The 4th Arab Lawyers Forum brings together practitioners and corporate counsel from 22 Arab league countries and across the world, in a curtain-raiser to the annual IBA conference

October 5, 2018 — ROME – LexisNexis® Legal & Professional, a leading global provider of information and analytics, announced that it will be capturing the pulse of the Arab legal community at the 4th Arab Lawyers Forum, where the impact of global trends and regional regulatory reform will be discussed. As a strategic media partner, LexisNexis will interview key speakers and industry leaders drawn from over 300 delegates at the Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria Resort on 5th-6th October. Timed to take place immediately before 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.

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 explores the latest trends and puts 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 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.”

About LexisNexis Legal & Professional
LexisNexis Legal & Professional 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.

About Al Tamimi
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.

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Media Contact
Name: Hussain Hadi
Company: LexisNexis
Telephone: +97150 6727532
Email address: Hussain.hadi@lexisnexis.co.uk