Dubai’s Women of Influence General Counsels Redefining Legal Leadership in 2025

Editorial

-Alaya Brown

Advancing Legal Insight Through Purpose and Vision

Inthisedition,wereflectonthegrowingimpactofwomenwhoset

newstandardsinthelegalfieldacrosstheregion.Theirinfluence stretchesbeyondtechnicalexpertise,shapinghoworganizations think,operate,andprepareforwhatliesahead.Thestorieshighlighted hereunderscorethevalueofinsight,precision,andresilience,qualities thatelevatelegalpracticeandinspirethosewhofollow Astheroleof generalcounselsexpandsincomplexityandresponsibility,these professionalscontinuetoshowhowthoughtfuljudgmentand unwaveringcommitmentcansteerbusinessestowardstrongerandmore securehorizons.

Thiseditionof Dubai’s Women of Influence: General Counsels Redefining Legal Leadership in 2025 bringstolighttheimportanceof clarity,strategicthinking,andconsistencyinlegalleadership.The individualsfeatureddemonstratehowgroundeddecision-makingand well-structuredlegalguidancesupportgrowthandstabilitywithin diversesectors.Theirexperiencesrevealhowlegalteamscan contributemeaningfullytoorganizationaldirection,upholdintegrity, andstrengthenframeworksthatsupportbothprogressand accountability.

Withinthesepages,wealsotakeacloserlookattheperspectivesthat shapehigh-levellegalfunctionstoday.Muchofthisinfluencecomes fromprofessionalswhocombinelegalknowledgewithsoundjudgment underpressure.Theirabilitytomanagemulti-layeredlegalmatters, crafttargetedsolutionsandmaintainpoiseindemandingenvironments highlightsthecriticalroletheyplayinshapingcorporatedecisionmaking.Throughtheirwork,theycontinuetoexpandwhatstronglegal leadershiplookslikeintheregion.

Ourfeaturedexecutivebringsabroadspectrumoflegalexpertise shapedbyworkacrossmultiplejurisdictions.Sheisknownfor producingclearlegalstrategies,handlingcomplexcorporateand litigationmatters,andguidingteamsthroughdetailedregulatory requirements.HerdeepunderstandingofAMLstandardsandherability toresponddecisivelyinhigh-pressuresituationsreflecther commitmenttodeliveringreliablelegaloutcomes.Herapproach, grounded,precise,anddrivenbypurpose,continuestostrengthenthe legalfunctionwhereversheserves.

Let each page inspire reflection, purpose, and forward thinking!

Contents

The Front Page Exclusive

NADIA SERRY

A General Counsel Shaped by Global Experience, Human Skills, and a Mediation-First Mindset

Industry Insights

Balancing the Scales

Mastering Influence and Integrity in Law

Counsel 2025 Women Leaders at the Forefront of Legal Transformation

Managing

Art

Business

Business

Digital

Co-designer

Marketing

Dubai’s Women of Influence: General Counsels Redefining

Legal Leadership in 2025

Featuring

Alona Gorodetska Company

Head of Legal / General Counsel, Global Marime

Laura Reynaud

Nadia Serry

Associate General Counsel, Cognizant

General Counsel, EII CAPITAL

Najwa Aga Founder, Women Lawyers Group Middle East

Olga Arkhangelska

Head of Legal, Private Investment Group Companies

Brief

Alona Gorodetska is a trusted legal advisor with extensive UAE and global experience, leading major EPC negoaons and providing strong commercial, compliance, and disputeresoluon experse.

Laura Reynaud is a seasoned corporate and commercial lawyer specializing in technology, IP, cloud, and data protecon, offering strategic, praccal soluons aligned with client goals.

Nadia Serry is a dynamic mul-jurisdiconal lawyer skilled in legal strategy, compliance, AML, ligaon, draing, and negoaon, delivering strong leadership across complex regulatory environments worldwide.

Najwa Aga is a seasoned aorney and strategic advisor with global experience, building legal departments, guiding Csuites, and championing women’s empowerment and leadership across region.

Olga Arkhangelska is an experienced legal professional with government, corporate, and consultancy experse, providing reliable guidance and effecve support across varied regulatory environments and organizaonal.

