AN ITP MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION MARCH 2025 • VOL.1 • ISSUE 02 RAYNE chief Sarah Jones on the rise of legal consulting FINDING BALANCE LME_Mar2025_00_Cover_13522050.indd 111/03/2025 20:41Standard Chartered Bank UAE is licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE. Now’s the time to invest globally before New York wakes up Grow your wealth globally and connect with the right opportunities right now. Now’s your time for wealth Standard Chartered Priority Untitled-7 131/01/2025 12:25March 2025 | 3 law-middleeast.com EDITOR’S LETTER Hello readers, It gives me great joy to bring you this month’s issue which celebrates the remarkable strides made by women in law. It is a topic so close to my heart as I refl ect on my own journey starting out as the only female reporter in my fi rst newsroom—those early days left me with a lasting understanding of the challenges women face in male-dominated fi elds. That is why I am excited to share the stories of women who are not just participating but leading, breaking barriers, and inspiring the next generation. Our cover star, Sarah Jones, shares her story from corporate life to a mother-of-fi ve and the entrepreneurial spark that led her to launch a UAE-based legal consulting business. She now helps lawyers—mainly working mothers—fi nd balance in their careers. Saudi Arabia’s female partner ranks are growing, and in a special feature, we speak to three recent promotees on how they made it and the challenges they overcame along the way. Added to this are perspectives from Emirati female partners paving the way in their respective fi elds. What’s more, two prominent construction lawyers share their career stories, as does Core42 general counsel Roopal Jobanputra who recounts how she came to lead the legal team of a major technology company. As you read their stories and take in their inspirational advice I hope you are not only inspired by the achievements of these women but also motivated to join the ongoing dialogue and contribute to the collective eff ort of building a more inclusive legal profession in the Middle East. Until next month, Aishah Hussain Editor, Law Middle East @lawmiddleeast linkedin.com/company/law-middle-east These are a few of the exceptional women in law we profi le in this issue: Sarah Jones CEO and co-founder of RAYNE After spotting a gap in the legal market, Sarah Jones co-founded RAYNE, a UAE-based fl exible legal solutions fi rm that connects top legal talent with businesses like Huda Beauty and Dubai Holdings. A former Deloitte M&A specialist, Jones left the corporate world to pursue entrepreneurship, scaling multiple businesses while championing work-life balance for legal professionals. Najla Al-Gadi Partner at Latham & Watkins A specialist in capital markets, Najla Al-Gadi has risen through the ranks at Latham & Watkins to become a partner in the fi rm’s Riyadh offi ce. With a career built entirely at the fi rm, she shares her journey, challenges, and advice for aspiring female lawyers in Saudi Arabia. Reem Alsayegh Partner at Linklaters One of the fi rst Emirati female partners at an international law fi rm, Reem Alsayegh recounts how she balances her busy transactional and fi nancial reglatory practice with being a mother of three. Roopal Jobanputra Core42 general counsel Roopal Jobanputra leads the legal team of Core42, a technology company formed to lead the UAE’s national cloud and generative AI intiatives. Having moved in-house from private practice, she discusses the challenges facing law fi rms in an increasingly digitised world, while imparting advice to female lawyers. LME_Mar2025_3_Editor Letter_13535730.indd 311/03/2025 11:35law-middleeast.com 4 | March 2025 CONTENTS 26 FINDING BALANCE IN BUSINESS AND FAMILY RAYNE CEO Sarah Jones on her journey from corporate life to launching a UAE-based legal consulting fi rm 2034 EMIRATI FEMALE PARTNER AT A MAGIC CIRCLE LAW FIRM From balancing motherhood with her banking practice, Linklaters lawyer Reem Alsayegh on how she made it SAUDI ARABIA’S NEW FEMALE PARTNERS Three recently promoted partners share their journeys to the top of the legal profession LME_Mar2025_4-5_Contents_13535731.indd 411/03/2025 11:35March 2025 | 5 law-middleeast.com 44 48 38 FEMALE LAWYERS PAVING THE WAY IN CONSTRUCTION LAW High-powered women in the UAE offi ces of global law fi rms share their career stories THE POWER OF FACE-TO-FACE IN-PERSON RELATIONSHIPS ICC Court president Claudia Salomon on why there is no substitute for in-person communication IN COVERSATION WITH CORE42’S GENERAL COUNSEL Roopal Jobanputra shares how she came to lead the legal team of a major technology company LME_Mar2025_4-5_Contents_13535731.indd 511/03/2025 11:35law-middleeast.com 6 | March 