Mohammad Amro
Summary
- Distinguished Legal & Compliance Advisor with a comprehensive understanding of government regulations and multinational corporate practices in various sectors including Consumer Goods, Healthcare, and Social Care. - Strategic Deal-Maker with a proven track record in transaction analysis, origination, execution, and management of high-stakes projects. - Accomplished in drafting, negotiating, and closing intricate legal transactions, safeguarding corporate interests, and upholding contractual integrity on both domestic and international fronts. - Dynamic Leadership Skills, adept at steering multi-disciplinary teams through complex projects from conception to fruition, ensuring excellence and efficiency.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Group General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
Agthia Group P.J.S.C
08.2020 - Current
- Strategic Legal Leadership: Instrumental as a member of the Agthia Group's leadership team, providing expert legal guidance to the Board of Directors and senior executives, shaping the strategic legal and corporate trajectory
- Corporate Governance Stewardship: Served with distinction as the Secretary of the Board for Agthia Group PJSC, a role that underscores my pivotal contribution to the governance of a publicly listed entity
- Policy Architect and Compliance Guardian: Spearheaded the development, maintenance, and management of robust Group and Country policies, ensuring seamless roll-out and stringent compliance auditing in line with new regulations
- M&A and Restructuring Virtuoso: Proven track record in meticulously drafting, negotiating, and consummating complex M&A and restructuring transactions, including high-profile acquisitions across the MENA region
- Legal and Compliance Leadership: Directed a proficient internal legal and compliance team, steering the company through the intricacies of legal affairs with a deft hand
- External Counsel Liaison: Expertly managed external legal partnerships and litigation, adeptly safeguarding the company's interests and mitigating legal exposures
- Intellectual Property Champion: Vigilantly supervised the Group's brand protection and intellectual property portfolio, fortifying the company's valuable intangible assets
- Mentorship and Team Development: Cultivated a high-performing legal team of 8 members, providing mentorship and coaching that spurred professional development and excellence.
General Counsel (Secondment)
Government of Abu Dhabi
06.2013 - 08.2020
- Provide legal and compliance support and advice to ADEK and its affiliates
- Draft and review templates for contracts, agreements, laws and legislations and decrees
- Conduct legal review of ADEK contracts, decrees and ensuring compliance with the UAE and Abu Dhabi legislations including ADEK establishment law
- Execute legal risk and compliance assessments, manage the legal risk register and prepare action plans
- Organize internal awareness sessions on legal issues and requirements
- Develop governance framework and guidelines for the education sector and ADEK (committees, board representation, authority matrix)
- Provide legal advice on the establishment and participation on governance committees and agencies/boards
- Liaise and coordinate with the relevant government entities on the preparation and issuance of new regulations/ legislations
- Provide inputs on setting up disciplinary regulations, management of disputes/complaints for the educational bodies
- Review and approve advice on mechanisms to protect ADEK's Intellectual Property rights to any protectable materials developed by ADEK
- Perform other duties and undertake special projects as requested by the Chairman.
Senior Legal Advisor (Secondment)
Department of Community Development (“DCD”)
01.2018 - 01.2020
- Trusted legal advisor to DCD on all legal and compliance matters
- Represent DCD on legal, legislative and policy matters, and act on DCD's behalf in local and federal committees
- Provide detailed periodic reports to the Chairman on legal activities and in response to governmental enquiries
- Oversee implementation of strategic legal direction, while ensuring legal, regulatory, and ethical compliance
- Draft legal templates; negotiate all contractual arrangements (procurement agreements, supply agreements, NDAs, labour contracts etc.)
- Initiate, drive and manage high-profile projects for multiple stakeholders and committees, for example: Supervised the drafting of DCD's establishing Law and Regulations
- Conducted a comprehensive legal review of Social Assistant Policies in Abu Dhabi
- Managed all legal aspects of launching two new government entities in Abu Dhabi, and an active member of a committee set up to restructure an existing Abu Dhabi government entity
- Actively participated in the establishment of the DCD Strategy and Social Sector Strategy
- Member of a working group to streamline and restructure, Volunteering, Social Enterprise, Licensing Social Faculties and Professionals, Social Contributions and Third Sector/NGO Laws and Regulations in Abu Dhabi.
Senior Legal Advisor
Department of Health (“DOH”)
06.2013 - 01.2018
- Advised the DOH Chairman and Director General on variety of complex legal, compliance and strategic issues
- Oversaw implementation of DOH's strategic direction and legal compliance; represented DOH on legal/policy matters (including on local and federal committees) and representing the Healthcare Sector on the US-UAE Business Council
- Key project achievements: Revised, executed and implemented the government-approved healthcare strategy (Dec 2014); Introduced an internal process to streamline committees and ensure effective corporate governance
- Supervised preparation of monthly Chairman's Report on high-level matters affecting the Health Sector
- Implemented Unified Medical Record project; supervised legal aspects of Healthcare-related PPP project
- Worked with international experts to introduce a pioneering program linking healthcare quality to payment, roll out Telemedicine across Abu Dhabi, and encourage private sector healthcare investment
- Managed legal processes in respect of funding a children's hospital in Kosovo and rural healthcare roll out
- Orchestrated policy, governance, and legislation changes; including Medical Liability Law of 2016, IP in Healthcare, Pharmaceutical Law and Public Health Law.
