Simmy Rease
Dubai
Summary
Results-driven Legal Executive with over 20 years of corporate legal experience. Successfully managed commercial contracts and provided legal advisory services for e&Group, a publicly listed UAE global technology company with more than 6,000 workers and its affiliated companies. Head of Legal overseeing the e&life vertical and collaborating with stakeholders at various management levels throughout the organisation.
Previously held a leadership role managing the legal function for BiC, a consumer manufacturing company, supervising the legal, supply chain, and regulatory departments across APAC and MEA regions.
Held various senior management positions, including the General Counsel for Souq.com (currently Amazon.ae) and Legal Director for du, the telecom operator. Expertise in project management, leadership, and team collaboration. Skilled at creatively solving problems while upholding company values, policies, and procedures.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Director - Commercial Legal
E& Group (Etisalat)
02.2024 - Current
- Head of Commercial Legal department within e& Group. Provide ongoing direction on all commercial contracts impacting the various e& businesses.
- Assessment of known and anticipated risks to companies. Create and implement a company legal strategy to respond to and/or mitigate such risks.
- My work involves extensive collaboration in a variety of commercial transactions, including Service Agreements, Vendor Agreements, and various digital, technology and licensing agreements. I partner with technology, content, and sales teams in negotiation and drafting of complex, multi-million dollars contracts, ensuring everyone feels included and part of the process.
- Advising and counseling the Group Procurement/ Supply Chain function on bespoke & complex transactions, as well as legal issues.
- Reporting to the Group Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, e& Group.
Senior Director - E& Life
E& Life (Etisalat)
10.2019 - Current
- Leadership team member overseeing legal, regulatory, compliance, and Board matters of eLife services.
- Strategic guidance to CEO, management team, Board members and employees at all levels on commercial partnerships and distribution of digital content and rights across MENA.
- Extensive contract negotiations to monetize digital assets with a net revenue of over $1 billion.
- Technology sourcing and integration legal support.
- Primary executive responsible for IPR protection and licensing, preparation of reports to the Board, and employee training.
- Legal Executive responsible for the launch of 2 key OTT platforms & services in MENA and the core legal team involved in acquiring STARZPLAY Video On Demand Services.
- Reporting to the CEO, e& life.
Legal Director - MEA & Asia
Société BiC
09.2016 - 09.2019
- Advised executive staff of consumer manufacturing company operating in more than 80 countries in Asia and MEA on all matters, including regulatory compliance, contractual/transactional matters, and various employment matters. Appointed by the Group CEO and General Counsel to the company's eight-person executive team responsible for Asia and MEA.
- Supervised legal team and compliance and licensing departments.
- Managed corporate product claim/ litigation portfolio, consisting of approximately 40-50 cases annually.
- Negotiated various contracts, including distribution, sourcing/ supply chain and warehousing agreements, vendor agreements, IT / technology agreements, and employment and executive benefit agreements.
- Represent company in mediation, arbitration, and administrative hearings, including in matters relating to consumer complaints and regulatory oversight, and as incident to general litigation.
- Lead anti-piracy and IPR manager for the region.
- Launched e-commerce project lead for BiC flagship store on Alibaba platform, China, concluding two M&A transactions in Africa.
- Assisted in developing a robust ethics program promoting adherence to company values and fostering a culture of integrity throughout the organization.
- Reporting to the General Counsel (GC), US & Developing Markets for MEA & Group GC, for APAC.
Advisor to the Board of Directors
Souq.com (currently Amazon.ae)
02.2017 - 08.2017
- Commercial legal support & advisory to the Board during the period leading up to Amazon acquisition/ transition.
General Counsel
Souq.com (currently Amazon.ae)
06.2015 - 06.2016
- General Counsel, advising the senior leadership team on strategic transactions & commercial value creation on projects where cloud, digital & online technologies converge.
- Established governance framework (before ‘potential’ IPO or acquisition) to achieve merger readiness.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to establish best practices for managing contractual obligations.
- Preparation of material contracts and templates.
- Managed legal work streams covering the e-commerce ecosystem (backend, payment channels, platform, supply chain network etc.) and outsourcing services to third parties such as branded store developments, etc.
- Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer.
Legal Director
Du
09.2009 - 01.2015
- Lead counsel for du’s communications start-up.
