With 20 years of international legal experience, Paul provides counsel to clients in relation to their most complex and challenging IT and digital transformation programs.      

As Co-Chair of DLA Piper’s Global Technology & Sourcing practice, Paul is committed to supporting clients to achieve their organizational objectives. Paul is also a member of DLA Piper’s Change Council which is responsible for fostering radical change and innovation at the firm, and building on the firm’s recognition by the FT as one of the world’s top 10 firms for innovation.       

In recognition of this work, Paul and his team are ranked Band 1 in both leading legal directories, Chambers Global and Legal 500.   

Paul completed his INSEAD Executive MBA in December 2019 (on the Dean’s List with Distinction), with a focus on the design and implementation of strategies and new business models that leverage new and emerging technologies to provide a superior sustainable competitive advantage.  

Dr. Abdelrahman AlMahmoud currently leads the Research and Infrastructure team in the Artificial Intelligence Office at the Prime Minister's Office. He has collaborated on projects with prominent organisations like British Telecom and Etisalat. With nearly 12 years of research experience, his expertise spans Big Data technologies, data analysis for cybersecurity, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.

Dr. AlMahmoud actively participates in the UAE's ISO SC42 working group on AI and serves on the technical committee for the Digital School initiative under the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives. He has also contributed as a former member of the UAE Youth Science Council and a sub-committee member for the Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences, focusing on AI in medicine. Dr. AlMahmoud is passionate about collaborating with industry leaders and staying abreast of the latest advancements in his field

Sandra leads the Intellectual Property & Technology law practice and co-leads the Employment practice at DLA Piper Africa, Nigeria (Olajide Oyewole LLP). She is also the DLA Piper Africa Technology Sector lead.

Sandra works primarily in the media, sports, entertainment, and technology sectors advising clients on advertising, brand protection, media and broadcasting, data protection, digital technology, employment, film and tv, fintech, health, hospitality, intellectual property, and music matters. She has strong expertise in intellectual property rights, particularly copyright, including its ownership, protection, enforcement, management, exploitation, valuation, and monetization. With data protection and AI legislation rapidly evolving and the emergence and growth of technology driven areas such as fintech, health tech, biotech and edtech, Sandra is actively involved in helping businesses, from start-ups to global enterprises navigate the associated regulatory and compliance issues.

Sandra is committed to the creation of structure within Nigeria’s creative and innovation-driven sectors which includes the strengthening of Nigeria’s intellectual property, data protection and AI, laws, regulations, and policies.

Ahmed Badawi joined HSBC back in 2006 where he had spent the next 12 years in various roles in Corporate Coverage across Egypt and Bahrain. Ahmed was appointed as Egypt Head of Global Payments Solutions in 2018.

Ahmed assumed the role of MENAT Regional Head of GPS Client Management in 2022, where he led the establishment of the regional center of excellence hub in HSBC Egypt with the aim of simplifying and rationalizing team activities. During this time, Ahmed also transformed the experience of GPS clients, through work done to enhance client outreach through driving value-added client engagement activities, leveraging automation solutions through the deployment of new technologies, and launching new global propositions in MENAT region.

Ahmed is the Global Exco Sponsor for GPS Client Services GenAI strategy, coordinating with different teams globally to introduce new tools to enhance the accuracy and speed of feedback to clients.

Yousef leads Deloitte’s AI & Data Offering for Deloitte in the Middle East, working with clients to develop their Data and AI Strategies, Modernize their Data and Analytics platforms, and help them become insight-driven organizations.

Carolyn Bigg heads DLA Piper’s APAC Data, Privacy and Cybersecurity team.

Carolyn is an experienced data lawyer, focusing on China and APAC data compliance and international data transfers. Carolyn advises businesses on the best practice approach to navigating regional and international data privacy compliance, to help them seize opportunities to make the most of their data and digital opportunities in APAC within a compliant governance framework.

Brian leads the Fintech department at the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), where he drives initiatives at the intersection of finance, technology, and risk management. With a keen interest in understanding how individuals navigate financial and technological choices, Brian leverages these insights to spearhead progressive regulatory frameworks, supervisory capabilities, and develop technology-led projects that improve the fintech ecosystem in the UAE.

Before joining ADGM, Brian founded and led a payments fintech startup, held various risk management roles in banks and a Big4 firm.

Lord Clement-Jones was made CBE for political services in 1988 and life peer in 1998. He is the Liberal Democrat House of Lords spokesperson for Science, Innovation and Technology and a member of the newly-appointed UK Engagement with Space Committee. Former Chair of the House of Lords Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence which reported in 2018 with "AI in the UK Ready Willing and Able?" and its follow-up report in 2020 "AI in the UK: No Room for Complacency".

