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Ashraf A. Atout
Ashraf is an Associate Director of GLS Group. He is a fluently bilingual and was a Jordanian qualified lawyer with 15+ years experience advising businesses throughout the MENA region on a wide range of corporate and commercial matters and advising government entities on policy and regulation. Ashraf was an in-house specialist and has worked for some of the world's largest brands (e.g. Nestlé, AXA Insurance, Suez Energy etc), advising them on their regional operations throughout the MENA region. Ashraf has extensive prior experience of the UAE commercial companies law and civil and commercial codes with over 10 years' experience living and working in the UAE. Ashraf has also lived and worked in Jordan, Bahrain and Oman, contributing to his deep understanding of the laws and business culture in these jurisdictions.
Indicative Experience
UAE: Advising Saraya Holdings on wide range of corporate & commercial activity throughout the MENA region
UAE: Acting as Board Secretary to Saraya Holding’s project companies.
UAE: Managing and overseeing corporate governance for Saraya Holdings to ensure compliance with UAE commercial companies law.
UAE: Managing compliance and corporate secretarial matters for Saraya Holding’s group companies to ensure compliance with UAE laws.
Oman: Advising OESHco (established by Omani Royal Decree) on implementation of a legal framework to regulate the waste management sect
Bahrain: Advising Axa Insurance in proposed acquisition of Alico Insurance - acting as lead lawyer for Gulf region.
Saudi Arabia: Managing IPO process involving listing of Axa Insurance Cooperative PJSC on Tadawul up to listing.
UAE: Advising Axa Insurance on obtaining life insurance licence in UAE, including managing process and appearing before the UAE Insurance Authority.
Jordan / UAE: Establishing Aramex International’s legal department and oversaw the de-listing of Aramex from NASDAQ, and subsequent re-listing on the DFM.
Jordan: Advising on the drafting and settlement of the Jordanian Patent Law, and providing commentary / amendments to the final drafts of the Jordanian Trademarks Law and Copyrights Law.
Bahrain: Advising on the design, development, financing, construction, ownership, operation and maintenance of the combined 1,234 MW and 48 MIGD Al Dur Independent Water and Power Project in Bahrain. The US$2.1 Billion plant is the largest independent power and water desalination plant in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
UAE: Advising on the successful resolution of the design patent dispute of Al Nimr 4x4. Al Nimr 4X4 is an off-road extreme utility military vehicle, designed by a Russian design company and manufactured by Bin Jabr Group Ltd. in Jordan through an agreement with King Abdulla Design & Development Bureau (KADDB).
Professional Qualifications
Member of Jordanian Bar (1998)
Prior Positions
Saraya Holdings Ltd, UAE
Senior Legal Advisor (2013-2016)
Smartlink Communications, Jordan & UAE
Legal Advisor (2012-2013)
Oman Environmental Service Holding Co, Oman
Legal Affairs Manager (2010-2012)
Axa Insurance (Gulf) BSC, Bahrain
Senior Legal Advisor (2008-2009)
GDF Suez - Tractebel SA, UAE
Associate Legal Counsel (2007-2008)
Al Qudra Holding PJSC, UAE
General Legal Advisor (2006-2007)
Education
University of Hull
LLM in International Business Law (1998)
Philadelphia University, Amman, Jordan
LLB (1997)
Key Strengths
Genuine in-house specialist
Exceptional working knowledge of UAE laws
Experience in reviewing and proposed sector reforms
Strong negotiator, firm believer of win/win methodology
Strong lobbying skills
Expertise
Documentation Engineering
Multilingual Documentation Planning
Process Efficiency Consultancy
Standardisation Based Efficiency
Resource Leverage Consultancy
Other