Qatar Business Law Forum Conference

Thank you for showing interest in the upcoming 2025 Qatar Business Law Forum Conference!

LexisNexis Middle East is pleased to host the 10th edition of the Qatar Business Law Forum Conference. Held under the patronage of the Ministry of Justice; the forum is in collaboration with the Qatar International Court & Dispute Resolution Centre (LexisNexis Strategic Alliance Partner), the Ministry of Commerce & Industry’s Department of Legal Affairs, and our exclusive Law Firm Partner, Al Sulaiti Law Firm.

2025 Event Venue Details:

Qatar Business Law Forum Conference 2025:
Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl, Doha
Timings: 8:30 AM to 2 PM

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This year’s event marks a significant milestone as we celebrate a decade of the Qatar Business Law Forum Conference – ten years of fostering legal excellence, promoting innovation, and strengthening collaboration within Qatar’s legal sector.

  • First Session – Achieving Qatar National Vision 2030
  • Second Session – Becoming an Investor-Friendly Destination
  • Third Session – Faster, Smarter, Better: Modernising Qatar’s Justice System

2025 Programme

Achieving Qatar National Vision 2030

8:15 – 9:00 AM
Badge Pick-up, Breakfast and Networking
9:00-9:30 AM
Opening Remarks

  • LexisNexis Middle East

  • His Excellency Ibrahim bin Ali bin Issa Al Hassan Al Mohannadi, Minister of Justice

  • Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Thani, Chairman, Qatar Chamber

  • Faisal Al-Sahouti, CEO, Qatar International Court & Dispute Resolution Centre

  • Mubarak Al-Sulaiti, President, Qatar Lawyers Association

  • Nasser Al-Taweel, Legal Affairs Director, Ministry of Commerce & Industry

  • Hilal Al Khulaifi, Chief Legal, Regulatory & Corporate Governance Officer, Ooredoo Group

9:30-10:45 AM
Panel Discussion 1: The Evolving Business Law Framework under Qatar National Vision 2030

  • The evolution and future of Foreign Investment Law in Qatar

  • The evolving role of Qatar’s special zones

  • Modernising Qatar’s dispute resolution framework (arbitration law, evolution and growth of QICCA, the creation of the Trade & Investment Court)

  • Practising law in Qatar: developments in the Advocacy Law, LegalTech

Moderator: AlAnoud M Al-Mosleh, Head of Economic Research & Policy Advocacy, Invest Qatar 

Panelists:

  • Dr. Abdulla Al Khaldi, Director of the Legal & Judicial Studies Center (LJSC), Ministry of Justice

  • Nasser Al-Taweel, Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Legal Officer at Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority

  • Monita Barghachie, General Counsel & Board Secretary, Marafeq Qatar

  • Matthew Walker, Partner, K&L Gates

An Investor-Friendly Destination
10:45 AM-12:00 PM
Panel 2: Pioneering Corporate Governance in the GCC

  • Back to Basics: Role and composition of board of directors, minority shareholder rights, and filing obligations

  • QFMA Corporate Governance + Case Study

  • Corporate governance in the QFC and harmonisation of QFC and special zones

  • Governance obligations of LLCs

  • Legislative developments for corporate governance: What’s in the pipeline?

Moderator: Georges Abi Saab – General Counsel, Ooredoo Group

Panelists:

  • Michelle Ancona Reynolds – Head of Legal, Rheinmetall Barzan Advanced Technologies QSTP-LLC 

  • Roopak Seghal – Senior Legal Counsel, Sharaka Holdings 

  • Dr. Zain Sharer – Senior Legal Counsel to the CEO, QICDRC 

  • Ahmed Al-Emadi – Director-Competition & Regulatory Economics, Ooredoo Group

12:00-1:00 PM
Lunch - Please Join Us!
1:00-2:00 PM
Panel 3: Bringing Investor Confidence to the Financial Sector

  • The Big Picture: Legislative milestones in Qatar’s banking & finance sector + where the law is headed

  • QFC’s new distinct regulatory zone for digital assets

  • QFCRA Investment Token Rules

  • The new regulatory framework for digital banking

  • Protecting investor data

Moderator: Roscoe Banks – Associate General Counsel, Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority

Panelists:

  • Jabor Al-Muraikhi – Assistant Director of Legal Affairs, National Cyber Security Agency 

  • Maha Al Saadi – Head of Regulatory Affairs, Qatar Financial Centre  

  • Simon Chan – Partner, K&L Gates 

  • Rita ElHelou – Chief Legal & Compliance Officer & Board Secretary, Lesha Bank

Faster, Smarter, Better: Modernising Qatar’s Justice System
2:00-3:10 PM
Panel 4: Real Estate & Construction Disputes
  • The new dedicated Enforcement Court one year on
    • How the Court has been applying the Enforcement Law
    • Practical tips for in-house practice to enforce cheques, leases and other documents
  • QICCA Developments in Construction Dispute Resolution

  • The new committees for the resolution of real estate development disputes (Decisions No. 26/2025 and 27/2025)

  • Rethinking Performance Bonds: Legal Developments and Practical Consequences

Moderator: Muna AlKaabi – Case Officer, Qatar International Court

Panelists:

  • Andrew Johnson – General Counsel, Msheireb Properties 

  • Gabriel Olufemi – Doha Office Managing Partner, Dentons 

  • Amr Hossam El-Din – Senior Counsel and Head of Arbitration and ADR, Al Sulaiti Law Firm 

  • Farah Haider – Senior Associate, DWF

3:10-4:20 PM
Panel 5: Choice of Forum for an Expeditious, Predictable and Judicious Resolution of Disputes

  • Pros and cons of the Trade & Investment Court

  • When can parties opt for the Qatar International Court

  • Updated Rules for the Qatar International Court: What has changed?

  • QIC Case Update

  • Avoiding pitfalls in drafting your arbitration clause

  • AI’s Impact on Dispute Resolution in Qatar

Moderator: Professor Hilary Bell – Assistant Professor of Law and Juris Doctor Director, HBKU

Panelists:

  • Umar Azmeh – Registrar, Qatar International Court

  • Dr. Hazem Hussein – Partner, Al Majd Law Firm

  • Nour El Khoury – Lawyer, Hamad Al Yafei Law Firm

  • Khalid Al-Harami – Chairman, West Bay Law

Note: * Topics and times are subject to change. Q&A will follow each presentation, time permitting.