Family Businesses and the Next Generation Joint Event

Faizal is a UK qualified lawyer and for many years has worked and advised, and is a trusted advisor to institutions, corporates and families across the Middle East Africa and India. Faizal specialises in banking and finance and has advised corporates, family offices and families including on their international investment and holding structures.

Faizal is responsible for developing the strategy for Jersey Finance’s engagement in Africa, the Middle East and India. He is focussed on his key markets, regularly travelling to all these countries, liaising and working with key stakeholders, including public and private institutions, corporates and families, building long term mutually beneficial relationships.

Faizal graduated with a first class in his undergraduate Law (LLB) Honours degree and a distinction in his postgraduate (MSc) degree in Islamic Banking and Finance, both from top tier UK based universities.

Faizal is a regular contributor and an international speaker, providing thought leadership at both public and private engagements across the Middle East and Africa. A regular contributor to both regional and national publications across the Middle East and Africa, Faizal has been interviewed on various platforms including the BBC, CNBC, Bloomberg,  CGTN, Arab news, Gulf News and various other leading global and regional media outlets.

Having successfully mentored for HRH King Charles’ charities, the Prince’s Trust and Mosiac, over several years, Faizal continues with his passion for mentoring young, dynamic and promising entrepreneurs globally. Faizal mentors MBA students from the prestigious and the world’s leading business school, the Saïd Business School at Oxford University. Additionally,  Faizal also mentors select NexGen UHNW family members from his region, supporting and guiding them as they take on more responsibility and positions of leadership within their global family businesses.

Al Zayani Investments B.S.C (Closed) is a dynamic company with a proven track record. It derives its strength from its local solid foundation and its worldwide network of contacts. A policy of investment in profitable national and international businesses and willingness to engage in rewarding joint ventures have established Al Zayani Investments B.S.C (Closed) as a truly successful regional and international enterprise. Its strategy is dedicated to expand and excel with a global vision. It employs state-of-the-art technologies to ensure an international competitive edge and stands ready for all future challenges. Al Zayani Investments B.S.C (Closed) business portfolio includes diversified ventures into the automotive, health care, manufacturing, real estate, service businesses and food & beverages.

Paula heads up our regional team and specialises in construction, engineering and projects across the Middle East region. She has lived and worked in Bahrain since 2006. Her extensive experience includes real estate and development/ residential, infrastructure/ utilities, oil/ gas, power/ water, green/ renewable energy, hotels, leisure and tourism, industrial/ manufacturing and commercial, education, healthcare, major social infrastructure/ roads and transport. She works for clients in the private and public sectors including government and regulatory. Her portfolio nalso includes various project stakeholders including employers and developers, lenders and investors, contractors, subcontractors, consultants and specialist procurement and supply chain.

Based in Dubai for over a decade, Hugh is responsible for running Equiom Isle of Man’s DIFC office and developing new private client business across the Middle East. 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 20 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.

Bashar is the Managing Director of Crestbridge Bahrain B.S.C (c); he has extensive experience in Trust and Financial services. With over 30 years’ experience in the region, Bashar has a strong track record in developing relationships with financial institutions, UHNW families and institutional investors. He has a wealth of experience, most recently as a private consultant, and previously as the former CEO of Intertrust Bahrain, Director at Credit Suisse, Regional Head Private Banking for Arab Bank Group, and UBS Merrill Lynch before that. He is responsible for the growth strategy and performance of our Bahrain office in addition to business development activity in the Middle East.

William leads our Middle East Corporate Practice. He is a dual-qualified corporate lawyer with extensive experience advising on high-value complex deals in a variety of sectors, including technology, healthcare, energy and natural resources and real estate. William has more than 20 years of experience advising on matters ranging from seed series investments for start-ups, to complex, multi-billion dollar matters across numerous jurisdictions. His experience includes advising on M&A, joint ventures, private equity and venture capital transactions, restructurings and compliance matters. William leads our Middle East Corporate Practice. He is a dual-qualified corporate lawyer with extensive experience advising on high-value complex deals in a variety of sectors, including technology, healthcare, energy and natural resources and real estate.

Tareq Abdul Latif Kanoo based in Bahrain, where he oversees the business operations as Managing Director of Abdulrahman Kanoo Co. WL.L and the Vice Chairman of Abdulrehman Kanoo International School. He holds senior executive positions in several other companies and directorships in several companies. He is also the Deputy Chairman of Beit Al Quran. Mr. Kanoo was the Executive Director, Private Wealth Management at Goldman Sachs Intl, London, Financial Analyst, International Investment Management Department at Brown Brothers Harriman and Co., New York, and Head of Wealth Management & Placement at GFH Financial Group BSC. With over 30 years’ experience in the region and abroad, Kanoo has a strong track record in the field of Banking and Investment. He did his Bachelors of Business Administration at the University of Texas, Austin and Masters of Management Degree, at J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University, Chicago.

Harry is FRICS qualified, with nearly two decades of experience across a broad range of real estate sectors advising private and institutional clients in the UK and Middle East. Head of Northern Gulf for Savills, Harry is responsible for the day to day running of the Bahrain operations and oversees the businesses in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Beginning his career in central London, Harry relocated to the Middle East in 2006, establishing the Savills Abu Dhabi office in 2010 before moving to Bahrain. With a passion for starting and growing new businesses in complex and challenging markets, Harry provides strategic direction, manages growth, and reviews and enhances operational processes and effectiveness. The businesses he oversees offer an array of professional consultancy services across the commercial and residential sectors for both investors and occupiers.

Piers advises on a full range of personal tax, trust, succession and estate planning matters, with a particular focus on advising clients from the Middle East. He acts for some of the firm's largest private clients and heads our Private Wealth Sector. Piers acts for high net worth individuals from across the world. He is well known for his work with Middle Eastern clients, where he acts for many ruling family members and billionaires. Advice on family governance and managing generational transition forms a large and increasingly significant part of his work. Several of his clients, both from the Middle East and elsewhere, have US connections, and he regularly works with leading US advisers to devise solutions for them. Piers is a Visiting Professor at the University of Law and a regular speaker in the UK and internationally on matters of private client interest.