party due diligence

Gain practical insights into conducting effective third party due diligence, with a focus on evolving risk areas such as sanctions, criminal history, conflicts of interest, and supply chain vulnerabilities. This session will show how structured, adaptable approaches can be applied across different scenarios to safeguard both compliance and growth.

Speakers:

• Ramsey Jurdi, Partner, DLA Piper
• Adam Vause, Partner, DLA Piper

Unlocking the potential of legal AI

Explore how AI is transforming the legal function across the region. Hear from a panel of industry leaders with deep expertise in corporate governance, compliance and legal operations as they share practical insights on how in-house legal teams are unlocking new value through AI innovation and the challenges being faced in adoption.

Speakers:

• Rami Zayat, Partner, DLA Piper
• Shabnam Sahiwala, General Counsel, myZoi
• Varsha Gupta, Senior Counsel, Mastercard
• Shaun Johnson, Group Chief Legal Officer, BEEAH Group

12:20

Future skills & innovative thinking for legal teams

Explore how legal teams can foster innovative mindsets, embrace digital tools and AI, and develop future-ready skills such as design thinking, storytelling, and emotional intelligence. Attendees will gain practical micro-innovations to apply immediately, helping build cultures of trust, agility, and collaboration.

Speakers:

13:05

Closing remarks

13:10

Informal networking lunch