Jeddah: Corporate Structuring Considerations from a Saudi and International Perspective

Omer Saleem has 14 plus years of experience in the finance sector, specifically financial valuations, management & internal strategy. He has added value in operations and strategy arenas at some of the biggest players in the industry like Goldman Sachs and Credit Agricole. His area of expertise is in financial markets specifically in valuations, financial management (cash flow management, expense analysis, budgeting & forecasting), strategy development, change management and client relationship management. He has operational and managerial experience in these areas. In addition, he has been through multiple M&As which have added to his skills set in short & long-term business strategy development, business process improvement and restructuring. His work experience is complemented by an MBA from the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto.

Based in Dubai for over a decade, Hugh is responsible for developing new private client business across the Middle East through Equiom Fiduciary Services (Middle East) Limited. Hugh’s focus is on meeting the individual requirements of high & ultra-net worth individuals and corporations by offering them a full range of trust and fiduciary services. Hugh has over 25 years’ experience in wealth planning & fiduciary management with top tier private banks and trust companies throughout Europe and the Middle East. Hugh holds an LLB (Hons), was called to the Bar of England and Wales and is a Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP). He also holds a Swiss Advanced Certificate in Trust Management, acts as the Vice Chairman of STEP Arabia and is bilingual in English and German.

Mohammed manages the corporate practice at ZM Law. He trained at a magic circle firm in London and worked for a leading Saudi law firm in Jeddah and Riyadh prior to joining ZM Law. Mohammed has a particular focus on corporate and commercial transactions, including private and public mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, general corporate regulatory and advisory work, in the energy, transportation, health, e-commerce, education, food and beverage and real estate sectors, among others.

Lama Homaidan AlTurki is a Saudi licensed attorney and notary with a 10 year experience in corporate and commercial law. Mrs. AlTurki has an LLM in commercial law and expertise in corporate structuring, restructuring, corporate governance, joint ventures, M&As, and liaising off-shore structuring. Mrs. AlTurki has represented local and international clients in complex commercial transactions in diversified industries within the territory of Saudi Arabia. Mrs. AlTurki’s recent practice is in B.O.T/B.O.O.T contracts and PPPs in the health sector. Mrs. AlTurki has contributed in building the legal infrastructure of a national platform in the health sector that is transforming the health care sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that is used to enhance the level and quality of health services.

A bilingual legal consultant, over 10 years of experience having worked in private practice and in-house roles in the UK, Greece and KSA. His legal practice focuses on HNWI Wealth Management, Family Company Governance, International Regulatory Compliance, Private Equity, Real Estate Assets, Sharia Financing, and generally Commercial Transaction and Corporate Structuring. His academic background is in English Law, European Business Law, and International Business Strategy, grants him insight into the needs and opportunities of his clients. Fivos is passionate about his work, and dedicated to supporting ethical and socially responsible investment.

Hamid is a Saudi qualified lawyer with domestic and international legal experience, with a PhD in Waqfs and trusts from King's College London, an LL.M in contract law from McGill University, a BA in Islamic law from the Islamic University in Madinah. He specialises in dispute resolution, cross-border transactions, Waqfs and wealth planning, corporate law, and employment law. He has various publications, most important of which is his recent book titled Towards the Reform of Private Waqfs: A Comparative Study of Islamic Waqfs and English Trusts (Brill 2015).

Ian leads the Private Client Service Line in Jersey. He has international experience in both the legal and fiduciary fields, where his expertise lies in advising individuals, families, and family offices in achieving strategic objectives. He applies a pragmatic solution-based approach to fulfilling client needs. As a key advisor to many international families in his role as a professional trustee and director, he is often involved in sophisticated, cross jurisdictional structuring for the deployment of private capital. Ian was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales in 2002 (non-practicing) and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).