< Previous30 September 2025law-middleeast.com COVER STORY Marwan Nijmeh is the group chief legal offi cer at the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), a role he has held for more than two years. As the head of ADNOC's in-house legal team, he is responsible for shaping the legal strategy of one of the world's largest energy companies, which last year recorded nearly $50 billion in revenue. BLENDING LAW, BUSINESS, AND LEADERSHIP Nijmeh is a member of ADNOC’s executive leadership team and serves on its investment committee. He sees his role not just as a legal advisor, but as a strategic business partner. “I see my role as helping to sharpen decisions, not slow them,” he says. “The measure of success is when our legal strategy is indistinguishable from the business strategy, because they are one and the same.” This is refl ected in his work, where no two days are the same. One day he may be working on a multi-billion-dollar transaction, the next on governance reforms or compliance matters. “What is consistent is the blend of law, business, and leadership,” he adds. CORE PRINCIPLES FOR A HIGH- PERFORMING TEAM In a group as complex as ADNOC, coordination and collaboration are vital. Nijmeh attributes his team’s high performance to three core leadership principles: collaboration, accountability, and empowerment. “Collaboration ensures our lawyers feel part of a collective eff ort, not isolated in silos,” he explains. “Accountability means setting high expectations and holding ourselves to them, and empowerment is about giving people the trust and freedom to innovate and bring their best to the table.” Nijmeh’s team of more than 200 legal, compliance, and governance professionals works in lockstep with business units and senior leadership. This allows them to “spot risks, shape structures, and unlock opportunities” in a way that provides timely, relevant advice that aligns with the group’s objectives. The measure of success is when our legal strategy is indistinguishable from the business strategy, because they are one and the same LME_Sep2025_28-35_Cover story _13693173.indd 30LME_Sep2025_28-35_Cover story _13693173.indd 3010/09/2025 11:1410/09/2025 11:14September 2025 31law-middleeast.com COVER STORY an in-house move to fi rst build a solid foundation. “Private practice off ers an excellent environment to develop technical skills and transactional experience, and those skills serve you well when you step into an in-house role,” he explains. “The shift is not just about advising on the law but about applying judgement and taking responsibility for decisions that shape the direction of the business.” THE EVOLVING ROLE OF GENERAL COUNSEL Nijmeh believes technology is central to the role of general counsel. “A general counsel today is no longer just a gatekeeper, but a strategic enabler,” he says. “The expectation now is that we not only solve legal problems but anticipate them, using data and technology to stay ahead.” ADNOC is embedding artifi cial intelligence (AI) into legal processes, from automating routine tasks to horizon scanning for regulatory changes. “This frees our lawyers to focus on what matters most: strategic advice, risk management, and contributing directly to the company’s growth and resilience,” he says. Similarly, the global energy transition presents a new set of legal and regulatory complexities. This is largely due to tighter environmental regulations, evolving carbon markets, and increasing scrutiny from regulators, investors, and partners. “Legally, that means ensuring our projects, from green fi nancing to carbon capture, are structured for long-term resilience,” explains Nijmeh. “We are using AI to monitor regulatory developments globally, enabling us to anticipate change rather than react to it.” A CAREER SHAPED BY EXPERIENCE Nijmeh’s career has taken him from private practice to prominent in-house roles in the UAE. Before joining ADNOC, he spent 15 years at Mubadala in a senior legal leadership role, advising on high-stakes global investments and cross-sector deals. He began his career at global law fi rms Allen & Overy (now A&O Shearman) and Simmons & Simmons, specialising in complex, cross-border matters. “My years in private practice gave me the technical rigour, discipline, and transactional expertise that every lawyer needs,” he refl ects. “Moving in- house built on that foundation. At Mubadala, I developed a strategic perspective on how legal advice drives investment decisions, risk management, and long-term value.” “Each stage of my career has added a new layer of growth, and together they have shaped me into both a lawyer and a strategic partner,” he says. It is why he encourages lawyers considering 200+ ADNOC has more than 200 legal, compliance, and governance professionals The firms that succeed with us are those that think beyond the legal question to the business impact LME_Sep2025_28-35_Cover story _13693173.indd 31LME_Sep2025_28-35_Cover story _13693173.indd 3110/09/2025 11:1410/09/2025 11:1432 September 2025law-middleeast.com COVER STORY LME_Sep2025_28-35_Cover story _13693173.indd 32LME_Sep2025_28-35_Cover story _13693173.indd 3210/09/2025 11:1410/09/2025 11:14September 2025 33law-middleeast.com COVER STORY A general counsel today is no longer just a gatekeeper, but a strategic enabler When asked about the right time to transition from private practice to an in-house role, he says: “Timing is less about a fi xed stage of your career and more about being ready to embrace that broader responsibility.” Having worked on both sides, Nijmeh has clear expectations from external counsel. He looks for pragmatic, commercial partners invested in the group’s success. “We do not want 50-page memos; we want solutions we can execute,” he asserts. “They should understand our strategy, anticipate our needs, and help us deliver outcomes,” he continues. “That means bringing global expertise and also tailoring it to our local and regional context.” For Nijmeh, his blend of experience, from the technical rigour of private practice to the strategic demands of an in-house role, has been crucial to his success. “The fi rms that succeed with us are those that think beyond the legal question to the business impact,” he says. CAREER HIGHLIGHTS AND CHALLENGES When asked about a career highlight, Nijmeh points to leading ADNOC’s legal function through a period of major transformation, including supporting the establishment of XRG, the group’s international investment arm. He describes this as “a defi ning milestone”, refl ecting both the scale of the group’s ambition and sophistication of its legal team. “We are accelerating global growth through XRG while continuing to deliver on our domestic growth commitments,” he says. “Our legal strategy