Jersey Finance: The Impacts of Local and International Legal Developments on Saudi Family Businesses – Riyadh

Ismael Hajjar is a UAE based partner specialising in international tax & wealth structuring, family office and private capital advisory.

He started his career in Europe and has been serving international families for over 16 years. He relocated to the UAE in 2013 and is currently acting as a trusted advisor to a number of successful families across the Middle East region.

He is leading PwC Tax and Legal service offering to private clients, entrepreneurial & royal families and family offices in helping them understand and manage their global affairs, overcome cross-border tax challenges and identify opportunities to achieve their family and business objectives.

Prior to joining PwC, Ismael was acting as head of Private for another big four firm and was responsible for the design and execution of the overall firm strategy for private companies and their owners across all service lines.

Emily is an investment funds partner in Ogier's Jersey office. She primarily advises in relation to private equity funds and is part of Ogier's multi-disciplinary Private Equity team. She advises a variety of investment fund sponsors on the formation, operation, listing and winding-up of funds (including end of life solutions), as well as investors investing into Jersey funds. Her expertise spans private funds, investment schemes and family office funds, open and closed-ended funds across a wide variety of strategies and asset classes.

Emily has extensive regulatory experience, having advised many financial services businesses as well as directors on their regulatory license applications and ongoing obligations, and has advised a number of fund managers on their relocation to Jersey.

Emily is a recommended / ranked lawyer in Legal 500, IFLR 1000 and Chambers directories.

Pete Unwin is a Head of Private Wealth & Family Office, Middle East based in Jersey.

With over 25 years’ experience with private clients and corporate services Pete is responsible for overseeing a range of management activities (including leading our Middle East Team) and regularly has oversight of family wealth and complex cross-border transactions. Pete has been involved in strategic planning for family governance, including succession planning and family constitutions, and is well versed in the establishment, administration and governance of multi-jurisdictional structures for holding a variety of business interests, investments, lifestyle assets and philanthropic activities.

His considerable experience supports his team of private client experts and ensures the delivery of a superior client service.

Amgad is a Partner in Hourani & Partners, seconded to Zarei & Hamdan Law Firm in Riyadh. Amgad is a US qualified attorney who has practiced in the Middle East since 1999 and in Saudi Arabia since 2001 where he represents global corporations and high net worth individuals. Amgad’s longstanding local market presence coupled with his deep understanding of the legal framework and regulatory nuances of the region has made him a recognized legal figure in Saudi Arabia. Global leading legal directory, Chambers and Partners, has acknowledged Amgad for his “very good understanding of the Saudi commercial and governmental environment...as well as global companies and the way they think”.

In the most recent guide, the 2023 Legal 500 highly ranks and recognizes Amgad as a “hidden gem for legal resources in Saudi Arabia” and that he is “next-level.”

Prior to joining the Firm, Amgad managed the Riyadh office of a global law firm.

Yasmin Alafaliq is the Co-Founder of Elaqat for Corporate Services, a one stop shop that focuses on foreign investments by providing company incorporation services to foreign companies that wish to expand into the Saudi Market.

In 2022, Yasmin joined Levari Law by becoming the firm’s appointed partner in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Yasmin is an experienced lawyer with extensive knowledge of the Saudi Arabian laws and regulations which are supported by a degree in Law from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. She takes pride in providing the best services with the highest of quality.

Yasmin holds bachelor’s degree of law (LLB) from King Faisal University.

Wael is a highly accomplished, C-level professional with 20 years’ strong financial management and consulting experience and a proven record of launching and growing businesses, restructuring, securing sources for revenue, and increasing team productivity. He is particularly adept at implementing cost-saving restructuring processes to save millions.

Wael holds the role of Head of RE Investment and Structured Finance at Al Nahla Group. Moreover, he is a Board Member of Warifat Hospitality Company and of Central District Cooling Company in the KSA. Prior to that, he was CFO & Acting CIO of Jabal Omar (KSA) where he lead a SAR 17 billion restructuring plan that included a SAR 6 billion public fund acquisition. Previously still, Wael had held the positions of COO & CFO at Blominvest Saudi Arabia after holding several managerial positions with in KSA and Lebanon.

Today, Majed Garoub heads one of the leading law firms in the Kingdom. Founded by him in 1995, the firm works in the fields of corporate commercial law, financial services, real estate, family businesses, intellectual property issues, dispute resolution, joint ventures and issues relating to the WTO. His client roster includes companies and individuals in the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and the US. He maintains associations with law firms in London, Paris, New York, Cairo and beyond.