Executive Vice President - Legal & Compliance
Oman Insurance Company PSC
Total years of experience :28 years, 5 Months
Oversee all legal and transactional affairs, Claims litigation, acquisitions, JVs and expansion for insurance leader. Balance legal and administrative responsibilities while concurrently serving as Corporate and Board Secretary.
Steered successful in-house acquisition/JV in Turkey and incorporated operations in Erbil, Iraq; currently leading restructure of company operations in Qatar.
Saved company significant costs by conducting due diligence activities in-house to minimize outsourcing.
Developed and managed plan for wall-to-wall restructuring of Legal & Compliance department; centralized functions to streamline processes and improve cost control.
Led rewrite of all insurance policies and spearheaded redraft and implementation of international, regional and local regulations as chief liaison to regulators; ensured internal and external compliance with proper disclosures.
Recruited to establish Legal & Corporate Secretarial Department during period of intense international economic turmoil and resulting legal/managerial restructuring. Established work policies, standards and organizational / management structure for each department function, and educated departments on legal rights and obligations.
Developed new process and procedures for enforcement of Sharia’s compliant finance documentations (to include Ijarah, Istisna’a and Murabaha)
Collaborated with official and private firms to enact, enforce and ensure compliance with Dubai property laws including but not limited to (STRATA) and Islamic Finance laws and documentation in absence of supporting legislation.
As primary legal strategist, counselled CEO, Board, company executives and key stakeholders on corporate organization, governance, strategic plans, litigation and defence strategies, contract management, securities compliance, transactional documentation, corporate social responsibilities and other legal business issues.
Provided awareness, insight and advanced warning of risks and liabilities; created contingency plans and sound alternatives for addressing non-compliance issues.
Played integral role in negotiating dispute settlements; drafted numerous pleadings, statements of defence, witness statements, contracts and agreements for court litigations and arbitration proceedings.
Coordinated with external law firms to ensure appropriate resources were appointed for expertise, litigation, dispute or arbitration.
Spearheaded legal education, in-house rules and standards counsel, advanced warning/contingency planning, due diligence and associated legal activities for publicly-listed company in DIFX (Nasdaq Dubai) as Head of Group Legal Department and Corporate Secretary.
Negotiated and executed local and international acquisitions and JVs, and led incorporation of subsidiaries that held market-leading positions in contracting and construction sectors in Dubai, UAE and GCC.
Played pivotal role in completing successful IPO process as key member of IPO team.
Provided sound legal advice on Corporate Law, Labour Law, Real Estate and Contracting/Sub-Contracting Agreements in accordance with FIDIC rules.
Acquired in-depth understanding of corporate law, labour law, commodities trading regulations, maritime and customs law, litigations and arbitration while managing contract negotiations, risks, and legal issues for major sugar refinery and trader.
Negotiated and drafted sales and purchase contracts in accordance with Refined Sugar Association (RSA) and Sugar Association of London (SAL) rules; developed contracting agreements that complied with FIDIC rules.
Advised on Shipping and Charter Party issues and contracts in line with Incoterms and Sugar Charter Party 99 regulations.
Handled arbitration dispute with winning presentation before members of London Maritime Arbitration Association (LMAA).
Provided sound legal advice on maritime law cases and conflicts, corporate tax issues, labour issues, leasing cases and intellectual property. Formed JVs and commercial companies as LLC, Holding, Off Shore and PSC. Served as Corporate Secretary and Counsel for several companies; drafted meeting minutes for Board of Directors, Partners and shareholders.
Drew upon strong negotiation skills to find equitable solutions to civil and commercial litigations/disputes.
Leveraged new Internet tools to streamline communication with clients while advising on shares, equities and bonds transactions.
Handled and pled before courts a broad range of corporate, commercial, franchise and real estate cases. Formed JVs and commercial companies, and drafted agreements involving franchise, labour, real estate, banking and intellectual property laws,
Promoted and protected interests of major national and international enterprises that included Pepsi Co., and Chrysler.
-License en Droit both Lebanese and Egyptian Law