is evolving to support these goals by being proactive, not reactive.” He also refl ects on some of the most challenging situations he has faced, where “commercial urgency collides with legal complexity”. In those moments, “the lesson is to stay calm, trust your team, and focus on clarity of communication,” he says. “I have learned that decisiveness under pressure is what builds trust, both within your team and with the business leaders you support.” LME_Sep2025_28-35_Cover story _13693173.indd 33LME_Sep2025_28-35_Cover story _13693173.indd 3310/09/2025 11:1510/09/2025 11:1534 September 2025law-middleeast.com COVER STORY LME_Sep2025_28-35_Cover story _13693173.indd 34LME_Sep2025_28-35_Cover story _13693173.indd 3410/09/2025 11:1610/09/2025 11:16September 2025 35law-middleeast.com COVER STORY TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION One of the most rewarding aspects of his career has been the launch of the ADNOC Legal Development Institute, a mandate entrusted to him by ADNOC’s leadership. The programme, which began in January 2024, is designed to develop the next generation of Emirati lawyers, as well as governance and compliance professionals. The programme provides a path to solicitor qualifi cation in England and Wales. It begins with a year-long curriculum that combines legal knowledge with practical skills, and non-legal capabilities such as negotiation and business advisory. From there, candidates prepare for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) and gain two years of qualifying work experience (QWE) with ADNOC and top law fi rms. “More than a year since its launch, I have been pleased to see programme participants step up with confi dence, technical ability, and commercial insight, as well as a willingness to learn and improve every day,” refl ects Nijmeh. “For me, this is about legacy, equipping future leaders with the expertise, resilience, and perspective they need to serve both ADNOC and the nation for decades to come.” When it comes to advice for building a successful legal career, he says: “Technical excellence is a given—that is the entry ticket”. “What diff erentiates a successful lawyer is judgement, adaptability, and commercial awareness,” he continues. “It is about being decisive, willing to learn continuously, and able to see the bigger picture.” In a fast-moving, global industry like energy, he adds that “curiosity” and “resilience” are essential for those who want to thrive in this sector. 2023 The year Marwan Nijmeh joined ADNOC ADNOC Legal Development Institute participants during a training session Technical excellence is a given—that is the entry ticket. What diff erentiates a successful lawyer is judgement, adaptability, and commercial awareness 36 September 2025law-middleeast.com PARTNER CONTENT When facing major life challenges like divorce or a custody battle, Aramas International Lawyers off ers clear, confi dential, and compassionate legal support When facing some of life’s most signifi cant challenges—divorce, custody disputes, or succession planning—expats in the Middle East need more than just legal expertise. They need a trusted advisor who understands the complexities of their personal and often life-changing situations. This is the guiding principle of Aramas International Lawyers, a boutique law fi rm based in Abu Dhabi that has become a leader in family law across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UK. A COMPASSIONATE APPROACH At the fi rm’s core is founder and managing partner Samara Iqbal (pictured), an expat lawyer recognised internationally for her expertise in complex family law matters. “When clients come to us, they are often facing one of the most diffi cult moments in their lives,” says Iqbal, who specialises in high-value divorce cases, fi nancial remedy proceedings, and cross-border child arrangements. “Our job is to provide not only clear legal solutions, but also the reassurance and human understanding they need to move forward with confi dence.” Iqbal's team shares this ethos, off ering clear, confi dential, and compassionate legal support. The team operates with transparent costs and clear fee structures, ensuring clients can make informed decisions without hidden surprises. 4 Aramas International Lawyers operates across four countries THE EXPERT FAMILY LAW FIRM FOR EXPATSSeptember 2025 37law-middleeast.com PARTNER CONTENT CORE AREAS OF PRACTICE Aramas covers the full spectrum of family law, with a particular focus on the unique challenges faced by expats. A core area of work for the fi rm is divorce. For many expats, ending a marriage in the UAE raises diffi cult questions around jurisdiction, applicable law, custody, and fi nancial settlements. Aramas supports clients through the entire process, whether fi ling locally or internationally, ensuring rights are protected and cases are handled with both legal precision and empathy. 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This expertise allows the fi rm to develop strategies that protect clients’ interests while ensuring compliance across borders. Ultimately, clients trust Aramas because of its track record for exceptional service and empathetic guidance. When clients come to us, they are often facing one of the most difficult moments in their lives. Our job is to provide not only clear legal solutions, but also the reassurance and human understanding they need to move forward with confidence Divorce is one of the most difficult journeys a person can face, and it often feels overwhelming. At Aramas, our role is to bring clarity to the process, protect our clients’ rights, and support them with compassion so they can move forward with dignity and confidence 38 September 2025law-middleeast.com POWER LIST GCS IN THE GCC POWER LIST 2025: UAE EDITION GCs in the GCC Power List 2025: UAE Edition has been independently selected by the Law Middle East editorial team, based on in-depth market analysis. It considers each lawyer’s career progression, leadership, innovation, and individual contributions to their companies and the broader legal community. It is not ranked, and listed alphabetically by surname.September 2025 39law-middleeast.com POWER LIST Today's general counsel (GCs) are more than just legal advisors; they are strategic partners who blend deep legal expertise with business insight, enabling companies to navigate complex legal environments, while achieving growth. This inaugural list shines a spotlight on 14 GCs shaping legal strategy at the UAE's most prominent companies. Representing a diverse range of sectors from energy and fi nance to hospitality and technology, this list is the fi rst in a series recognising top in- house talent across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).Next >