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International Mediation and Arbitration Conference: The Role of IP in Fostering Economic Growth

03
June 2024
Time
08:30 AM - 16:00 PM
Category
Event
Location
Waldorf Astoria, Lusail
International Mediation and Arbitration Conference Qatar 2024

Objective

The primary objective of this conference is to provide a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and networking opportunities among stakeholders involved in intellectual property, mediation, arbitration, and foreign direct investment in the Middle East region. Participants will gain insights on how to strengthen their intellectual property frameworks and attract FDI by exchanging experiences, best practices, and innovative approaches.

Agenda

8:30 – 8:50 Registration

9:00 - 9:20 Opening

Speaker
Faisal Rashid Al-Sahouti
CEO of Qatar International Court

Speaker
H.E. Mohammed bin Hassan Al-Malki
Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Qatar (MOCI)

Speaker
Mr. Marco M. Alemán
Assistant Director-General, at the World Intellectual Property Organization

9:30-10:20 Session 1
Intellectual Property Protection and FDI: Examining the correlation between strong intellectual property rights protection and increased FDI inflows.

Speaker
Her Excellency Dr. Hend Al-Muftah
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations

Speaker
Dr. Jack Lau
President Qatar Science and Technology Park

Speaker
Amna Jaber A A Al-Kuwari
Intellectual Property Protection Director - Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Speaker
Mr. Mubarak Al Sulaiti
Chairman of Qatar Lawyers Association
Founder of Al-Sulaiti Law Firm

Moderator
Attorney Nisrine Haddad, Managing Partner of SADER & Associates

10:20-10:40 Morning Coffee Break

10:40-11:30 Session 2
Leveraging Mediation and Arbitration for Intellectual Property Disputes

Speaker
Chiara Accornero,
Legal Officer, WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center

Speaker
Dr. Zain Al Abdin Sharar
Senior Legal Counsel at the Qatar International Court

Speaker
Hoda Barakat
Managing partner HB Legal

Speaker
Amr Hossam
Senior Legal Consultant
Legal Counsel- Al Sulaiti Law Firm

Moderator
Paola Kattar
Legal Manager at KEO International Consultants

11:30-12:20 Session 3
Encouraging research and Innovation through IP: Discussing how an effective intellectual property framework encourages innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology transfer, thereby attracting FDI.

Speaker
Sarah Nassar,
Associate Program Officer, IP for Business Division, WIPO

Speaker
Rosena Nhlabatsi,
Senior Intellectual Property Expert at the Qatar Research Development and Innovation (QRDI) Council

Speaker
Dr. Asmaa Al Quuradaghi
Lawyer and Arbitrator, founder of Asmaa Al Quuradaghi Law Firm

Speaker
Dr. Salah Zaineddine
Professor of Law at Lusail University

Moderator
Guillaume Hess
Special Counsel at K&L Gates

12:30-13:30 Lunch

13:30-14:20 Session 4
International Best Practices and Current Trends in International IP Mediation and Arbitration: Sharing success stories and best practices from countries that have effectively integrated mediations and arbitrations into their intellectual property frameworks, leading to increased foreign direct investment.

Speaker
Karim Nassif
Managing Partner Nassif Arbitration

Speaker
Dr. Damilola S. Olawuyi,
Professor and UNESCO Chair on Environmental Law and Sustainable Development at the Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) College of Law

Speaker
Dr. Andrew Dahdal
Associate Professor, Qatar University

Speaker
Dr. Zachary Calo
Professor at HBKU College of Law

Moderator
Umar Azmeh
Registrar at Qatar International Court

14:20-14:40 Afternoon break

14:40-15:30 Session 5
Government Policy and IP: Showcasing the Collaborative Initiatives between the State of Qatar and the WIPO.

Speaker
Mohamad Lahdan Al Muhannadi
Chairman of Qatar Cultural Awareness Experts and Arbitrators Association
Member of the Board of Qatar Lawyers Association

Speaker
Ahmed Essa Al-Sulaiti
Director of Qatar office to the World Trade Organizations and other Economic Organizations in Geneva

Speaker
Dr. Susan L. Karamanian
Dean of the college of law at HBKU

Speaker
Al Anoud M Al-Mosleh
Head - Research & Policy Advocacy at Invest Qatar

Moderator
Dr. Aouni Shahoud Almousa
Legal Counsel- Al Sulaiti Law Firm

15:30 – 16:00 Closing Remarks and Recommendations

Speakers

Faisal Rashid Al-Sahouti

Chief Executive Officer

Faisal Rashid Al-Sahouti leads the strategic development and administration of the Qatar International Court, the QFC Regulatory Tribunal and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre. 

