Consultant _legal compliance and governance
n/a
مجموع سنوات الخبرة :19 years, 8 أشهر
Providing independent consultancy to businesses and start ups on legal, compliance and governance related matters.
Examples of just some of the more notable engagements include:
1) providing legal and compliance support to UAE private real estate developer to launch for sale 2 mixed use towers in Dubai. This included advising and negotiating the plot sale and purchase agreements, managing the project registration and compliance with RERA and DLD, preparing the unit sale and purchase agreement including all related customer legal agreements, as well as providing company secretarial support for managing a portfolio of over 80 global entities and creation of new entities. Also supported the CFO on all other running down legal matters.
2) Providing full compliance and legal support to a UAE company registry to support on all compliance and sanctions related matters in response the UAE's 2022-2023 agenda to meet FATF requirements.
3) Supported a UAE corporate services provider (DNFB) in updating and regularising contracts, templates, and other documentation as well as implementation of UBO compliance requirements.
4) Leading the advisory and ADR process between family members caught in a protracted multi- million dollar inheritance dispute in Kenya spanning over 12 years under a family trust. Under my lead, discovered clear evidence of embezzlement and breach of fiduciary duties, prepared initial fraud investigation report with accountants to support the beneficiaries in recovery of embezzled funds, winding up of the trust with vesting of assets.
o Abu Dhabi Finance is regulated by the Central Bank of the UAE and a subsidiary of Mubadala
Investment Company.
o Served on the executive management team (Exco) that devised the annual business plan and strategy,
KPI setting for the balanced score card and to ensure alignment with the board’s mandate.
o Led the legal and compliance function to ensure full regulatory compliance during the transitional
phase of the FINCO Regulations and managed the Central Bank audit process as well as creating the
internal process for seeking all necessary approvals as per the CB regulations.
o Ensured the timely and successful implementation of all the Mubadala Group’s Ethics and Compliance
policies and providing necessary training to staff, and internally developing programmes to further
bolster a culture of ethics, transparency and integrity within the organisation.
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o Appointed as Company Secretary and responsible for maintaining all company records, managing the
DOA matrix, advising the Chairman and Board on governance matters and also ensuring the process of
CB approval for new board members, and continuous governance training.
o Providing pragmatic and solution orientated day to day legal advice to all business units on various
matters including new product launches, commercial contracts, Central Bank regulatory requirements,
deal structuring, security perfection matters and recovery/litigation advisory, well as supporting the
board to determine whether securitisation of residential loan portfolio was possible.
o Spearheaded the development of the Equipment Finance product alongside the product consultant to
ensure end to end process was mapped out and all legal and finance documents created with risk
register in place.
o Ability to present complex matters before the Board, ability to build excellent working relations with
external and internal stakeholders, confident to take the lead on projects.
o Drove the development and implementation plan for the Enterprise Risk Management function,
supervised the implementation of the Business Continuity Plan, ISO 31000
o Managed the entire legal function across UAE, Malaysia, and Kenya independently. Full commercial
legal counsel was provided to the board and business units to support the growth and further product
development needs set by UN agencies and other NGOs so as to meet the challenging global refugee
crisis and need for shelter and core relief items, products for Malaria prevention (LLINs which need
regulatory approval for importation and in country product registration ), prevention of AIDS and STDs
(medical latex products) under the Global Fund.
o Led and implemented a compliance function to ensure all business transactions are recorded and
checked with full KYC/CDD process, and compliance with lists on sanctioned entities/organisations.
o Spearheaded the creation of the NRS Code of Conduct for both staff and suppliers to create
parameters within which acceptable business behaviour standards were defined and to also set
minimum standards of ethical business and personal conduct.
o Successfully led the NRS team on a proposed 100% share acquisition of a medical latex manufacturing
facility in southern Malaysia owned by Beiersdorf AG. Spearheaded the due diligence process for legal
and managed external counsel throughout the process, and further worked alongside the finance team
to ensure successful completion of the target entity.
o Drafting of various commercial agreements across the entire group- manufacturing agreements (ODM
and OCM type), agency and distribution agreements, supply and purchase of pesticides, chemicals, raw
materials, purchase of livestock/cattle Agreement worth US $3million, NDAs (and advisory on non-
circumvention and enforcement for IP protection and know how), product development and know
how agreements, IP licensing, consultancy agreements, asset purchase agreements.
o Drove the initiative with the HR department for the creation of a new HR Manual, new and updated
employee handbook, and employee satisfaction survey to increase engagement.
o Managing the Intellectual Property portfolio- worldwide trademark registrations and patents and
negotiating terms of Co-Existence Agreements for conflicting/similar TM registrations.
o Working directly with the Board of Directors with high levels of responsibility and autonomy
o Advising on fiduciary services, as well as providing legal advice to clients on creation and
administration of family trusts and business structuring for legacy protection.
o Supervised offshore company setups, providing company secretarial services -preparing minutes of
meeting, board resolutions, change of directors, and necessary filings with authorities.
o Performing all necessary KYC, PEP, AML and source of funds checks with maintaining detailed internal
client records for UBOs and understanding complex group structure information needed for regulatory
and compliance purposes.
o Managing client’s UK real estate portfolio -includes dealing with landlord tenant matters, rent review
disputes on business lease renewal, negotiating new tenancies and assisting in property management
matters for various commercial units located in the United Kingdom and East Africa.
o Advising clients on various matters pertaining to their foreign Trusts, as well as trusts domiciled in
Kenya, with assets held globally.
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o Advisory for various real estate investment disputes in the UAE, negotiation and drafting of
settlements and consolidations agreements pertaining to property investments in the UAE, advising on
mortgage defaults/liabilities (Islamic and conventional mortgages) for under construction properties
where projects are cancelled or postponed, litigation advisory for recovery of purchase monies for
breach of escrow law requirements, instructing UAE
o Developed and implemented an end-to-end process and policy for approval of end user finance for off-
plan projects - this process was necessary due to the dearth of real estate laws and general
conveyancing practices where developers were selling units off -plan on reservation forms with no title
deed to the land itself, and buyers wanting to finance the purchases. To mitigate risk, restrictions were
created and developers classified into tiers based on a full credit assessment and disclosure of all
documents to be provided for an in-depth project due diligence.
o Managed the department assistants and investor relations team.
o Served on the Amlak international expansion committee and was responsible for ensuring compliance
with relevant central banks for semi banking licence applications, preparing all necessary finance
documents for Ijara, Murabaha and other sharia compliant products in Qatar, Bahrain and Jordan.
o Supported the head of legal with all legal and regulatory compliance matters - UAE Central Bank and
UAE Securities and Commodities Authority reporting.
o Managing all day-to-day legal referrals from business units and providing full commercial legal counsel.
o Managing the relationship with the Sharia Supervisory Board members to ensure pre-approval is
sought and obtain fatwas before proceeding with any contentious or new matters.
o Involved in all discussions with the Dubai Land Department to establish the Trust and Guarantee
Account laws (Escrow Law) as Amlak was the first approved Escrow account holder for all off plan
projects.
Additional roles include:
Advocate of the High Court of Kenya
Achieved a very high 2.1 Hons with LLB.