Dubai’s Women of Influence: General Counsels Redefining Legal Leadership in 2025

S E R R Y

A General Counsel Shaped by Global Experience, Human Skills, and a Mediation-First Mindset

Resilience is not about never breaking, it is about learning how to rise stronger after you bend.

Acrossfast-movingcorporatelandscapes,themost

effectivelegalleadersarethosewhopairtechnical excellencewithjudgment,empathy,andtheability tosteercomplexorganisationsthroughriskwithoutlosing sightofpeople.NadiaSerryembodiesthatmodel.Today, asGeneralCounselofEIICapitalP.S.CandCorporate BoardSecretaryacrossmultipleportfolioentities,she integratesboardgovernance,contractseverity,anddispute strategywithacalm,solutions-firstapproach.

HerpathfromAlexandriatoParistoDubai;fromlitigation preptoriskandcompliance;fromprivatepracticetoinhouseleadership,revealsaprofessionalwholearnsfast, adaptsconstantly,andleadswithbothprecisionand perspective.

GeneralCounseltoaHoldingGroupandItsPortfolio

NadiaservesasGeneralCounselofEIICapitalP.S.Cand itsportfoliocompanies,aroleshehasheldforclosetothree years.Sheoverseestheholdingcompanyandthree additionalportfolioentities,includingMBS(Memaar BuildingSystems),amongtheworld’slargest manufacturersofpre-engineeredsteelbuildingmaterials, whereshesupportsanoperationofroughly700–800 employees.

Theremitisintenseandhands-on:reviewingcommercial contracts,issuinglegalopinionstothebusiness,running boardandcorporatesecretarialaffairs,andensuring governancehygieneacrosscommodities.Shealsoservesas CorporateBoardSecretaryatEIIandtwoothercompanies, anchoringthecadenceofboarddocumentationand decision-making.

Governance,Judgment,andPace

Describingtheday-to-dayas‘veryintense’,shebalances volumeandvelocitywithstructure:contractsandlegal opinionsmustmoveatthespeedofoperations,whileboard mattersdemandrigour,recordintegrity,andclear communication.Theresultisadualmindset,wheresheis expectedtobebothanoperatorandanadvisor,andwhere sheisexpectedtoberight,timely,andpractical.

It’saposturerefinedbyherprioryearsinprivatepractice andrisk/complianceroles,anditinformsthewayshe framesoptionsforseniormanagement:legallysound, commerciallyaware,andcalibratedtodevelopment.

When the bigger picture feels unclear, just take the next step forward — clarity comes with movement.

FiveYearsinRisk&ComplianceataMajorPrestigious RegionalLawFirm

Beforemovingin-house,Nadiaspentnearlyfiveyearswith AlTamimi&Coasariskandcompliancelawyer—an experiencethatsharpenedherskillsinhandlingcomplex, high-stakesmatters.Thefirm’sfast-pacedandprofessional environmentgaveherexposuretodiversejurisdictionsand regulatorychallenges,equippingherwiththeresilienceand adaptabilitythatcontinuetodefineherleadershipstyle today.Thepandemicyearsfurthertestedherabilityto balanceprofessionalintensitywithpersonalresponsibilities, asshesuccessfullymanagedaheavycaseloadwhileraising heryoungsonasasinglemotherinDubai—an achievementshevaluesasbothaprofessionalmilestone andapersonaltriumph.

LearningtheMarketinaBoutiqueLawFirm

Nadia’sfirstlegalroleinDubaiwaswithHASLawFirm,a localfirmthatlatergrewintoalarge,reputablepractice.In that‘smallfamily’environment,shetouchedabitof everything,exactlythekindofbreadththataccelerates learninginanewjurisdiction. Theexperiencegroundedherincourtpractice,client service,andtheday-to-dayrealitiesoftheUAElegal ecosystem;sheremainsongoodtermswithformer colleaguesandconsidersthatinitialyearbothformativeand fondlyremembered.

