Dedicated legal and compliance professional committed to delivering high-quality, solution-focused legal support and counsel, serving as a trusted and reliable partner to line of business while safeguarding business interests.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Director Legal, Ethics, Compliance & Quality
Novo Nordisk- Gulf Cluster Affiliate
09.2020 - Current
Built Affiliate's Legal and Compliance function and infrastructure
Hold overall accountability for all Legal and Compliance matters in Affiliate, providing proactive advice and risk assessment to line of business, in compliance with Novo Nordisk policies and external laws and regulations
Provide effective, business-oriented legal support on Affiliate's key projects such as Direct Care, Obesity Commercial Assistance Program, Distribution optimization project, Tax optimization project, Smart Start PSP etc.
Cascade communication and support knowledge sharing within Affiliate, streamline and simplify processes and conduct training on legal and compliance requirements
Support Affiliate in ensuring house in order and audit readiness
Manage Affiliate's Quality affairs
Act as Affiliate's Data Protection Responsible (DPR)
Director Legal, Ethics & Compliance
Novo Nordisk- UAE Affiliate
09.2021 - 10.2022
30% Support to Novo Nordisk UAE Affiliate on Legal and Compliance matters
Legal Advisor - International Division
Mashora Advocates and Legal Consultants - Kuwait
12.2016 - 08.2020
Counseled foreign companies on construction related claims such as project time-line delays, variation orders, liquidated damages
Counseled a French pharmaceutical company on regulatory requirements related to corporate licensing and products importation to Kuwait
Advised a global construction conglomerate on the acquisition of a Kuwaiti company including conducting legal due diligence on target's material agreements and litigation and identifying risks associated with target's business and operations
Counseled a global electronic travel reservation system company on corporate restructuring of its business in Kuwait in compliance with civil aviation legislations
Acted as part of the team representing an international company in the ICC arbitration raised by its ex-agent in Kuwait; Paris seat and Kuwait law applicable.
Associate Attorney-at-law
Tyan & Zgheib Law Offices - Lebanon
11.2010 - 08.2015
Advised on a broad range of commercial matters and counseled clients on establishment and structuring of corporate entities and offshore investment funds
Represented clients in complex civil, commercial and insurance litigation disputes
Acted as part of the team representing a regional production company in a multi-million dollar ICC arbitration, related to ownership and broadcast of trademark rights; Paris seat and French law applicable
Advised European investors in relation to their investments in an Oil and Gas company, including reviewing corporate documents such as equity subscription agreements, shareholders agreements, convertible loan agreements etc.
Assisted in drafting corporate documents pertaining to the acquisition by a Lebanese bank of a ten percent share interests in another Lebanese bank.
Education
LL.M. (Master of Laws) in International Business Law (with Merit) -
Queen Mary University of London
London, United Kingdom
10.2016
Master's degree in Private International Law and International Commercial Law -
Panthéon - Assas University
Paris, France
06.2010
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) and Master I, Comparative Lebanese and French Law -
Saint Joseph University of Beirut
Beirut, Lebanon
06.2009
Affiliations
Admitted to the Beirut Bar Association (Oct. 2011)
Languages
Arabic (Native)
French (Fluent)
English (Fluent - IELTS Overall Band Score 8.5)
Trainings And Seminars
International Commercial Arbitration: Mock Case Study under ICC Rules of Arbitration (March 2015)
Oil & Gas Law Training - The Beirut Bar Association (October- November 2014)
Understanding of the transaction documents in the Corporate and Finance practice - DLA Piper Middle East (March 2014)
The Legal Aid Clinics - Women in Law Power / The Middle East Partnership Initiative (March 2009 - February 2015)
Awards
Special Recognition Award by Novo Nordisk Gulf Cluster Leadership Team (April 2022)
Best LECQ Performer for Novo Nordisk BAMEAC countries (Year 2022)
Selected to be a member of Novo Nordisk International Operations first Legal Advisory Board (May 2021- March 2024)
Full Chevening Scholarship to pursue a Master of Laws in the UK - Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Academic year 2015-2016)
Timeline
Director Legal, Ethics & Compliance
Novo Nordisk- UAE Affiliate
09.2021 - 10.2022
Director Legal, Ethics, Compliance & Quality
Novo Nordisk- Gulf Cluster Affiliate
09.2020 - Current
Legal Advisor - International Division
Mashora Advocates and Legal Consultants - Kuwait
12.2016 - 08.2020
Associate Attorney-at-law
Tyan & Zgheib Law Offices - Lebanon
11.2010 - 08.2015
LL.M. (Master of Laws) in International Business Law (with Merit) -
Queen Mary University of London
Master's degree in Private International Law and International Commercial Law -
Panthéon - Assas University
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) and Master I, Comparative Lebanese and French Law -