2025 PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 4 444 3000 Web: www.itp.com Offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, London, Mumbai, Riyadh & Geneva ITP MEDIA GROUP CEO: Ali Akawi Managing Director: Martin Chambers Head of Business and Technology: Thomas Shambler EDITORIAL Editor: Aishah Hussain Tel: +971 4 444 3132 email: aishah.hussain@itp.com Associate Project Editor: Beatriz Valero Tel: +971 4 444 3413 email: beatriz.valero@itp.com Commercial Editor: Angitha Pradeep Tel: +971 4 444 3278 email: angitha.pradeep@itp.com ART Art Director: Amjad Ayche Art Editor: Tofi q Memon ADVERTISING Group Publishing Director: Natasha Pendleton Tel: +971 4 444 3248 email: natasha.pendleton@itp.com Commercial Manager: Syed Rezavi Tel: +971 4 444 3662 email: syed.rezavi@itp.com PHOTOGRAPHY Senior Video Editor: Liju Cheruvathur MARKETING Head of Events: Eleanor Ashton email: eleanor.ashton@itp.com Events & Marketing Manager: Kate Galaktionova Events Manager: Beverly Stanforth Associate Events Manager: Vrinali Nazareth Associate Events Manager: Maria Trishina Event Sales Executive: Jan Mokoala Events Administrative Assistant: Aronn Pureza Events Sales Assistant: Joyce Salonga Events Administrative Assistant: Bobbie Rosario PRODUCTION Production Manager: Balasubramanian P DISTRIBUTION Distribution Coordinator: Avinash Pereira Circulation Executive: Rajesh Pillai ITP GROUP CEO: Ali Akawi CFO: Toby Jay Spencer-Davies The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. 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QUANTUM REVOLUTION AN ITP MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION How Google’s Willow chip will redefine computing forever RACING TO SECURITY E&’s Help AG: driving cybersecurity innovation at Formula 1 speeds AN ITP MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION ROCKET INTO THE FUTURE How satellite internet is powering a new age of digital transformation AN ITP MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION January 2025 / Vol. 3 issue 1 / an ITP Media Group Publication Tim Cook, Apple and the dawn of a new age of creativity ART MEETS ALGORITHM AN ITP MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION BEST TECH OF 2024 The ultimate guide to the year’s must- have gadget s AD_ITP.net_5CoversLaunch_205x275_Approved.indd 130/01/2025 17:05 Untitled-5 131/01/2025 11:138 March 2025law-middleeast.com ONLINE Gibson Dunn has expanded its regional presence from a team of six to 62 lawyers in just over two years. Firm leaders say the rapid growth refl ects a long-term commitment to the Middle East, as global law fi rms increasingly compete for talent and market share in the region. Zeyad Khoshaim has propelled K&A to the forefront of Saudi Arabia’s legal sector. He broke away from a large fi rm to establish an independent practice in the Kingdom, and discusses the fi rm's priorities as well as its recent debut in Abu Dhabi. Latham & Watkins’ Salman Al-Sudairi has advised on nearly every major Saudi IPO in the past decade. Recent deals include Saudi Aramco’s record-breaking listing, Rasan, and Almoosa Health Company, as Saudi Arabia continues to attract global investment. Saudi Arabia’s Personal Data Protection Law is reshaping AI, fi ntech, and smart city development. Legal experts say companies that successfully navigate the new regulations will gain a competitive edge as the Kingdom accelerates its digital transformation. WHAT IS TRENDING ONLINE law - middleeas t .co m Gibson Dunn’s meteoric rise in the region How I built a firm that defied the odds The Saudi IPO lawyer behind major listings Saudi Arabia tightens data laws WHAT OUR READERS THINK... The rise of Saudi IPOs and the market's confi dence Key changes to KSA Labour Law: What employers need to know "Saudi Arabia’s IPO boom is a testament to the strength and maturity of its capital markets." "The stated purpose of the changes is to create a more attractive work environment for employees." LME_Mar2025_8-9_Web DPS_13544339.indd 811/03/2025 11:36March 2025 9law-middleeast.com ONLINE FUHDWLRQ XVHUBLG VHUYHU QSD[ Kirkland & Ellis was the fi rst international law fi rm to establish its Riyadh offi ce as its regional headquarters in October 2023. Under founding partner and Middle East practice head Kamran Bajwa’s leadership, the offi ce has grown to over 20 legal professionals, with core specialisms including corporate, capital markets, projects, and restructuring. Right now his focus is on making the Riyadh offi ce as successful as possible, he tells Law Middle East in an exclusive interview. KIRKLAND & ELLIS MIDDLE EAST HEAD: We aim to build the best culture and brand in KSA ONLINE March 2025 9law-middleeast.com LME_Mar2025_8-9_Web DPS_13544339.indd 911/03/2025 11:37Next >