Prior to his appointment as Chief Executive Officer, he worked closely with the Court’s senior international judges on case management and projects related to the growth and development of the Court. He is also a member of the Judicial Advisory Board, where he contributes to drafting the laws and regulations of the Court and leads the delivery of the Qatar Law Forum.

Faisal holds a Bachelor of Law from Qatar University and an LL.M. in International Trade Law with Public International Law from Nottingham Trent University in the UK. He is also an accredited mediator by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) in London.  

Mohamed Hassan Al-Malki

Undersecretary in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry

His Excellency Mr. Mohammed bin Hassan Al-Malki has been assigned as the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry by Amiri Decree No. (1) of 2024. 

Prior to this appointment, his excellency held the position of Assistant Undersecretary for Trade Affairs  since March 2023, and he also served as Assistant Undersecretary for Industrial Affairs in 2019. 

In addition to his roles within the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, his excellency has held numerous leadership positions in the fields of strategic planning, business development, and relationship management. His most recent positions include being the Head of Business Planning and Development Affairs  at the Economic Zones Company (Manateq) and Head of Strategic Planning Department at the Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (KAHRAMAA). He has also held various other positions in fields such as specifications, standards, planning, and geographic information systems in water networks. 

It is worth mentioning that his excellency holds a Master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom in 2012, and a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Qatar University in 2002. 

Furthermore, his excellency is a member of the following entities: 

• Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Economic Zones Company 

• Member of the Board of Directors of Qatar University Holdings Company 

• Member of the Board of Directors of Qatar Central Bank. 

• Member of the Board of Directors of Qatar Free Zones. 

• Member of the Board of Directors of Qatar Financial Centre

Marco M. Alemán

Assistant Director General, WIPO

Marco M. Alemán, studied law at the Javeriana University (J.D., 1991) where he also obtained a Corporate Law Certificate (L.L.M., 1996). He then obtained a Diploma in Advanced Studies (DEA) in Research at the Alcala University (Spain, 2006), and a Ph.D. in Law (2011, Cum Laude).  

Mr. Alemán practiced as an IP Attorney from 1991 to 1995. He was then appointed Head of the Colombian Industrial Property Office, from 1995 to 1998, and was invited as a Fellow Visiting Researcher at the Max Planck Institute in Munich, Germany in 1998.  He joined the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1999 as Senior Program Officer, Office of Cooperation for Development for Latin America and the Caribbean (from 1999 to 2006).  He was then appointed Deputy Director in the Division for Public Policy and Development (from 2006 to 2009), Deputy Director of the Patent Law Division (from 2009 to 2013), and went on to be Director of the Patent Law Division (2013 – 2020). He currently holds the position of Assistant Director General, leading the IP and Innovation Ecosystem Sector (IES).

Mr. Alemán is the author of The Andean Legal Framework on Trademarks (Bogota, 1994) and co-author of several books, the most recent ones being: Studies in Homage to Mariano Uzcátegui Urdaneta (Caracas, 2011), Bilateral Trade Agreements and Intellectual Property (Heidelberg, 2014), Intellectual Property Study in contemporary issues (Mexico, 2015) and Technology Transactions (Genève/ Zurich 2018, Schulthess Éditions Romandes).
 

H.E Dr. Hend Abdalrahman Al-Muftah

Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland.

H.E. Ms. Hend Abdalrahman Al-Muftah, is the new Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland. She was appointed in July 2022. 

H.E. Ms. Al-Muftah has had a wide-ranging career since 2004, including different academic, research and professional positions. From May 2015 to January 2021, she was Vice President for Administration and Finance and Associate Professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies. She taught at Qatar University from 1990 to 2016, starting as a teaching assistant, and finishing as an associate professor of management (2010 to 2016). She was Executive Director of the Childhood Cultural Centre of the Qatar Foundation from April 2012 to September 2014. She also served as Director of Human Resources at Qatar University from 2004 to 2008.

In 2017, H.E. Ms. Al-Muftah was appointed as a member of the Shura Council of Qatar, one of four ladies joining the Council for the first time for a four-year term. She has been a member of, or consultant to various national and regional bodies and has many publications.

