08:30

Registration & refreshments

09:15

Welcome address
Peter Somekh, Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa, DLA Piper

09:20

Opening keynote: Special guest speaker to be announced

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 session

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

Unlocking the potential of legal AI

Speaker:

• Rami Zayat, Partner, DLA Piper
• Shabnam Sahiwala, General Counsel, myZoi
• Varsha Gupta, Senior Counsel, Mastercard

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

Essential GCC tax developments for legal professionals

Speakers:

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

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