In 2016, he Co-Founded and has since Co-chaired the All-Party Parliamentary Group on AI. He was a member of the Joint Committee on the Draft Online Safety Bill (2021-22) and was the initiator of and subsequent member of the Special Inquiry Select Committee into AI in Weapons (2022-23). He is a founding member of the OECD Parliamentary Group on AI and former consultant of the Council of Europe’s Ad-hoc Committee on AI. He is a Consultant on AI Policy and Regulation to DLA Piper where previous positions held include London Managing Partner.

He is author of the book, ‘Living with the Algorithm: Servant or Master?: AI Governance and Policy for the Future’ (Unicorn, 2024); Chair of Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (2025-); Chair of Trust Alliance Group (2016-) and former Chair of Council of Queen Mary University London (2016-25).

Mohamed Damak is a Managing Director and the Sector Lead for Financial Institutions in the Emerging EMEA region. Mohamed is also the Global Head of Islamic Finance at S&P Global Rating (SPGR). In this capacity Mohamed leads SPGR’s cross-practice analytical thought leadership initiatives and credit rating activities in the Islamic Finance sector globally. In addition to these responsibilities, Mohamed co-heads the Emerging Market Global Industry Focused Team and is a member of several senior forums and research labs including the Digitalization of the Markets Research Lab. Mohamed’s research interests include emerging markets financial institutions, the digitalization of the financial services industry (including cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, tokenization, and digital bonds) and Islamic finance. Mohamed is a regular speaker at industry events and conferences.

James leads DLA Piper's Business Advisory practice in the UK and EMEA, from a background in McKinsey & Company, the UK Foreign Office, and UBS Warburg. His career specialism is in advanced industries, technological disruption, and geostrategy. He has helped lead and build on the largest AI ventures in Europe and is pro-bono chair of the University of Oxford's alumni board and AI network.

Jeanne Dauzier is a Partner in DLA Piper's IPT team. She has been advising French and foreign companies on strategic issues relating to IT, and digital projects for almost 10 years. Jeanne has developed specific expertise on complex digital transformation projects, including cloud computing and outsourcing projects.

Jeanne has developed specific expertise on complex digital transformation projects, including cloud computing and outsourcing projects.

Raj is a leading corporate lawyer with a ‎thriving capital markets and cross-border practice. A professional ‎with strong business acumen and extensive global experience, and exceptional relationship-building skills, ‎Raj is committed to delivering business solutions and results for clients.‎

He acts ‎on ‎behalf of emerging growth companies and ‎entrepreneurs in high growth sectors, including ‎eSports, ‎‎fintech, healthcare, mining, and ‎technology, and is often brought in at the outset of transactions ‎to assist in the initial structuring and strategy around transactions and capital deployment.‎

A legal director with more than 12 years of experience as a technology lawyer. He works on cases where technology, particularly AI, plays a dominant role. Floris advises clients (both suppliers and buyers) on various forms of collaboration: acquisition of new technology, drafting and negotiating complex license agreements, leading outsourcing projects or digital transformation projects, etc. Floris guides clients in making strategic choices regarding the use of new technologies and frequently lectures on AI.

Janade du Plessis is a 5-times Fund Manager, currently the Managing Partner of Launch Africa Ventures (a Tier-1 prominent and active venture capital fund in Africa). Over the past 4-years, Launch Africa as invested in 150+ companies in 25 African countries.

Janade has previously started and managed a corporate VC fund for a listed African investment bank, an female-focused Pan-African SME fund (AFAWA), as well as an impact fund called Abrazo Capital and Five35 Ventures. He has invested in over 250+ technology start-ups across Africa through these funds and as an active angel investor.

Janade’s background is as an entrepreneur (built and sold two businesses), investment banker and human behavioural researcher with M&A, management consulting and development finance experience.

Mac is an accomplished global executive with extensive experience in technology and business leadership. Currently leading the Accenture Microsoft Business Group for APAC, he drives value by integrating the capabilities of Accenture, Avanade, and Microsoft to deliver innovative solutions for clients across diverse regions.

With a global career spanning key markets such as Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America, Mac has held pivotal roles across the globe and has been instrumental in driving growth and transformation across various industries, while also overseeing businesses in Australia, Canada, and Southeast Asia

Ceren Gokoglu is a recognized AI leader who has been delivering impact through AI-driven transformation at Careem and McKinsey & Company.

As Head of the AI Acceleration Office at Careem, she is driving enterprise-scale innovation by embedding AI into customer growth, service automation, and product experiences. Previously, Ceren was an Associate Partner at McKinsey, where she advised Fortune 500 companies on AI strategy, co-created a digital twin platform, and led the development of ‘Lili’, an AI-powered consulting tool. She also co-founded Foodiena, a food-tech startup acquired within its first year. She has been one of the mentors for the United Nations SDG Young Leaders program.

Ari Kesisoglu serves as President of Property Finder, MENA's leading property portal on a mission "to change living for good in the region." Ari is driving the leadership team to create a lighthouse technology company which will have a lasting impact on the entire tech ecosystem in our geography.

Since joining in 2020, Ari has leveraged his extensive technology background to position Property Finder at the intersection of real estate and innovation. Previously, he served as Facebook's Vice President for the Middle East and Africa region, and spent a decade at Google in senior EMEA roles spanning Sales, Operations, and Finance.

Mehdi Kettani has been assisting clients for fifteen years, both in an advisory and a litigation role, in every field of business law (commercial, employment, intellectual property law), information technology law, data protection and regulatory.

Mehdi advises private national and international companies acting in various sectors such as manufacturing, tourism, distribution, consumer goods, healthcare and transportation, as well as state-owned entities, banks and financial institutions.

In 2020 and 2021, Mehdi assisted multiple vaccine producers to gain regulatory approval for their Covid-19 vaccine in Morocco and assisted with the negotiation and closing of their supply agreement with the Moroccan Government.

Amine Khayatei is the CEO and co-founder of KWIKS, a recruitment tech platform that blends AI innovation with human expertise to transform how companies hire talent globally.

With a strong background in entrepreneurship, HR technologies, and business development, Amine has successfully launched and scaled digital solutions across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

Passionate about ethical AI and the future of work, he advocates for smarter, faster, and fairer recruitment practices.
Today, he continues to push the boundaries of talent acquisition by combining technology, data intelligence, and a human-centered approach

Kevin Kilty is CEO and Founder of Hubpay, Hubpay is a x-border payments platform based out of the UAE, with both a retail and corporate solution active in the market. Our corporate platform is growing rapidly, with a simple but powerful USP; i) we onboard businesses rapidly (<24hrs), ii) our FX platform offers the widest range of features from crypto payment links to mass payments, iii) our network, pricing and speed is best in class.

John is a highly experienced data protection lawyer, leading the firm’s data protection, privacy and cybersecurity practice in Ireland.

One of Ireland’s best known and respected privacy lawyers, John has a varied client base of both Irish and international organisations and he is recognised by clients for his strategic advice on global data governance and compliance, data transfers, information security and breach response matters.

John also advises on contentious data protection and privacy matters, including information access requests and regulatory investigations.

I am an England & Wales qualified solicitor (LLB Hons) with over 16 years of PQE across regulatory law, conduct, and compliance. Driven by a passion for strategic innovation, I focus on integrating inclusion and the wider sustainability principles into the transformation that is shaping the global financial sector.

My career spans roles at Allen & Overy London, the UK Financial Services Authority and the Standard Chartered Group, where I gained extensive experience in international regulatory frameworks and lead initiatives in regulatory compliance and digital transformation.

Most recently, I joined myZoi by SC Ventures as Chief Compliance Officer, where I am leveraging my expertise to enable Financial Inclusion and build an ethical, resilient, and forward-looking financial ecosystem.

Mark O'Conor has over 20 years’ experience of helping public and private sector clients with all aspects of IT law, particularly cloud and digital transformation, public procurement and outsourcing.

Mark is the Global Co-Chair for the Technology Sector, co-chairs the firm’s AI Group, was previously UK Managing Partner and is the Vice President of the Society for Computers and Law.

Mark advises companies and governments on digital transformation, agile development, open source, AI and cloud computing legal challenges. He has been involved in drafting and negotiating cloud computing contracts on both the provider and customer side.

In 2021, Mark assisted the UK’s Ministry of Defence on the conclusion of a new five year GBP460 million contract with Boeing Defence UK, extending existing arrangements for a logistics system critical to UK Armed Forces operations worldwide.

As a member of DLA Piper’s International Tech&Sourcing group, Mark was heavily involved in the development of AI Scorebox, a practical tool aimed to help organisations measure and understand their AI maturity, that launched in December 2021.

Amit Roy heads Atos’s Cybersecurity Practice for Middle-East,Turkey and Africa (META) regions. In this capacity, he is responsible for driving the Cybersecurity business strategy, growth and revenue for the region and is committed to provide value delivery towards customer’s unique cybersecurity challenges. Amit is engaged with several Cyber Security forums in the region, providing latest insights in Cyber Security and related topics.

Amit also leads the Atos growth strategy to drive Cybersecurity Services across the globe. In his 20 years of leadership roles in Senior Management, Sales, Growth and business operations, Amit has gained strong competencies in business strategy, sales & marketing, business alliances and building strong customer led teams that achieve business goals and meeting customer requirements.

Samuel Salako is a Partner in the Corporate and Capital Markets practice at DLA Piper Africa, Nigeria, and co-heads the firm’s Intellectual Property, Technology, and Employment practices. With over two decades of experience, he advises a diverse portfolio of public and private companies, start-ups, and international subsidiaries on a broad spectrum of corporate and commercial matters. His expertise spans mergers and acquisition, corporate reorganisation and restructuring, governance, capital markets, private equity, and venture financing. Samuel is recognised by Legal 500 EMEA as a Leading Individual in Corporate, Commercial & M&A (2024 & 2025), IFLR1000 as a Notable Practitioner (2023), and by Chambers Global (2023) in Corporate/Commercial.

Vinny Sanchez is the Global Co-chair of DLA Piper's Technology Transactions and Strategic Sourcing practice and is highly recognized as a leading technology and outsourcing lawyer by The Legal 500 US and Chambers.

Vinny advises clients in complex technology, strategic sourcing/outsourcing and commercial transactions, including post-contract matters that arise during the normal course of these relationships such as implementation/transition challenges, governance, audits and disputes. A significant part of his practice also includes representing clients in digital transformation programs and supply chain management, including Nth party risk, business continuity and data and cyber risks. He also advises clients in technology acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures; strategic alliances and collaborations; and the commercialization of technology and data assets.

Vinny’s strategic sourcing/outsourcing experience involves the outsourcing of key business and technology operations, such as those related to information technology (networks/telecommunications, data center/co-location, application development/management, infrastructure, etc.), human resources, facilities management, finance, accounting, supply chain management, clinical trial, payment processing, research and development, and other key operational functions. He also advises clients on the development of strategic sourcing programs, including matters covering the entire contract lifecycle management process such as contract policies and templates, training/education programs, risk assessments, contract deviation reports, and governance/vendor management. He also has worked with clients on contract strategies for adopting, and accelerating the procurement of, new technologies.

Vinny’s digital transformation experience involves advising clients in navigating the legal and operational risks associated with the digital transformation of the enterprise and the evolution of business models that leverage both technology and data as strategic assets to be optimized and potentially monetized. He advises clients on critical implementation and transformation projects, including the migration of key business processes to cloud-based services and the shift from traditional lift-and-shift outsourcing models to “as-a-service” models. He also works with clients through their digital journey, including navigating the phases of ideation/incubation, innovation and commercialization or operational integration. As a trusted digital advisor, he guides clients through (1) the risks associated with establishing new digitally focused business models and platforms, (2) the adoption of new digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, edge computing, cloud enablement and blockchain, and (3) managing technology and data as core strategic assets.
Vinny’s supply chain experience involves working with clients on navigating the risks associated with complex supply chains and ecosystems, especially those dependent upon digital technologies and data assets. He represents clients in supply chain and manufacturing agreements and regularly advises clients regarding Nth party risk, business continuity and data and cyber risks. (e.g., business continuity and concentration risk).

As a Partner at Global Ventures, Simon leads the GCC region across sourcing, investments and portfolio management. With over ten years of investment experience across venture capital and corporate finance, he uses both his analytical and hands-on experience to support founders on their growth journey. Simon has been involved in over $1bn of transactions across HealthTech, EdTech, Fintech and AgriTech amongst others.
Before joining Global Ventures, Simon worked in the investment team at Committed Capital, a UK venture capital fund based in London, which focused on early stage technology investments. Simon is a Chartered Accountant with the ICAEW, a Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments and holds a BSc in Mathematics from the University of Warwick.

Michael Stead is a technology lawyer with deep expertise in AI law and regulation, combining legal advisory with a strong understanding of the underlying technology. He advises on a wide range of IT matters, including digital transformation, outsourcing, and data protection, with a particular focus on helping organisations develop and deploy AI responsibly and compliantly.

Michael has led cross-border AI legal projects and works closely with technical teams to address real-world implementation challenges. He frequently advises on the practical impact of AI regulations, such as the EU AI Act, and supports clients in designing governance, risk, and compliance strategies for AI systems.

Lead of the firm's international AI Working Group, Michael is actively involved in the firm’s global technology initiatives and integrates legal, technical, and data science insights into his client work.

Marc has been based in Dubai since 2008 and currently serves as the CEO of Atos for the Middle East & Türkiye, as well as the Chief Growth Officer for the META region (Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa).

With over 25 years of international experience in the Information Technology sector, Marc has held senior leadership roles at top global companies including Nokia, Ericsson, Amdocs, Optiva, British Telecom, and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

He is widely recognized for his strategic vision, innovation leadership, and exceptional ability to drive business turnarounds. His career spans software, hardware, and services, where he has successfully led major software transformation initiatives and managed complex operations.