H.E. Ms. Al-Muftah has a Ph.D. in human capital formation-human resources management from Exeter University, United Kingdom (2004). She also has a master’s degree in management science from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, United Kingdom (1999), and a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Qatar University, Qatar (1990).
 

Mubarak Al-Sulaiti

Founder and Chairman | Cassation Lawyer and Certified Arbitrator in Qatar |Al Sulaiti Law Firm Qatar Lawyers Association – President

Mubarak Al-Sulaiti, an eminent figure in Qatari legal circles, established Al-Sulaiti Law Firm in 2002. With a distinguished career spanning almost three decades, Mubarak brings to bear a profound understanding of Qatari law, particularly in the domains of construction, commercial, administrative, banking and finance and sports law, encompassing both civil and criminal litigation.

Over the course of his extensive tenure advocating before a spectrum of judicial forums, including the Court of Appeal and the High Court, Mubarak has been entrusted with providing astute legal guidance to a diverse clientele, inclusive of domestic and international enterprises, ranging from state entities to private corporations. His interactions with regulatory bodies and law enforcement authorities have been both routine and impactful.
Mubarak boasts a diverse repertoire in dispute resolution, deftly employing negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and litigation techniques. His proficiency in this sphere has consistently yielded favorable outcomes for his clients.

In addition to his professional achievements, Mubarak has lent his expertise to the Qatari Lawyers Association, having served on its board since 2014 and subsequently assuming the mantle of President in 2022. He is a member of the Arab Lawyers Union and International Bar Association “IBA”. Furthermore, Mubarak is an esteemed commission member of the ICC Global Arbitration and ADR Commission, representing the esteemed State of Qatar on this international platform. He is also a former member of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) Player Disputes Resolution Committee from 2007-2011. His contributions to the legal fraternity continue to shape the landscape of Qatar's legal sphere.

Prior to founding Al Sulaiti Law Firm, he led the Legal Affairs Department of the Qatari Ministry of Transportation from 1997-2001, a role in which he demonstrated exceptional acumen. Mubarak has served as the Secretary General of the Board of Directors of Doha International Airport in conjunction with his period of work at the Ministry of Transport and Communications from 1998-2000.
 

Dr. Jack Lau

President of Qatar Science & Technology Park

He has a long and distinguished track record in entrepreneurship that bridges technology and academia, and in driving sustainable and wide-ranging ventures in fields including Artificial Intelligence, multimedia, banking software, blockchain technology, healthcare, and agriculture. A practitioner and professor in design thinking and Artificial Intelligence who has personally been awarded 20 patents, and the CEO of multiple startups who collectively have developed 45 patented technologies, Dr. Lau has widespread experience in formulating technology incubation policy and supporting and enabling venture funding for start-ups. He is also a Professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, specializing in Artificial Intelligence for financial technology, and design thinking and entrepreneurship.

Amna Jaber Al-Kuwari

Intellectual Property Protection Director - Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Holding a Master in International Trade Relations from the University of Geneva in 2011 and an Executive Master in Leadership from Georgetown University (McDonough School of Business) in 2022, Amna has been working at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry since 2005. She represented the Ministry at the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office in Geneva from 2008 to 2018. She was appointed Director of the Intellectual Property Rights Protection Department in 2018.

She is a member of the Intellectual Property and Innovation National Strategy Preparation Committee, and was elected President of the Budapest Union for two years in 2019, and President of the Technical Committee for Intellectual Property at Arab League in 2022.

Nisrine Haddad

Managing Partner of SADER & Associates

Attorney Nisrine Haddad is currently the Managing Partner of SADER & Associates (Advocates & Legal Consultants) a leading IP Law Firm in Lebanon after being acting as Partner and Head of IP Department since 2004. She represented several multinationals in Lebanon and the region in anti-counterfeiting/ anti-piracy, IP protection and Management of IP portfolios. She participated and presented in many local, regional and international conferences related to IP matters. She has extensive experience in mentoring and coaching startups and entrepreneurs on different legal matters namely Intellectual Property and corporate laws. She holds a Certificate in Leadership ang Strategic Management from Georges Washington University and a WIPO Certificate on Advanced Intellectual Property Management. She is the author and co-author of several publications on different legal topics. 