OneYearinPRtoTestaDifferentMuscle

BetweenEgyptandDubai,Nadiatookapurposefuldetour fromthelegalpath,spendingayearasPRManagerwith theSanGiovannihospitalityandtourismgroupin Egypt.Therolebroughtherintotheworldofhigh-profile events,VIPhosting,andbrandrepresentation—workshe foundbothenjoyableandrefreshinglyhassle-free.

Nadia Serry General Counsel

EII Capital

Yet,asrewardingastheexperiencewas,italsoclarified whereherlong-termidentitylay.Whileshevaluedthe exposuretoadynamic,customer-facingindustry,shefound herselfmissingtheintellectualrigorandstructured problem-solvingrhythmofthelaw Thatrealization becamepivotal:thedetourreinforcedherpassionforthe legalprofessionandpropelledherreturnwithrenewed clarityandconviction.

Law,Diplomacy,andaPhilosophyofFreedom

NadiaspentthreeyearsinadiplomaticpostinParis, servingasLegalCoordinatorattheBureauoftheAttaché Militaireandpursuingadvancedlegalstudy,completingthe firstyearandanadditionalsemesterofaMaster1inPrivate InternationalLaw

ShedescribestheperiodoflivinginParisaslivinginsidea ‘pieceofart,’wherestandardsarehighandthesocialfabric prizesfreedomassacredanduntouchable,aslongasone doesnotharmothers.Parisshapedhereyeforqualityand herrespectforprincipledautonomy,lessonsshecarriesinto boardroomsandnegotiationstoday

Alexandria,Courtrooms,andtheFirstLessonsofPractice

NadiagraduatedfromtheFacultyofLaw,Alexandria University,andbeganhercareerasajuniorlawyerat Nadoury&Nahas,areputableLawFirminAlexandria. Thosefirstyears,goingtocourt,learningthecraft,and understandingtheprocedure,werehergroundinginthe realitiesofpractice.

Marriageandmotherhoodfollowed;thenParis,thenEgypt again,andultimatelyDubai,wherethein-housechapter wouldbegin.Eachmovesharpeneddifferentcapabilities: legalanalysis,culturalintelligence,andthepoisetoresetand excelinnewcontexts.

SoftSkillsasHardAdvantages

‘Brilliant’legalanalysisaloneisnotenough,Nadiaargues. Withoutemotionalintelligence,respect,andtheabilityto workeffectivelywithinteamsandwithseniorcolleagues, evenatechnicallystronglawyerwillstruggletosucceed.

Sheprizesself-awareness,knowingherstrengthsandareas forimprovement,aswellasrespectforeveryroleinthe organisation,fromtheofficeassistanttotheCEO. Additionally,shevaluesculturalopenness,whichincludes havinglunchwithcolleaguesfromdiversebackgrounds, listening,andbuildingtrustacrossdifferences.Inherview, these“soft”skillsarethehardedgesoflong-termsuccess.

Decision-Making,Dissent,andAccountability

Nadiabelievesthatalawyer’sroleisnotaboutsayingwhat leaderswanttohear,butaboutsayingwhattheyneedtohear. Thatmeansowningthelegalview—evenwhenitis unpopular.Herjob,assheframesit,istomaptherisks,lay outtheoptions,anddocumentthereasoning.

Ultimately,managementchoosesthepathforward.Butby ensuringthatchoiceisfullyinformed,andbydissenting respectfullywhennecessary,shesafeguardsbothcredibility andtheinstitutionitself.ForNadia,courageand accountabilitygohandinhand.

WhyMediationComesFirst

Nadiaisastrongadvocateofmediationasthedefaultroute forcorporatedisputes.Takingmattersstraighttocourtmaybe theeasiestreflexforcounsel,butlitigationconsumestimeand money,legalfees,courtfees,andopportunitycosts,even whenyouwin.

Herstrategyistoexhausteffortstoreachacompromise whereneithersideloseseverythingandbothcanmeet halfway.Sheacknowledgesthelimits,whereacounterparty aggressivelybreachesorrefusestoengage,litigationis necessary.Butmostofthetime,sheaimsforanegotiated resolution,evenwhendiscussionscantakesixtoeight months.Theobjectiveisoutcomeoverdrama.

AProfessionalGoal

Withmediationnowcentraltocorporatelegalstrategy, Nadiaiscommittedtodeepeninghertrainingandbecoming anaccreditedmediator.Sheseesmediationasadiscipline thatsharpensthetoolsforunlockingdeadlocks,reading counterparties,andidentifyingthesubtle“keys”thatmove people.Forher,itisneveraboutsurrender—itisabout structuredproblem-solvingthatpreservesrelationshipsand protectsvalue

Pressure,Parenting,andProfessionalism

Thepandemicwasadefiningtest.Nadiamanaged‘alotof work,alotofpressure’duringthecrisisyearswhile parentingasasinglemotherinDubai,beforehersonlater wenttolivewithhisfatherinEgypt.

Shecallsthatperiodexhaustingyetformative,markedby longdays,constantresponsiveness,andadeterminationto keepmovingforward.Emergingfromtheperiodand steppingintotheEIICapitalrolefeltlikeaprivatevictory, proofofresiliencetranslatedintoanewresponsibility.

From12-HourDaystoSustainableHighPerformance

Afterseasonsof12-hourstretchesand‘work,work balance,’Nadiaisintentionalaboutachievingahealthy work-lifebalance.Officialhoursguidetheweekwith flexibilitywhenneeded,andshesustainsenergythrough yoga,meditation,andreading.

Sheistravellingmoreanddeliberatelycultivatingopenness topositivity.“At this time of my life, I am just open to everything the universe can give me These practices aren’t perks; they are foundations for clear judgment and steadiness at work.”

FindingBeautyandBalanceinEverything

Nadia’soutlookisdisarminglysimpleyetdemanding:“See the beauty in everything.”Beautyinpain,inloss,inclosed doors.Rejectionasredirectiontowardbetterplacesand betteropportunities.

Sheadvisesmaintainingyourbalance,justlikeinyoga: adjustyourposture,breathe,andhold.Thatframing, curious,forward-looking,anddisciplined,helpsher metabolisesetbacksandstayconstructiveinthefaceof uncertainty.

AGlobalComfortZone

HavinglivedinEgypt,France,andtheUAE,Nadiais comfortableacrossculturesandclimates.Shejokinglyadds thatshepreferswarmweathertocold,afterdiscoveringthat Frenchwintersweresimplynotforher.ShelovesEgypt’s layeredhistory,withAlexandriaclosetoherheartand encouragesanyonewhohasn’tbeentovisitCairo’s pyramidsandbeyond.

Thesedetailsarenottrivia;theyarepartofanoutlookthat valuescontext,takesgenuineinterestinpeople,andsees everysettingasachancetolearn.

Calm,Clarity,andCourtesy

ColleaguesoftenencounterNadiainhigh-stakesscenarios, boardcycles,contractdeadlines,anddisputesonthebrink ofresolution.Whattheytendtorememberisthecalm:the steadytone,thecourteoushandlingofdisagreements,anda methodicalapproachtobreakingbigproblemsintosolvable parts.

Shemaintainsfirmboundariesonsubstance,butneverat theexpenseofrespect,avaluesheconsidersnon-negotiable foreveryoneinthehierarchy

Success is not the absence of pain, but the wisdom to grow through it.

WhytheIn-HouseSeatFits

Afterthebreadthofprivatepracticeandtheintensityofrisk orcompliance,thein-housevantagepointalignswithhow Nadialikestowork:proximitytooperations,ownershipof outcomes,andthechancetoshapegovernanceandculture, notjustdocuments.

AtEIICapitalandacrossitsportfolio,includingindustrial manufacturingatscale,thelegalfunctionisn’taback office;itisabusinessenablerthatmustanticipateissues, clarifyexpectations,andkeepleadersaligned.Shethrives inthatintersection.

Nadia’sPrinciplesinPractice

Whenadecisionisonthetable,Nadiarunsaconsistent playbook-

Ÿ Clarifytheobjective(whatoutcometrulymatterstothe company).

Ÿ Maptherisksandtimelines(whatitcoststopursueeach path).

Ÿ Escalatedissentrespectfully(saywhenthelegalview diverges).

Ÿ Documentandmove(oncemanagementdecides, executecleanly).

Itsoundssimplebecauseitis.Thedisciplineliesindoingit everytime,underpressure,andwithoutlettingpersonalities eclipseprinciples.

LessonsCarriedForward

Fromaboutiquelawfirmtoblue-chippractice;from embassycorridorstofactoryfloors;fromthecourtroom rhythmtoboardroomcadence,Nadiahasdistilledafew durablelessons:

Ÿ Respectcompounds.Treatingeveryrolewithdignity strengthenscultureandspeedswork.

Ÿ Self-knowledgescales.Knowyourstrengthsandgaps; growdeliberately

Ÿ Mediationsavesvalue.Thecourthasitsplace; compromiseoftenpreservesmore.

Ÿ Balancesustainsexcellence.Theworkisbetterwhen thepersonissteady.

TheRoadAhead

Professionally,Nadiaplanstoformalisehermediation expertiseandcontinuebuildinggovernancesystemsthat enableexecutiveteamstomakedecisionsmoreefficiently withfewersurprises.Personally,sheisinvestinginhealth, learning,travel,andpresence,theingredientsthatkeepher centredandcurious.

She’scandidthatbalanceisn’talwaysavailable;sometimes lifegivesyouoneoption,andit’s“work & work.”The point,shebelieves,istolearnfromeachseason,keep perspective,andbereadywhenthenextdooropens.

ClosingPerspective

NadiaSerry’sstoryisnotlinear;it’slayered,withmoves acrosscountriesandindustries,apandemicstresstest,anda setofconvictionshonedbyrealconstraints.

Never stop learning and growing.

Whatemergesisacounselthathandlescomplexitywithout drama,pushesfornegotiatedoutcomeswithoutnaivety,and demandsthathowpeoplearetreatedmattersasmuchas whatgetsdecided.Thatcombinationofhardlaw,softskills, andsteadyvaluesexplainswhysheistrustedinrooms wherethestakesarehighandtheanswersarerarelybinary

Mastering and in

WomenempowermentUAEmovementisaclearsignofthe necessityofaresponsibleinfluence.Womeninlawfield haveraisedtheirvoicestobetheagentsofthe implementationoftheconceptsoffairness,ethical accountability,andtransparencyinprofessionalpractice. Theirascentshowsthatpowerresidednotintheauthority alonebutratherintheintegrity,competence,andcourageof theperson.Thisconnectionofinfluencewithvirtueisthe basisofpresent-dayleadershipinlaw.

TheCentralRoleofIntegrity

Integrityiswhattheentirelegalprofessionisbuiltupon.It goesfarbeyondsimplyfollowingtherulesandregulations andincludesbeingtruthful,stable,andtakingmoral responsibility.Thelawyersaretheoneswhoarerequiredto livebythelaw,notonlytofollowit.Withintegrity,itis guaranteedthatanychoice,advice,orbargainingwillbe aimedatjusticeandthecommongood.

Wheneverthesemoralsareweakened,thelawbecomesless believable.InitiativesforWomenempowermentUAEhave beenveryinstrumentalinhighlightingtheneedforthis ethicalbasebyofferingcoursesofmorality,wisedecision making,andgovernance.Womeninpowerareadominant imageofnotjustthelawasasourceofpower,butalsoofa changeintheprofessionthatisledbyvirtueofintegrity

NavigatingTensionsBetweenInfluenceandIntegrity

Itisnotalwayseasytobalanceinfluenceandintegrity. Lawyersencountercomplicatedsituationsthatchallenge notonlytheirprofessionalskillsbutalsotheirmoral strength.

1.Commercialpressureversusethicalduty

Inmostcases,lawyersinprivatepracticeorcorporate environmentsareurgedtoprioritizeprofitorclient satisfactionovermorals.Nevertheless,genuinelegal leadershipisaboutbeingcourageousandstandingfirm whenyourvaluesaretested.Whenalawyerrejectstheuse ofunethicalshortcuts,henotonlyelevatesthe trustworthinessofthefirmbutalsothatoftheentire profession.

