The ACC MENA chapter is delighted to invite its members and their immediate family and friends for breakfast on Sunday 18 February 2024 at Dubai Offshore Sailing Club.

Join us for breakfast and a morning of fun as we come together as a community and connect with each other & our families in a relaxed and friendly environment.

Please note that there will be a jumping castle and there is access to the ocean, should you want to swim. Neither DOSC staff nor the ACC MENA will however take responsibility for childcare or your family's safety.

Please be sure to register all adults in your party for gate access and the number of children for catering purposes.

ACC Members can bring one adult guest and up to three children's. 

We look forward to seeing you there!

The Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) has been recently amended by Royal Decree No. M/148 dated 05/09/1444H (corresponding to 27/03/2023G) and came into force on September 14, 2023. It applies to the processing of the personal data of individuals in the Kingdom and to processing by any entity outside the Kingdom in respect of personal data subjects inside the Kingdom. A one-year grace period comes to an end in September 2024. 

The Saudi Data & Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) also issued an updated version of the Artificial Intelligence Ethics Framework in September. The aim is to establish a principle-based ethical framework for the development and use of AI technologies in the Kingdom.

During this event for the in-house legal community, the panellists will discuss building a pragmatic compliance program, with reference to the PDPL, the Implementing Regulation and the Regulation on Personal Data Transfer outside the Geographical Boundaries of the Kingdom. They will also briefly consider the convergence and inherent conflict between evolving global privacy and AI regulations and consider who in the organisation should take ownership of AI ethics.

Additionally, there will be an opportunity to network with other in-house colleagues & friends.

This event will explore sanctions-related considerations for companies operating across the Middle East.

The session will:

• Outline local domestic sanctions regimes, including relevant legal and regulatory considerations.
• Considerations in relation to international sanctions regimes and how they relate to companies operating within the region.
• Going beyond sanctions screening databases in your KYC and due diligence – what more can you do?
• key considerations with regards to sanctions compliance mitigation measures.

We will also discuss case studies of sanctions scenarios and how to investigate them.

Is your workplace inclusive? As a leader, ensuring your in-house legal team is diverse, equitable and inclusive is paramount for the team and your business to thrive. However could some of your practices inadvertently be holding your aspirations at bay?

This interactive panel discussion – in partnership with Peerpoint, Allen & Overy’s flexible resourcing business – will address team hiring and retention processes. This will include the unconscious biases that play into our decision making, diversity in leadership, promoting an inclusive work environment as well as being mindful of neurodiversity. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions at the end.

In today's ever-evolving business landscape, legal challenges are inevitable. Navigating these complexities requires more than just legal expertise—it demands strategic intelligence. Businesses can unlock legal success by integrating business intelligence into their legal strategies and legal professionals can gain a deeper understanding of their clients, opponents, and the overall market. This enables for more informed decisions, identify potential risks, and seize opportunities that may have otherwise gone unnoticed.

Join Control Risks’ experts Courtenay Smith and Monaf Hatam, as they delve into the realm of Business Intelligence and its pivotal role in supporting legal strategies and provide real-world examples of where it has been instrumental in leading a successful legal strategy. 

During our interactive discussion we will delve into several key areas. These include an Introduction to Business Intelligence in the Legal Field and understanding its role in legal disputes, Data collection and integration: how BI tools gather and integrate data from various sources to support legal decision-making, overcoming the challenges in opaque jurisdictions and Conducting business intelligence investigations in an ethical and legal manner.

Agenda:

1. Opening remarks/welcome

2. President’s Report

• Annual chapter’s activities report
• Strategic plans for 2024

No resolution is required for this item

3. Treasurer’s Report

• Annual financial report for the year ended 30 September 2023
• Appointment and remuneration of auditor

4. Vote for Board of Directors 2024

5. Any other business

On behalf of the Board, we would like to thank you for your continued support of our chapter and look forward to seeing you at the AGM.

The Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) has been implemented by Royal Decree and will come into force on September 14th, 2023. It applies to the processing of the personal data of individuals in the Kingdom and to processing by any entity outside the Kingdom in respect of personal data subjects inside the Kingdom.

Following our discussion about the amended PDPL in May, this webinar will discuss the Implementing Regulation and the Regulation on Personal Data Transfer outside the Geographical Boundaries of the Kingdom, published in draft form at the time of writing.

We will again leverage the views and knowledge of our experienced panellists:

- Kellie Blyth, Partner, Addleshaw Goddard

- Jess Bujaroski, Associate Director, Secretariat

- Paul McCormack, VP Privacy Law Innovation, Privitar

- Dale Waterman, Managing Director, Secretariat (moderator)

Chat GPT, or Generative AI, is a rapidly evolving technology that has the potential to transform the way in-house legal teams operate. With the ability to understand natural language and generate human-like responses, these AI powered chatbots can streamline legal processes, improve communication with clients and stakeholders, and reduce the workflow of legal professionals.

With any emerging technology, however, there are potential risks and challenges that need to be addressed. The panel discussion will focus on sharing best practices, practical applications and insights on leveraging Chat GPT as an enabler of legal services, as opposed to a threat to legal services.

One not to miss, join us to hear from representatives of the in-house community, PwC Legal Middle East LLP and Pinsent Masons to find out more…

Panelists are:

Donya Fredj, Legal Director, G42

Emilia Law, Head of Legal, MEA, Novartis 

Allison Hosking, Director of NewLaw, PwC Legal (Double-hat as moderator)

Martin Hayward, Partner, Head of TMT, Middle East, Pinsent Masons

The webcast of this session will start at 6:30PM GST and you may register for the link to join here.

Agenda:

6:00PM: Arrive & refreshments

6:30PM: Panel discussion, including Q&A

7:45PM Networking

8:45Pm Close

The event will be co-hosted by Pinsent Masons and PwC Legal.