Chiara Accornero

Legal Officer, IP Disputes WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center

Chiara Accornero is a Legal Officer at the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center in Geneva. Chiara was the Center's representative at Maxwell Chambers in Singapore from 2017 until mid-2021. In her role, Chiara is responsible for the management of cross-border intellectual property and technology related disputes and promotion of WIPO Alternative Dispute Resolution services globally

Dr. Zain Al Abdin Sharar

Senior Legal Counsel, CEO's Office, QICDRC

DR. ZAIN AL ABDIN SHARAR is Senior Legal Counsel IN the CEO’s Office at the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre (QICDRC). He has over 23 years’ experience in the legal field.

Prior to joining the QICDRC, Dr. Sharar was the Director of Legal Affairs & Enforcement at the Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA). Dr. Sharar also served for three years on the QFMA’s disciplinary committee.

Dr. Sharar has taught corporate law and corporate governance at a number of Australian universities and has provided advice to board members of several Australian publicly listed companies. He worked at Qatar University for three years as an Assistant Professor of Commercial Law, where her taught companies law and arbitration law. He has also taught commercial law and maritime and aviation law at the Ahmad Bin Mohammed Military College in Qatar and has lectured on many topics at the Legal and Judicial Studies Centre at the Qatar Ministry of Justice.

Dr. Sharar is a certified mediator at the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution in London and a qualified practitioner arbitrator at the GCC Commercial Arbitration Centre. He has provided mediation and arbitration services in many commercial and construction cases. He also participates in ADR training programmes. He also has published numerous articles in scholarly journals.

Hoda T. Barakat

Founder, Hoda Barakat Legal Consultancy

Founder and Legal Consultant in Hoda Barakat Legal Consultancy, Dubai, UAE specializing in Intellectual
Property. Has considerable experience in all aspects of Intellectual Property (IP) Law including filing and
prosecution, advice on IP litigation, liaising with the Intellectual Property Directorate regarding international
treaties and further extending legal support and technical assistance to them. Attained international
recognition as a leading IP lawyer in the Middle East and received various awards and accolades by
international legal ranking firms such as Chambers Global, Legal 500, Pacific Business Press, The PLC, etc.
Experience includes all aspects of IP from Registration to Enforcement & Litigation. Has managed the
litigation of landmark/precedent cases in the UAE and managed enforcement campaigns throughout the
region. Has also mediated and arbitrated several IP disputes and currently sits on each of the UAE Ministry
of Economy’s Trade Mark, Copyright and Agency disputes Committees.

Amr Hossam ElDin

Head of Arbitration – Senior Legal Consultant | Al Sulaiti Law Firm

Amr Hossam Eldin is the Head of Arbitration & ADR Practise and Senior Legal Consultant at Al Sulaiti Law Firm, with extensive practice for more than seventeen years. He is a member of the Egyptian Bar Association and the International Bar Association.

He has extensive knowledge and experience handling complex and high-value institutional and ad hoc arbitration and litigation in MENA jurisdictions. His knowledge includes construction, commercial transactions, technology, public property and administrative law, corporate law, and intellectual property rights.

Amr Hossam Eldin serves as an arbitrator, legal expert, and lead counsel in a number of international arbitration bodies, including the ICC, UNCITRAL, QICCA, and FIDIC DABs. He has represented a wide range of stakeholders in significant disputes, including state entities, regulators, owners, developers, contractors, operators, design-builders, consultants, and suppliers.

 

Paola Kattar

Head of Legal, KEO

Paola is a distinguished Senior Legal Practitioner and Construction Claims Consultant with over 23 years of exceptional experience in the MENA and GCC regions. 

She commenced her legal career in the year 2000, serving as a lawyer within renowned international law firms in her native Lebanon. In 2008, she relocated to Qatar, where she joined a prominent Construction Claims and Project Management Company. Here, Paola provided invaluable legal counsel, contributed to the development of contracts, offered strategic insights, and helped shape management procedures for several landmark projects. Her tenure in Qatar also afforded her an invaluable wealth of experience in construction contracts and project management.

In 2019, Paola embarked on another significant chapter in her career by joining KEO International Consultants as Legal Manager and promoted to Head of the Legal Department. In this role, she oversees and leads the corporate matters, legal, contracts, and claims departments, and manages the projects-related contractual claims and other legal and strategical matters for the company. Her strong leadership and contract and legal acumen have been pivotal in ensuring the success of KEO’s projects and operations throughout all the regions where KEO operates.
Throughout her career, Paola has worked with and represented renowned contractors, employers, and consultants on major development projects. Her expertise extends beyond legal matters as she regularly collaborates with local and international legal counsels and technical experts, contributing to the successful resolution of major claims and complex arbitration and litigation cases.