2.Clientloyaltyversusdutytothecourtandsociety

Lawyersareboundtoactintheirclients’bestinterests,but thelawyer’sdutyisnotwithoutlimitations.Thesuperior onetothecourtandthejusticesystemdemandshonesty

andfairness,evenwhenitclasheswithclientexpectations. Thisseparationiswhatsafeguardstheequilibriumbetween advocacyandintegrity

3.Externalinfluenceversusprofessionalindependence

Forinstance,alawyercouldbepressuredbyawealthy client,politicalinterests,ortheinstitutionalhierarchyto giveuphisindependence.However,holdingonto professionaldistanceandobjectivitynotonlysavesthe individuallawyersbutalsothesystem.

4.Strategicpersuasionversusintegrityinadvice

Influenceinlawismostlyaboutpersuasionandnegotiation. Amorallyuprightlawyer,however,useshisinfluenceto supportjusticeratherthantotrickthesituation.Integrity guaranteesthateverymovemadeisstilllegal,fair,and truthful.

TheWomenEmpowermentUAEisafineexampleofhow thesechallengescanbeovercomewithclarityandpoise. Womenleadersinlawareprovingthatinfluencecoupled withethicalconvictioncanbeameansforbothprofessional successandsocial progress.

WhyThisBalanceMatters

Lawyers'abilitytobalanceinfluenceandintegritymakes themmorecredible,extendstheirprofessionalreputation, andhelpsthemhaveacareerthatlasts.Clientsbenefitfrom thisaswellbecausetheyaretheoneswhogetreal,clear, andlogicalpiecesofadvice.Societyalsobenefitsasthe ruleoflawisprotectedandconfidenceinlegalinstitutions becomesstronger

Women Leaders at the Forefront of Legal Transformation

Thefutureofthelegalpracticeis undergoingrapidchangein2025. Thecoreofthatchangeisthe emergenceofanewgenerationofwomen whoareredefiningleadershipinthelegal field,especiallyintheGulfregion,andDubai womenleaders.Thepoweroffemale practitionersistransformingthepractice, governance,andstrategicvalueoflaw practicedbylawfirms,corporatelegal groups,policy-makinginstitutions,and internationalarbitration.

ANewEraofLegalLeadership

Legalleadershipisnolongermerelyadvising theclientsorhandlinglitigation.Itnow includesstrategicdecision-making,adoption oftechnologies,governancereformand globalexpansion.Topprofessionalsinthe UAEhaveprovidedthebestillustrationsof suchchanges.

Theremarkablefactisthattheseleadersdescribelegal departmentsnotonlyascostcentresbutalsostrategic centresbothintermsofcompliance,riskmanagement,ESG (environmental,socialandgovernance)standardsand digitaltransformation.Suchexpansionofscopeisan indicationofadifferentstandardoflawleadershipinthe future.

WhyDubaiMattersfor

ThecityofDubai,andtheUnited isalsoonthefrontlineofpromotingthegrowthofwomen intheworkplaceanddecision-making.Dubai Establishment(DWE)andotheror programmestoenhancetheleadershipstrength,board representation,andstrategicinfluenceofwomen.

ThishasprovidednewopportunitiestotheDubaiwomen leadersinthelegalfield. currentlygainingpositionssuchaspartnerofalawfirmor generalcounselofbigcorporations;traditionally thatwasdominatedbymen.

TheTransformation Strategy

Inthisnewwaveoflegalleadership,threekeyshiftsarein motion:

Strategicintegrationoflegalfunctions

Leadershavemadeitapointtointegratelegalservicesinto theoverallbusinessstrategy arrangementwherelegalteamsbecomefacilitatorsofthe growthprocessasopposedtobeingjustriskcontrollers. Justtogiveyouanidea,theladieswhosenamesappeared inthelistoflegalheadsintheUAEareexpertsindigital transformation,commerciallaw

Embracingtechnologyandinnovation

Legalleadershipisincreasinglyfocusedonthewaythelaw ispractised:researchpoweredby contractworkflows,andtheuseofsmartcontractsare becomingthecoreofthepractice. EmirateswassayingthatthelegalsystemintheUAEis goingtochangedrasticallyduetoautomationand powereddisputeresolution,amongother

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