<ul><li>Assist in preparing Subs Annual Budgets and reviewing Subs financial reports.</li><li>Provide support and training to partners to ensure adequate support for the program component.</li><li>Conduct partner technical supportive supervision on request basis from Grants & Compliance teams.</li><li>Coordinate grantee proposal review process and ensure compliance with solicitations and donor regulations.</li><li>Coordinate pre-award evaluations and assessments of potential grantees as needed.</li><li>Analyze, verify and review grantees proposal budgets to ensure donor compliance and reasonableness.</li><li>Coordinate the assessment of grantee risk and implement appropriate systems and agreements to minimize risk.</li><li>Ensure timely and appropriate close-out of sub-grants and coordinate the close-out of EGPAF prime grants.</li><li>Provide support and training to partners finance staff to build financial and accounting capacity to ensure adequate support for the program component.</li><li>Monitor partners’ spending patterns as part of the overall project budget to actual analytics.</li><li>Follow up on Grantee monthly invoices & supporting documents</li><li>Serve as an expert on applicable policies, procedures, rules, and regulations and assist staff with their interpretation and understanding of these.</li><li>Stays abreast of donor policies, procedures, rules and regulations and host country legal requirements and informs local and regional management of significant changes.</li><li>Perform internal departmental/grants reviews ensuring compliance with Foundation and donor requirements. Identify potential areas of compliance vulnerability and risk; assists with the development of corrective action plans for the resolution of problematic issues; and provides general guidance on how to avoid or deal with similar issues in the future</li><li>Conduct on-site financial compliance reviews which include: cash counts; review of accounts receivables including employee receivables; documentation of segregation of duties and internal control structure; document storage and retention</li><li>Document findings, propose improvements or change as relevant, disseminate findings and ensure follow up implementation of recommendations as well as resolution</li><li>Conduct random surprise checks and vendor verification reviews to ensure proper procurement procedures are being practiced and report on findings</li><li>Develops an effective Compliance & Ethics training program, including appropriate introductory training for new employees as well as ongoing training for all employees and managers</li><li>Assists with improving the awareness and understanding of compliance to assist employees with the establishment of a “culture of compliance”</li></ul> at Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation<ul><li>Assist in preparing Subs Annual Budgets and reviewing Subs financial reports.</li><li>Provide support and training to partners to ensure adequate support for the program component.</li><li>Conduct partner technical supportive supervision on request basis from Grants & Compliance teams.</li><li>Coordinate grantee proposal review process and ensure compliance with solicitations and donor regulations.</li><li>Coordinate pre-award evaluations and assessments of potential grantees as needed.</li><li>Analyze, verify and review grantees proposal budgets to ensure donor compliance and reasonableness.</li><li>Coordinate the assessment of grantee risk and implement appropriate systems and agreements to minimize risk.</li><li>Ensure timely and appropriate close-out of sub-grants and coordinate the close-out of EGPAF prime grants.</li><li>Provide support and training to partners finance staff to build financial and accounting capacity to ensure adequate support for the program component.</li><li>Monitor partners’ spending patterns as part of the overall project budget to actual analytics.</li><li>Follow up on Grantee monthly invoices & supporting documents</li><li>Serve as an expert on applicable policies, procedures, rules, and regulations and assist staff with their interpretation and understanding of these.</li><li>Stays abreast of donor policies, procedures, rules and regulations and host country legal requirements and informs local and regional management of significant changes.</li><li>Perform internal departmental/grants reviews ensuring compliance with Foundation and donor requirements. Identify potential areas of compliance vulnerability and risk; assists with the development of corrective action plans for the resolution of problematic issues; and provides general guidance on how to avoid or deal with similar issues in the future</li><li>Conduct on-site financial compliance reviews which include: cash counts; review of accounts receivables including employee receivables; documentation of segregation of duties and internal control structure; document storage and retention</li><li>Document findings, propose improvements or change as relevant, disseminate findings and ensure follow up implementation of recommendations as well as resolution</li><li>Conduct random surprise checks and vendor verification reviews to ensure proper procurement procedures are being practiced and report on findings</li><li>Develops an effective Compliance & Ethics training program, including appropriate introductory training for new employees as well as ongoing training for all employees and managers</li><li>Assists with improving the awareness and understanding of compliance to assist employees with the establishment of a “culture of compliance”</li></ul> at Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation