2025 Speakers
H.E. Mr. Ibrahim bin Ali Al-Mohannadi
Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs
H.E. Mr. Ibrahim bin Ali Al-Mohannadi was appointed Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs in January 2024.
H.E. the Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs has held several positions in the legal field. He served as Director of the Legal Affairs Department at the Amiri Diwan with the rank of Minister from 2013 to 2024. He also previously worked in various other entities. Additionally, His Excellency held the rank of Second Lieutenant in the Armed Forces from 2004 to 2005.
His Excellency participated in numerous joint and specialized committees and working groups in legal and legislative fields both domestically and internationally. He was responsible for drafting and reviewing numerous legislations and international and regional agreements. He has also taken part in many international and regional conferences and meetings in legal domains.
H.E. the Minister holds a bachelor's degree in law from Durham University in the United Kingdom, with honors, and a master's degree in law from Swansea University in Wales, UK, with honours. He has also attended numerous specialized training programs and courses in leadership skills and decision-making strategies at both international and local academic institutions.
H.E. the Minister is responsible for all matters related to the Ministry of Justice and the General Secretariat of the Cabinet, including enhancing and developing the legal and legislative infrastructure to achieve Qatar National Vision 2030.
Faisal Al Sahouti
Chief Executive Officer, Qatar Internatioanl Court & Dispute Resolution Centre
Faisal Al Sahouti has been the CEO of the QICDRC since April 2014 and is a member of its Judicial Advisory Board as part of the senior leadership. He is responsible for the administrative, financial and legal affairs of the QICDRC in collaboration with the President, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, former Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales.
During Faisal Al Sahouti’s tenure, the QICDRC has witnessed remarkable growth, and is now the second busiest international commercial court of its kind in the world. Faisal Al Sahouti is passionate about access to justice and the rule of law, and he has led on a number of initiatives at the QICDRC designed to improve user experience, including a comprehensive guide to proceedings before the QFC Court, a book on the QICDRC’s practices, procedures and law, and a legal clinic to assist those who are unable to afford legal representation.
In 2019, the Council of Ministers appointed Mr. Al Sahouti as a member of the Grievances Committee of the Qatar Financial Markets Authority pursuant to Council of Ministers Decision No. 22 of 2019. Faisal Al Sahouti holds an LLB from Qatar University, and an LLM from the University of Nottingham. He is a certified international arbitrator and a judicial mediator accredited by CEDR. He has acted as an arbitrator in a number of arbitration cases in the State of Qatar.
Muna Nasser Al-Kaabi
Case Progression Officer at the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre
Muna Nasser Al-Kaabi is a Case Progression Officer at the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre (QICDRC), where she supports the efficient management of legal proceedings.
Muna holds a B.A. in Art History from Virginia Commonwealth University and an LL.M. in International Law and Foreign Affairs from Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU). She is currently pursuing a Juris Doctor (J.D.) at Haman Bin Khalifa University College of Law.
Having a background in the arts, Muna also worked at Qatar Museums as a Collections Specialist for several years. With a multidisciplinary background, she brings a distinct perspective to her role at the QICDRC, where she plays a key role in the management of cases with a strong foundation in legal research and procedural law.
AlAnoud M Al-Mosleh
Head of Research and Policy Advocacy at the Investment Promotion Agency (Invest Qatar)
AlAnoud M Al-Mosleh has extensive legal experience in Commercial International Dispute Resolution, Corporate Governance, and Policy Advocacy. She holds a Master of Laws (LL.M) in International Dispute Resolution from Fordham University School of Law (New York) and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from Qatar University College of Law.
Currently, AlAnoud serves as the Head of Research and Policy Advocacy at the Investment Promotion Agency in Qatar “Invest Qatar”. In this role, she works closely with local partners and stakeholders to enhance the investment climate and foster economic diversification. Her responsibilities include monitoring the legal landscape, reviewing high-level agreements, and ensuring compliance with global best practices in foreign direct investment and trade policies.
Prior to her current role, AlAnoud worked in government-owned entitites and international law firms, dealing with commercial ICC arbitrations, corporate governance matters, oil & gas, shipping activities and logistics. Her expertise extends to drafting and negotiating commercial contracts, compliance with international maritime standards, and advising on regulatory matters related to environmental and commercial laws, and in Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Maha Al-Saadi
Head of Regulatory Affairs, QFC Authority
Maha Al-Saadi, with 18 years of experience in regulated financial services, compliance, and regulatory affairs, currently leads as the Head of Regulatory Affairs at Qatar Financial Centre Authority. Her career includes pivotal roles at Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority, Deutsche Börse, Trade Republic Bank GmbH, and Bankhaus Scheich.
Maha has played an important role in integrating emerging technologies in finance by working on the adoption of the MiCAR, and the German Electronic Securities Act, and formulating strategies for blockchain, DLT, digital assets, and decentralized finance. These initiatives have synchronized innovation with stringent regulatory standards, improving market efficiency and promoting inclusion. Recognized as a thought leader, Maha frequently collaborates with global policymakers and industry stakeholders. She holds an LLM in Finance Law from Goethe University’s Institute of Law and Finance and is a Certified Blockchain Expert from the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management. Her work continues to merge traditional financial services with modern innovations within a transparent and accountable regulatory framework.
Nasser Al – Taweel
Deputy CEO, Chief Legal Officer and Board Secretary
Nasser Al-Taweel was appointed Chief Legal Officer and Board Secretary of the QFC Authority in 2015 and became Deputy CEO in 2021. One of the first Qatari nationals to qualify as a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales, he leads QFC Authority’s award winning legal department of internationally qualified lawyers, while also overseeing the Monitoring, Enforcement, and Company Registration Offices. In his role, Nasser ensures adherence to global standards in governance and compliance, driving QFC Authority’s vision to be a leading business and financial centre in the region. He has championed the adoption of innovative technologies and models to enhance efficiency and growth. Previously, he worked as Legal Counsel at Royal Dutch Shell plc in Doha, London, and The Hague, advising on major corporate and commercial matters. He also served as Advisor to the Minister of Finance and contributed to national-priority projects under the Prime Minister’s Office. Recognised in The Legal 500’s GC Powerlist as a prominent industry leader, Nasser holds a Law degree from the University of Leeds.
Gabriel Olufemi
Managing Partner, Dentons
Gabriel Olufemi is the managing partner of Dentons' Doha office and a partner in the Middle East Construction and Dispute Resolution practice. He has been working in the Middle East since 2014 and has more than 15 years of experience working on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious construction and engineering matters.
Specializing in construction and engineering law, Gabriel has extensive experience providing legal advice on high-value complex projects for the public and private sector in the Middle East with a particular focus on Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Oman. These have included stadia/sport facilities, real estate developments, road, airport, rail, and other infrastructure and construction projects.
Gabriel advises clients during all stages of the project lifecycle from design to financial close, including providing advice on project structure, procurement strategy, contract strategy, operation and maintenance, dispute avoidance and international arbitration.
Roscoe Stuart Banks
Associate General Counsel, Qatar Financial Centre (QFC)
Roscoe Banks studied law at the University of KwaZulu Natal in South Africa where he obtained his BA and LLB degrees. He completed his training contract at Webber Wentzel in Johannesburg, one of South Africa’s largest law firms, and was admitted as an Attorney of the High Court of South Africa in 1999.
Shortly after that, he relocated to London and was admitted as a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales in 2000 while working in the Aircraft Finance team at Harbottle and Lewis, a boutique law firm in London’s West End.
In 2001 he joined Shell International in London as in-house counsel in the Downstream practice area. He advised various Shell entities on a wide range of corporate and commercial matters including joint ventures, mergers, acquisitions and divestments.
In 2011, he was seconded to Qatar Shell in Doha to advise on a petrochemicals joint venture with Qatar Energy returning to Shell’s London office in 2015.
In 2016, he returned to Qatar to join the Qatar Financial Centre Authority’s legal team where he currently serves as Associate General Counsel.
Farah Haidar
Senior Associate at DWF
Farah Haidar is a Senior Associate at DWF, specialising in dispute resolution with a strong focus on construction arbitrations across the Middle East. She has acted in ad hoc and institutional arbitrations under ICC, LCIA, and QICCA rules, and has also served as an arbitrator.
Her experience spans high-value, complex disputes involving employers, contractors, and subcontractors across major infrastructure and development projects, including highways, commercial and residential towers, and waste management facilities. Beyond construction, Farah has represented clients in commercial and investment arbitrations. Farah is qualified in Paris and New York, and has been based in Qatar since 2019. She works across jurisdictions and legal systems, including those of Qatar, the UAE, and Oman.
Matthew Walker
Partner, K&L Gates
Matthew Walker is an International Arbitration, Litigation, and Dispute Resolution partner who focuses on construction law. Matthew acts as arbitrator and counsel in arbitration and has co-authored many leading practitioners’ guides to arbitration in Qatar. He is recognized in Lexology as a Thought Leader for construction law and is recommended for arbitration. He is ranked in Chambers & Partners in the United Kingdom for international construction arbitration.
Matthew has acted as advocate and counsel in ICC, LCIA, UNCITRAL, ad hoc, and QICCA arbitrations in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Turkey, Hong Kong, India, and the United Kingdom, as advocate and co-counsel in cases before the Appellate Division of the Qatar International Court and as co-counsel in cases before the Qatari state courts. He also litigates in the High Court, the Technology & Construction Court, and the Court of Appeal in England. He has sat in several arbitrations as arbitrator, including as President of the Tribunal, co-arbitrator, sole arbitrator, and on a panel of five arbitrators. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building and has been accredited as a Mediator by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.
Simon Chan
Partner, K&L Gates
Simon Chan is a partner in K&L Gates’ Doha office and a member of the firm’s Finance practice.
He has been based in Doha since 2010. Simon is renowned for his adept guidance to financial institutions, corporate sponsors, and borrowers. His expertise spans diverse finance-related domains, encompassing project finance, leveraged finance, fintech, asset finance, Islamic finance, and restructuring activities, both in Qatar and internationally. Additionally, he has extensive experience in regulatory matters.
Simon has been advising Qatari financial institutions with respect to complex regulatory matters throughout the regulatory landscape including in relation with general regulatory perimeter requirements, banking capital, and investment funds-related requirements. His practice also extends to advising on regulatory compliance issues including AML/KYC regulations and investor protection rules.
Actively involved in the fintech and regtech initiatives of Qatar and the Qatar Financial Centre, Simon regularly contributes to various working groups and committees dedicated to advancing these initiatives. He advises top fintech companies and startups revolutionizing the Qatari financial market and explores opportunities with local fintech companies.
Khalid Mohammed Al-Harami
Founder and Chairman West Bay International – Legal Consultants and Lawyers Former Director of the State Litigation Department Former Assistant to the Minister of Justice’s Office Director
Mr. Khalid Al-Harami possesses extensive legal experience spanning more than twenty years across various professional disciplines. In his capacity as Director of the State Litigation Department, he represented the Ministry of Justice in numerous local and international cases.
He has an impressive professional record filled with notable achievements in the legal field, having held several key positions, including Legal Advisor to His Excellency the Minister of Justice, Head of the Technical Office at the Minister’s Office, Head of the Technical Office at the Real Estate Registration and Documentation Sector, and Director of the Legal Affairs Department. Throughout these roles, he achieved significant successes in various areas of law.
Mr. Al-Harami also possesses exceptional communication skills, enabling him to handle complex and sensitive cases effectively, particularly administrative cases. He is consistently dedicated to maintaining high standards of efficiency and professionalism in legal practice and is skilled in legal settlements and reconciling differing viewpoints between disputing parties.
Mr. Al-Harami earned his bachelor’s degree from Qatar University, where he developed strong negotiation skills and sound legal analytical abilities. He has completed specialized training courses in arbitration and dispute resolution and has made numerous valuable contributions and offered insightful legal prospects across multiple practice areas.
He is also an active member of several international and regional professional organizations, a former Regional President of the International Association for the Fight Against Cybercrime (A.I.L.C.C) in Paris, and a member of the International Bar Association (IBA) in the United Kingdom.
Khalid Mohammed Al-Harami
Chairman of Qatar Lawyers Association | Founder & Chairman of Al Sulaiti Law Firm | Cassation Lawyer | Certified Arbitrator
Mr. Mubarak Al-Sulaiti is a distinguished and highly respected figure within Qatar’s legal community. He founded Al Sulaiti Law Firm in 2002 and has since developed it into one of the country’s leading full-service law firms. With over 27 years of legal experience, he possesses extensive expertise in Qatari law and has represented clients before various judicial bodies and regulatory authorities with exceptional professionalism and success.
Beyond his practice, Mr. Al-Sulaiti plays a pivotal role in advancing the legal profession in Qatar. He has been a Board Member of the Qatar Lawyers Association since 2014 and currently serves as its Chairman since 2022. His influence extends internationally through his memberships in the Arab Lawyers Union and the International Bar Association (IBA). He also serves as a Commission Member of the ICC Global Arbitration and ADR Commission.
Previously, Mr. Al-Sulaiti served on the FIFA Players’ Dispute Resolution Committee (2007–2011), contributing to the development of global sports law. His ongoing dedication and leadership continue to shape and strengthen Qatar’s legal landscape - nationally, regionally, and internationally.
Nour El Khoury
Senior Associate, Hamad Al Yafei Law Firm
Nour El Khoury is a senior associate lawyer at Hamad Al-Yafei Law Firm, bringing extensive international and domestic legal experience.
Before joining the firm, Nour served as an international legal consultant at Osta Law Firm (Lebanon), where she specialized in oil and gas contracts, corporate law, and cross-border transactions. Her background also includes roles in banking and finance, civil law, and real estate law, with hands-on litigation and client representation experience.
A member of the Beirut Bar Association, Nour has completed advanced training in international arbitration, contract drafting, and oil and gas markets. With expertise spanning corporate law, arbitration and cross-border contracts, Nour combines sharp legal insight, multilingual communication skills, and a results-driven approach, making her a valuable contributor to both local and international legal matters.
Professor Hilary Bell
Assistant Professor of Law and Juris Doctor-Coordinator,
Hamad Bin Khalifa University College of Law
Hilary Bell is an Assistant Professor in the College of Law at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar.
Hilary is an experienced legal practitioner who brings her expertise to the classroom, teaching courses in construction and infrastructure development law, dispute resolution, and legal skills. She is a Solicitor and Notary Public, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and a Member of the International Coach Federation. Hilary’s scholarship focuses on legal education and the role of women in legal practice.