Chief Legal Counsel, Middle East & Africa Region
Mondelēz International (formerly Kraft Foods)
09.2005 - 05.2013
- Instrumental in guiding the Middle East & Africa leadership team on legal and strategic corporate matters
- Successfully drafted, negotiated, and finalized complex mergers and acquisitions, including significant billion-dollar deals involving United Biscuits, LU Biscuits, and Cadbury Chocolate
- Led internal teams across legal, compliance, and business sectors, while coordinating with external counsel and overseeing litigation processes
- Managed comprehensive compliance responsibilities, including monitoring, leading investigations, policy overhaul, and conducting training sessions across the MEA region
- Possesses extensive knowledge in Corporate Governance, Crisis Management, and compliance with various legal frameworks such as Sarbanes-Oxley, FCPA, UK Anti-Bribery Act, and OFAC regulations
- Established hiring and termination protocols within the Human Resources Division to streamline employee management
- Directed Brand Protection initiatives and provided specialized training to the Customs Department in Dubai
- Recognized for exceptional project management skills, evidenced by receiving four Mondelēz President Awards for outstanding project execution.
Legal Manager Middle East
Nestlé Middle East
01.2001 - 08.2005
- Managed and supervised Nestlé's legal and compliance requirements across 15 jurisdictions, providing legal advice and services across a diverse field of legal practice including corporate, M&A, IP and commercial matters
- Accomplished draftsman and astute negotiator of complex legal documentation, including joint venture, licensing, purchasing, lease, co-packing, agency, distributorship, and confidentiality agreements
- Built strong working relationships with senior management, commercial teams and external counsel; diligently provided support and execution in relation to all on-going legal issues, including litigation and dispute resolution
- Worked with Human Resources to manage compliance and staffing issues; prepared and managed litigation
- Advised on Brand Protection issues, media agency contracts and social media exposures.
Legal Advisor to the Commissioner of Taxes & Excise
United Nation Development Program “UNDP” assigned to the Palestinian Ministry of Finance
03.1998 - 12.2000
- Provided comprehensive legal advice; negotiated Palestinian Purchase Tax remittances; drafted laws and regulations; liaised with the Israeli Ministry of Finance; supported economic negotiations with Israel
- Co-authored Palestine's position paper which was presented to the World Trade Organization; devised structure of the Intellectual Property Enforcement Unit to enhance Palestine's accession to the TRIPS Agreement
- Provided pro bono legal advice for the Ministry of Economy's Investment Promotion Department.
Education
LLM in International Commercial and Corporate Law -
University of Aberdeen
Aberdeen, UK 01.1994 - 1995.01
LLB in Law -
University of Jordan
Amman, Jordan 1990.01 - 1994.01
Masters in Global Studies, Peace & Development -
Göteborg University
Gothenburg, Sweden 01.1998 - 1999.01
Skills
Team building
undefinedAccomplishments
- Career achievement: consistent record of excellence, professional awards and regular promotions as a result of strong legal knowledge, judgement, outperformance in project management and effective management skills.
- Future World Leaders Program (2000): invited to participate in the International Leaders Visitors Program, “The Role of Ethics in Government and Business”, sponsored by the US State Department.
Other Data
International Bar Association, Institute of Global Ethics, Jordanian Bar Association “Licensed Lawyer”, Arabic, English, Spanish
Timeline
Group General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
Agthia Group P.J.S.C
08.2020 - Current
Senior Legal Advisor (Secondment)
Department of Community Development (“DCD”)
01.2018 - 01.2020
General Counsel (Secondment)
Government of Abu Dhabi
06.2013 - 08.2020
Senior Legal Advisor
Department of Health (“DOH”)
06.2013 - 01.2018
Chief Legal Counsel, Middle East & Africa Region
Mondelēz International (formerly Kraft Foods)
09.2005 - 05.2013
Legal Manager Middle East
Nestlé Middle East
01.2001 - 08.2005
Legal Advisor to the Commissioner of Taxes & Excise
United Nation Development Program “UNDP” assigned to the Palestinian Ministry of Finance
03.1998 - 12.2000
Masters in Global Studies, Peace & Development -
Göteborg University
01.1998 - 1999.01
LLM in International Commercial and Corporate Law -
University of Aberdeen
01.1994 - 1995.01
LLB in Law -
University of Jordan
1990.01 - 1994.01
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