United Arab Emirates
As a Partner and Head of Winston Taylor's transactional practice in MENA, I lead our Chambers Band 1 ranked team of 12 legal professionals, delivering comprehensive services in M&A, private equity, venture capital, investment funds, commercial advisory, employment law, and regulatory matters. Our practice is recognised as a leader in the region, including a Band 1 ranking for venture capital and emerging companies by Chambers & Partners, reflecting our extensive track record of over 150 early and growth-stage VC and venture-backed, PE and strategic M&A transactions. Beyond my role at Winston Taylor, I have served on the Board, the Nominations and Best Practices Committees of the Middle East Venture Capital Association and continue to serve as a mentor with a number of global innovation accelerators.
Leading the firm's transactional practice in the MENA region numbering 12 dedicated lawyers with the capability to deliver a broad array of M&A, private equity, venture capital, investment funds, commercial advisory, corporate structuring, employment law and regulatory services in addition to an experienced 'special situations' capability. Our venture capital and emerging companies practice is one of the region's largest and is Band 1 ranked by Chambers & Partners with more than 150 early and growth stage VC and M&A transactions on our deal sheet along with involvement in most of the region's high profile distress situations involving growth stage tech companies. In recent years, the team's accomplishments have included representing global investors on several of the region's high profile unicorn transactions as well as representing VC, CVC and sovereign wealth clients deploying venture capital regionally and globally, particularly into Silicon Valley, the UK and Europe.
Co-founder of Dubai's most reputed early stage micro-VC, I also serve on its investment committee and as Chairman of its board. Since its inception in July 2016, DAI has invested in 37 tech start-ups across a range of technologies, verticals and business models with a geographic footprint that includes portfolio companies in the United States, the United Kingdom, Finland, France, Turkey, the UAE, Egypt and Lebanon. All members give their time and effort in the pursuit of DAI's objectives pro bono. Our Board, our Investment Committee and our Value Creation Committee are made up of entrepreneurs, CEOs, CFOs, Investment Bankers, PE professionals, VCs and partners from major international consulting, legal and accounting firms.