Paola's trilingual abilities, vast experience, and commitment to excellence have made her a highly regarded figure in the legal and construction claims field within the MENA and GCC regions. Her outstanding contributions have not only shaped the landscape of the construction industry but have also earned her well-deserved recognition, including the General Counsel of the Year award for 2022 at the Qatar Business Law Forum Awards LexisNexis Ceremony held in Doha and a was nominated for the GCC Women In Law Award at the 2023 LexisNexis Women in Law Awards Ceremony held in Dubai.
 

Sarah Nassar

Associate Program Officer at the IP for Business Division, IP and Innovation Ecosystem Sector, of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

Sarah is an Associate Program Officer at the IP for Business Division, IP and Innovation Ecosystem Sector, of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Since joining in 2019, she has focused on capacity building activities and promoting the use of IP as a key business enabler in various regions, including through the implementation of IP and business management training programs for SMEs and Startups. She also supports the integration of IP for business services within business support institutions. She holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Law from the University of Geneva, Switzerland.

Description of topic - “In today’s intangible driven economy, where intangible investment have surged, IP is no longer a luxury but a business necessity. A complex landscape of multiple IP rights impacts innovative businesses, and those with protected IP have proven to experience revenue advantages. Additionally, IP plays a crucial role in financing decisions, attracting investors and maximizing prospects. In this context, the speaker will highlight some of WIPO’s key initiatives to support skill development and help enterprises navigate this evolving landscape.”
 

Rosena Nhlabatsi

Senior Intellectual Property Expert at the Qatar Research Development and Innovation (QRDI) Council

Rosena is a lawyer and a recognized IP professional, currently leading the intellectual property function and serving as a Senior IP Expert at the Qatar Research Development and Innovation Council (QRDI), a role she has held since the council's inception. 

In this capacity, Rosena provides strategic IP advice to QRDI's leadership, develops IP policies and procedures for the council’s funding programs, and offers recommendations for funding based on the IP potential of proposed projects. Previously, she managed the nation's largest IP portfolio as an IP Portfolio Manager at Qatar Foundation's IP and Technology Transfer Office. Rosena continues to actively provide IP advisory services to national stakeholders and leads IP and technology transfer capability development  initiatives at the council. 
She holds the internationally Recognized Technology Transfer Professional status, (RTTP) awarded by the Alliance of Technology Transfer Professionals (ATTP), recognizing her expertise in effectively managing and transferring technology. 

Additionally, Rosena is an avid writer of intellectual property legal commentaries, authoring numerous practical guidance notes and legislative analyses on IP laws in Qatar which have been published by widely recognized providers of legal, regulatory, and business information and analytics.
Her significant contributions have earned her the accolade of best author in the IP category in the Middle East as well as the Legal Innovator award.
Passionate about intellectual property and the development of robust legal frameworks, Rosena is dedicated to advancing these fields through her work and writings.

Dr. Asmaa Al-Quradaghi

CEO, Asmaa AL-Quradaghi for Advocacy, Legal Consultancy, and Arbitration

Dr. Asmaa Al-Quradaghi is a highly accomplished lawyer based in Doha, Qatar. With a strong background in both law and sharia, she serves as a prominent figure in the Qatari Supreme Court, handling cases across a wide range of legal areas. Her expertise spans civil, criminal, company, investment, and labor law, as well as family law and other related fields.

Dr. Al-Quradaghi's educational journey began at Qatar University, where she pursued her studies in law and sharia. However, she went on to expand her knowledge and qualifications by earning a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) and a Doctorate from the International Islamic University Malaysia. Her doctoral research focused on Governance of Islamic banks, showcasing her commitment to understanding and contributing to complex legal matters. Throughout her career, Dr. Al-Quradaghi has gained invaluable experience in various sectors. She has worked in Government Ministries, leveraging her legal expertise to contribute to the development and implementation of legal frameworks. Additionally, she has also served in banking institutions, including a notable role as a Director of Contracts. Currently, Dr. Al-Quradaghi is a self-employed lawyer, running her own firm named "Asmaa Al-Quradaghi Law Firm, Legal Consultancy and Arbitration." Her firm provides comprehensive legal services, catering to the diverse needs of clients. Driven by her passion for dispute resolution, she has pursued specialized qualifications in arbitration and acts as an arbitrator in the Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA). Her focus lies in handling arbitrations involving finance and financial markets, making her an invaluable resource in complex financial disputes.​Dr. Al-Quradaghi firmly believes that the remarkable growth of the legal profession in Qatar has played a significant role in the success and expansion of her own firm. Her dedication, extensive knowledge, and commitment to staying abreast of the evolving legal landscape have positioned her as a respected and sought-after lawyer in Qatar. She continues to contribute to the development of law in the country via providing exceptional legal representation to her clients.

