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

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.

Hassan manages the private wealth practice at Alzawawi Law Firm. He trained at an international law firm in London and worked for two leading Saudi law firms in Jeddah and Riyadh prior to joining Alzawawi Law Firm. He has a particular focus on providing corporate and regulatory advice to private wealth clients and their businesses. He also focuses on providing legal advice in relation to acquisition transactions, preparation and negotiation of shareholders’ agreements and liaising with foreign and local counsel. Hassan has wide experience across various sectors including food and beverage, hospitality and hotels, casual dining, pharmaceuticals and healthcare sectors.

Heba began her career in various legal and philanthropy roles in the City of London and later joined Orangefield Group (now Vistra) in 2012 as part of the UK client commercial advisory department. She has a particular focus on HNWIs, UHNWIs and Family Offices from the Arabian Gulf. In collaboration with the client’s advisers, support extends to structuring their international personal and business assets, succession and implementing governance across generations. Heba grew up in the Middle East, and is equally comfortable working in English and Arabic. She holds a degree in Law and has completed the Legal Practice Course at the University of Law, London. In 2018 and 2017, Heba was named as one of eprivateclient’s ‘Top 35 Under 35’ professionals. Heba has also been shortlisted as Woman of the Year - Future Leaders in the Powerwomen Awards 2020.

Joined PWC in October 2013 after spending more than a decade with another big 4 firm in Saudi Arabia. Prior to his time in Saudi, worked as a consultant with the South African Revenue Services.

Suleman has over 20 years of professional tax experience including advising multinational clients on Saudi Arabian regulations, international tax planning, transfer pricing, agreement structuring and local compliance issues.

Deals with tax matters for clients covering a wide range of industry sectors, including oil and gas, pharma, technology and logistics.

Actively involved in training, learning and development and tax update seminars in KSA and brings his country, technical, and industry knowledge to clients.

Attended international tax training and courses in South Africa, UAE, UK, Spain, Brazil, China, Denmark and Italy among others.

Lynda oversees business development for the private client team globally at Ocorian.

Lynda moved to Dubai over 18 years ago and has developed a very strong sense of cultural differences, regional sensitivities and the importance of long-standing relationships built on trust in these markets.

During her time in the region Lynda has visited clients and intermediaries in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and India.

Lynda is responsible for maintaining and enhancing Ocorian’s existing relationships and client base in the Middle East and identifying new business opportunities – with particular focus on delivering solutions to private clients, single family offices, corporates, asset managers, institutions and government entities around the region.

Ian is an Executive Director in the Private Client team in Jersey.

He is a qualified Solicitor (England & Wales, non-practising), a member of STEP and has over 20 years of experience in the private client industry.

Prior to joining Ocorian in January 2022, Ian held senior leadership roles in one of the largest trust and company service providers. He has strong international experience across multiple jurisdictions having worked very closely with families based in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

In addition to his duties as Head of the Jersey Private Client, Ian’s expertise lies in advising UHNW individuals, families, and family offices in achieving their strategic objectives.

He applies a “hand’s on” and pragmatic approach to finding solutions for his clients in order that they preserve and enhance their wealth and reputation through robust and sustainable structures.

James is a Partner in the Private Client team and advises high net worth clients, family offices, entrepreneurs, trustees and investors.

He has extensive experience advising clients and families on a wide range of succession planning and family governance matters. This includes assisting clients with trust and foundation structuring, Wills, family business succession, family charters and the establishment of family vehicles and investment companies. He is also deeply experienced in UK tax planning, including residence and domicile matters.

James advises clients around the world, with a special focus on the Middle East where he travels very frequently.

In addition, James is widely known for his expertise in cryptoassets, being one of the first lawyers to develop an expertise in this area. He is the author of the book 'Cryptoassets for Private Clients' (published LexisNexis Butterworths, 2023).

15 years of experience in different practice areas of law and legal services in Egypt and MENA. In addition experience in complex legal roles within the financial and healthcare sectors & banking accompanied by variety of professional legal practice certificates, Strategic Contract Management, International Contract Drafting, exceptional negotiation skills and meticulous analytical approach.

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.