- Project-managed a high-value data center launch, handset purchase and distribution management, including negotiating and finalizing a range of infrastructure, services, technology and customer contracts.
- Managed many enterprise solutions bids and contracts.
- Lead counsel for du’s Digital & Consumer facing marketing business units - revamped du’s consumer telco services terms and conditions.
- Managed e-commerce and m-commerce transactions & developed a company-wide licensing strategy for rights acquisition and distribution.
- End-to-end legal support to producing and broadcasting a major TV reality show.
- Reporting to the Chief Strategy & Investment Officer and later to Group Legal.
Corporate Counsel
Dubai Holding (Tatweer)
06.2008 - 05.2009
- Led the creation of standard form contracts, streamlining negotiations and saving time for both legal and business teams.
- Streamlined contract management system, enhancing efficiency in tracking, reviewing, and renewing agreements.
- Put in place IP policies, handbook, and documentation. Managed IP licensing and registrations worldwide, IP conflicts, and disputes.
Associate - IP & IT
Al Tamimi & Company, Regional Law Firm
06.2007 - 07.2008
- Assisted a global company exclusively on intellectual property and information technology matters.
- Management of commercial IP portfolio of a global brand (Mars) in META covering 80+ countries, including managing legal workflow of commercial activities, product launches and network of law firms in the region
- As a Key representative of the firm, I was entrusted with signing off on various reports presented to the client’s global counsels and Board of Directors.
- Reporting to the Managing Partner of the firm, who was also the Head of the IP & IT Department
Managing Associate
Rouse & Co
01.2002 - 06.2007
- Trained as a commercial IP lawyer on a global scale.
- Assisted senior partners in developing IP strategies and commercialization for global brands operating in the MEA and Asia regions (e.g. Mars, GSK and Intel Corp.) involving digital work, licensing, marketing, advertising and franchising strategies etc.
- Managed trademark and domain name disputes, including for Google.
- I have extensively worked with global brands on many strategic partnerships in Asia (franchise and distribution).
- Managed a small team of IP practitioners as I progressed to a senior role.
- Advertising claims and product (look-a-like) litigation in/across multiple jurisdictions
- Supervised over 300 court and administrative actions covering IP matters, including a number of high-profile infringement disputes and settlement of disputes, etc., with the assistance of local firms.
- Reporting to the Country Manager.
Education
LLM (Computer & Communications Law) - Law - Merit
University of London
London, UKLLB - Law - Topper
MG University
Kochi, IndiaSkills
- Chief legal advisor to the Board of Directors, CEO, and executive management at e& life vertical
- Successful negotiation of multi-million dollar service and commercial contracts; ensure compliance and enforcement of terms
- Direct, draft, and implement various bespoke commercial contracts
- Global sourcing and supply chain experience (Middle East and Asia)
- Strong reputation for hands-on approach to complex legal issues in e-com & brick & mortar environments while achieving significant budget savings
- Collaborative work style and solid social abilities with commitment to professionalism
- Member representing e& Group in World Economic Forum’s Metaverse governance committee
Additional Information
I am involved in community services, helping the needy in India through the foundation "God Cares". I am also involved in professional badminton, having coached and participated in various capacities. Based on my litigation experience, I authored legal synopses and several articles and served as a panel judge for Oath Magazine’s Middle East Legal Awards in 2019 and 2021.
Timeline
Senior Director - Commercial Legal
E& Group (Etisalat)
02.2024 - Current
Senior Director - E& Life
E& Life (Etisalat)
10.2019 - Current
Advisor to the Board of Directors
Souq.com (currently Amazon.ae)
02.2017 - 08.2017
Legal Director - MEA & Asia
Société BiC
09.2016 - 09.2019
General Counsel
Souq.com (currently Amazon.ae)
06.2015 - 06.2016
Legal Director
Du
09.2009 - 01.2015
Corporate Counsel
Dubai Holding (Tatweer)
06.2008 - 05.2009
Associate - IP & IT
Al Tamimi & Company, Regional Law Firm
06.2007 - 07.2008
Managing Associate
Rouse & Co
01.2002 - 06.2007
LLM (Computer & Communications Law) - Law - Merit
University of London
LLB - Law - Topper
MG University
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