Dr. Salah Zaineddine

Professor of Law at Lusail University

A Professor of Private Law at Lusail University. During 1995-2005, Prof. Salah held notable positions at Jordanian universities, including the University of Jordan and Isra University, where he was the Associate Dean of the Faculty of Law. Since 2006, his affiliations have spanned renowned GCC universities, including Qatar University, Sultan Qaboos University, Ajman University, Sharjah University, the American University in the UAE, and Al Ghurair University, where he was the Dean of the College of Law. Prof. Salah's academic contributions encompass intellectual property, commercial, and maritime law. His legacy includes academic textbooks and articles, and he presented research papers at various academic conferences. Practicing law since 1983, his intellectual property expertise garners consultations from institutions, government ministries, universities, corporations, and individuals. His legal sagacity shines through features on prominent platforms, including Al-Jazeera, Al-Hurra, and Jordan Television.

Guillaume Hess

Special Counsel at K&L Gates

 Guillaume Hess is special counsel in the firm’s Doha office and a member of the Construction and Infrastructure practice. He specializes in complex dispute resolution through arbitration, litigation, mediation, and negotiations. He has over a decade of experience representing public and private owners and contractors in resolving disputes arising out of the construction and the operation of major projects.

While Guillaume primarily focuses on construction disputes, he also has broad experience in general commercial disputes and in investment treaty disputes. He has handled a broad range of disputes under the auspices of most of the major rules of arbitration (including the ICC, LCIA, ICSID, DIFC-LCIA, ADCACC, DIAC, ADCCAC, SICAC) and before the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts, where he has full rights of appearance.

Guillaume studied law both in France and in the State of New York. He qualified in the State of New York. He has extensive experience in the Middle East and is comfortable working in either a common law environment or in a civil law environment.

Karim Nassif

Principal, Nassif Arbitration

Karim J. Nassif has more than 20 years’ experience in arbitration, mediation, civil law, contract law, commercial and corporate law, banking and finance, real estate and construction law. He acted as counsel, mediator, adjudicator and arbitrator in many complex disputes under the most leading international and regional arbitration rules, including the rules of the ICC, LCIA, DIFC-LCIA, DIAC, BCDR, CRCICA, AAA-ICDR, GCC, UNCITRAL, IICRA and ADCCAC; in various cases seated in the UK, France, Belgium, USA, Switzerland and throughout the Middle East; and governed by a variety of national laws (Lebanon, UAE – including DIFC, KSA, France, England and Wales, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Libya, Kuwait, Syria, New York, OHADA …) or sharia law. He authored and co-authored several publications in English, French and Arabic and he has frequently been a speaker in international conferences and seminars on international arbitration, civil code, mediation, commercial contracts, property, family structuring and legislative reform matters; including ICC, LCIA, IBA, DIAC, Arab Forum, CRCICCA, SCCA, EU-OECD, DIFC Academy of Law, Paris Bar, Society of Construction Law, Global Arbitration Review etc .. events. He pleads in English, French and Arabic. He has been awarded the Platinum Award for Sole Arbitrator – Dubai Awards. Finally, Karim is the current Vice-Chair of the ICC commission on Arbitration and ADR and the Co-Chair of the International Bar Association Arab Regional Forum.

Dr. Damilola S. Olawuyi (PhD)

Professor and Associate Dean for Research, UNESCO Chairholder on Environmental Law and Sustainable Development

Damilola S. Olawuyi, SAN is a Professor and UNESCO Chair on Environmental Law and Sustainable Development at the Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) College of Law, Doha, Qatar.  He is also the director of the Institute for Oil, Gas, Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development at the Afe Babalola University, Nigeria. Professor Olawuyi holds a doctorate in energy and environmental law from the University of Oxford; a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Harvard University; and another LL.M. from the University of Calgary. He is an Independent Expert on the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights; Vice Chair of the International Law Association; and Chair of the Association of Environmental Law Lecturers in Middle East and North African Universities (ASSELLMU). He was formerly an Independent Expert on the African Union’s Working Group on extractive industries, environment, and human rights violations in Africa.

Professor Olawuyi has published several articles, books, and reports on energy, environment, and natural resources law, including Environmental Law in Arab States (Oxford University Press, 2022), which received the 2023 American Society of International Law (ASIL) Certificate of Merit for High Technical Craftmanship and Utility to Practicing Lawyers.

Dr. Andrew Dahdal

Associate Professor, Qatar University

Currently researching issues relating to innovations in digital finance. Especially the intersection with public law principles. Other areas of interest include law and history and the entanglement of common law and civil law legal traditions now and in the past.

Dr. Zachary Calo

Professor of Law, Hamad bin Khalifa University and Senior Counsel, McNair International

Zachary R. Calo is Full Professor of Law at Hamad bin Khalifa University and Senior Counsel at McNair International.  He serves on international dispute resolution panels with Sport Resolutions UK and the Qatar Sports Arbitration Tribunal. He is also Professor of Law (Adj.) at the University of Notre Dame Australia, Visiting Professor at The Open University (UK), Visiting Professor at Tashkent State University of Law (Uzbekistan), Visiting Professor at Northwestern University in Qatar, and Lecturer at the Qatar Olympic Academy.  He was previously a fellow at the Brookings Institution and an associate attorney with Buckley Sandler, LLP in Washington, DC.  He holds a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, B.A. and M.A. from The Johns Hopkins University, Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, M.A. in ethics from the University of Virginia, and LLM in dispute resolution from the Straus Institute at Pepperdine University School Law.

Umar Azmeh

Registrar

Umar Azmeh was appointed Registrar in October 2022, and oversees the management of cases before the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre. He is also a member of the senior management team and the Judicial Advisory Board.
 
Umar qualified both as a barrister and a solicitor. He was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2009 by Middle Temple, and practised as a barrister, gaining experience in criminal and civil law, latterly conducting civil litigation on behalf of various United Kingdom government departments. He qualified as a solicitor at Hogan Lovells International LLP in 2017, where he gained experience of commercial law, including high value commercial litigation. He subsequently worked at the Court of Appeal of England and Wales (Criminal Division) which entailed advising the senior judiciary on some of the most serious and significant cases in the jurisdiction including, among others, the Lord Chief Justice, President of the Queen’s Bench Division, and the Vice-President of the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division).
 
He most recently practised at BCL Solicitors LLP in London, a leading law firm where he specialised in advising and representing high net-worth individuals and corporates in regulatory investigations brought by domestic and international regulators. Umar is also an expert in UK sanctions law, and has worked on some of the most high-profile sanctions cases in the United Kingdom.
 
Umar holds an LL.B. degree from King’s College, University of London, and an M.Sc. degree from the University of Oxford (Worcester College), where he graduated first in his year. He is currently a DPhil in Law Candidate at the University of Oxford (St Anne’s College), and is a regular contributor to academic and practitioner publications. Umar is also a Visiting Lecturer at The City Law Schools (City, University of London), and is a Trustee of the Sentencing Academy, a research and engagement charitable incorporated organisation dedicated to developing expert and public understanding of sentencing in England and Wales.

Ahmed Essa Al-Sulaiti

Director – Office of the State of Qatar to the World Trade Organization and other Economic Organisations

In this capacity he represents Qatar at the World Trade Organization, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Ahmed frequently represents Qatar in international dispute settlement proceedings, including in international arbitration, mediation, and State-to-State WTO disputes. He is the current President of the Executive Committee of the Berne Union at WIPO until 2024, and served as the chair of the Committee on Antidumping Practices at the WTO from 2021 to 2022. From 2012 and 2018, prior to joining Qatar’s Office to the WTO, Ahmed worked briefly for Qatar Gas Company until joining the Ministry of Trade as a trade negotiator.

Ahmed is a regular speaker at international conferences and frequently teaches on matters relating to intellectual property, WTO and general international law. His research has been published in leading journals, including a recent piece on WTO dispute settlement reform in the Journal of World Trade. He is a graduate of the University of Tampa (Bachelor of International Business and Management) and of Hamad Bin Khalifa University College of Law (Juris Doctor), a program offered in partnership with Northwestern University. He has also attended an advanced leadership course (‘Mastering Trade Policy’) at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
 

Mohamad Lahdan Al Muhannadi

Cassation Lawyer Chairman of Qatar Cultural Awareness Experts and Arbitrators Association Member of the Board of Qatar Lawyers Association

Mohammed Lahdan Al-Muhannadi has obtained a bachelor’s degree in Law from Dubai Police Academy in 2009. He received a certificate in Administrative, Penal and Contract Law from the School of Advanced Studies in Applied Law in Paris in 2017. He also acquired a master's degree in private law from Qatar University in 2021 and is currently registered as a doctoral researcher in commercial law at Cairo University.

Mohamed headed the Legal Consultation Department for Personnel Affairs from 2009 to 2017. He also held the position of Director of Legal Affairs for several intermittent periods, where he prepared and drafted many regulations, decisions, and legal contracts. He served as a member of the Discussion and Bids Committee for more than 3 years where he has gained extensive experience in this field. He is registered as a lawyer on cassation in the State of Qatar since 2018 and is the founder of Almajd Law Firm since its date. He is also a member of the International Bar Association and also member of the Board of Directors of Qatar Lawyers Association. He is a certified lawyer and arbitrator at the Qatar International Center for Conciliation and Arbitration, he was also recently selected Chairman of the Board of Directors of Qatar Cultural Awareness Experts and Arbitrators Association.

Al-Anoud M Al-Mosleh

Head - Research & Policy Advocacy at Invest Qatar

Ms. Al-Anoud M Al-Mosleh has extensive legal experience in a wide range of legal and regulatory matters including Commercial International Dispute Resolution, Corporate Governance, and Policy Advocacy. She holds a Master of Laws (LL.M) in International Commercial Dispute Resolution from Fordham University School of Law, New York, United States of America and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from Qatar University College of Law.

Currently, Al-Anoud serves as the Head of Research and Policy Advocacy at the Investment Promotion Agency in Qatar “Invest Qatar”. In this role, she works closely with local partners and stakeholders to enhance the investment climate and foster economic diversification. Her responsibilities include monitoring the legal landscape, reviewing regulations and high-level agreements, and ensuring compliance with global best practices in foreign direct investment and trade policies.

Prior to her current role, Al-Anoud worked in government owned companies and international law firms, dealing with commercial ICC arbitrations and corporate governance matters as well as Oil and Gas Shipping activities. Overseeing corporate governance for a portfolio of affiliate companies and managing Boards and General Assembly meetings and resolutions. Her expertise extends to drafting and negotiating various types of commercial contracts, compliance with international maritime standards, and advising on regulatory matters related to environmental as well as commercial laws with strong background in Alternative Disputes Resolution such as Commercial mediation and arbitration.

Dr. Susan L. Karamanian (JD)

Dean, HBKU College of Law

Susan L. Karamanian is Dean of HBKU's College of Law. She previously held leadership positions at the American University of Sharjah and the George Washington University Law School. Susan is a member of the Executive Council of the American Society of International Law (ASIL) and was previously Vice President of ASIL. She was also President of the Washington Foreign Law Society. She has lectured on international law at the University of Paris, the OAS Academy of International Law, Tamil Nadu National Law School, the National Law School of India University, Bangalore, and the Hague Academy of International Law (Director of English Studies). She has presented two lectures (“The Right to Property under International Law” and “The Intersection of Public International Law and Private International Law”) as part of the United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law. She is a trustee of the Center for American and International Law, where she chairs the Southwestern Institute for International and Comparative Law, and a director of Texas Appleseed. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the American Council on Germany, the American Bar Foundation, and the Texas Bar Foundation.

Dr. Aouni Shahoud Almousa

Legal Counsel - Arbitration at AL Sulaiti Law Firm (Doha - Qatar)

Dr. Aouni Shahoud Almousa is a Legal Counsel (Arbitration) at AL Sulaiti Law Firm in Doha Qatar, an of counsel at Alexander and Partners (Berlin - Germany) and a Trainer for Arbitrators at Qatar International Center for Conciliation and Arbitration (QICCA) as well at Kuwait Commercial Arbitration Center. Before joining AL Sulaiti Law Firm he worked as an Assistant Professor of Private Law at Lusail University (Doha - Qatar).

Dr. Aouni is a specialist in international commercial arbitration. In addition, he maintains a broad commercial practice with a focus on international business law, foreign investment and international commercial arbitration in the Middle East and North Africa. He has particular expertise in matters relating to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Syria. He advises on commercial transactions, strategic investments, joint ventures, and regulatory compliance as well matters involving state contracts, the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments, employment law, and trade finance.
 

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