A HIGHER BAR
Providing local services at international standards has proven the most effective path to success.
BIOGRAPHY
A partner and co-head at the Al Tamimi & Company Kuwait office, Philip Kotsis is also head of the Corporate Commercial department in Kuwait. Prior to joining Al Tamimi in 2009, he was a senior legal consultant with DLA Piper, where he focused primarily on the corporate, commercial, banking, and finance sectors. He is a US-qualified attorney with a broad range of experience in local and transnational commercial and corporate transactions, corporate establishments, mergers and acquisitions, corporate/joint venture organization, and banking and finance, and has substantial experience in the commercial and finance aspects of Kuwait PPP projects.What are the key factors of Al Tamimi's successful expansion in the region?
One of the most important factors for a successful expansion in the GCC was the willingness of the firm and its lawyers to learn, understand, and adapt its practice to the local laws, regulations, and legal practices of each jurisdiction. Additionally, Al Tamimi's lawyers dedicate their time to understanding the practices, procedures, and legal interpretations employed by government authorities and ministries. The firm also offers, either directly or through the hiring of local partners, local litigation services to ensure its clients have access to a full-service law firm and understand how contracts and laws will be interpreted and applied in each jurisdiction. As a regional firm, Al Tamimi has dedicated itself to understanding and advising on local laws in each jurisdiction to ensure that clients are fully protected and receive top-quality advice. This ability to offer advice throughout the GCC and provide a comparative analysis to clients operating in multiple jurisdictions has certainly contributed to our successful expansion. Another important factor for successful expansion has been our commitment to hiring sector-specialist lawyers who are best placed to provide the most effective legal advice and services. For example, throughout the region, in addition to core practices such as corporate, commercial, and banking, Al Tamimi has lawyers specialized in areas that include shipping, insurance, intellectual property, telecommunications, media, hospitality, healthcare, real estate, and tax, just to name a few. Al Tamimi prides itself on providing local law services at international firm standards. It is a distinct and unique concept in the GCC, and Al Tamimi is truly the only firm to have successfully implemented this model.
How does Al Tamimi differentiate itself from other international law firms in Kuwait?
Al Tamimi has taken the same approach to Kuwait as it has throughout the region. It has embedded itself within the local legal environment and culture to ensure its clients receive a full-service legal offering at international standards. Whilst many international law firms focus on the application of foreign laws, Al Tamimi centers its focus on the application of local Kuwait law (or other local laws depending on the jurisdiction). This distinguishing factor, combined with its dedication to international standards, allows Al Tamimi to forge strong and long-lasting relationships with law firms from around the globe to provide local, regional, and international legal services to clients in tandem with these international law firms when the matter requires. Furthermore, in Kuwait Al Tamimi operates through its joint venture partner, Yaqoub Yousef Al Munayae, and hires Kuwaiti, regional, and internationally qualified lawyers that work together with the common goal of providing the best legal service possible. The firm also offers local litigation services through its Kuwaiti partner and has brought in lawyers who specialize in varying areas of practice as opposed to using the same lawyers as generalists for all matters. This way, Al Tamimi can provide the client with the most experienced and appropriate lawyers for the matter at hand. It also offers full English, Arabic, and bilingual services to ensure that all the needs of its clients are professionally met.
How does Al Tamimi support foreign companies that seek to invest in Kuwait?
With offices throughout the GCC and Middle East, Al Tamimi is able to support foreign companies that conduct business in one country or throughout the region. This allows Al Tamimi to support foreign companies that have chosen to invest in Kuwait while also offering clients the platform to support investment throughout the Middle East via one seamless and fully integrated law firm. We are the best placed in the country to support foreign companies with local entities, joint ventures, partnerships, agency and distributorships, and developing client-specific structures focused on the business needs and goals of clients. Importantly, Al Tamimi is also able to provide clients with legal knowledge while taking into account the company's commercial strategy.
A HIGHER BAR
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Interview
Adel Abdul Wahab Al-Majed , Chairman, Kuwait Banking Association (KBA)
Through a broad array of information, specialized committees, staff expertise, and other resources, KBA supports Kuwait's banks as they perform their critical role in energizing the economy and helping communities thrive.
read articleInterview
Sheikh Dr. Meshaal Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, Director General, Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA)
KDIPA adopts a proactive approach to attract value-added direct investments supported by an integrated promotional strategy serving Kuwait's developmental goals in line with its National Vision 2035.
read articleCommuniqué
Legal Reform and Infrastructure Projects Spell Opportunity for Foreign Investors
Along with the introduction and modernization of new laws and regulations, the vision of His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to transform Kuwait into an international center for commerce and industry by 2035 is already being implemented through Kuwait's National Development Plan. Coupled with the promulgation of progressive FDI regulations, these new opportunities spell positive news for foreign companies looking to conduct business in Kuwait.
read articleFocus: Developing connectivity
Connecting the Dots
Today, connectivity is hardly indispensible for individuals and the companies where they work. Kuwait's smart cities, considered elsewhere in the book, will thrive on it, and meanwhile the nation continues to register notable business deals from the informatics sector.
read articleInterview
Khalid Abbas , Country Manager-Kuwait, Unilever
Contributing to the improved health and wellbeing of communities and reducing environmental footprint are key priorities for Unilever, which is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of up to 1 billion people globally by 2020.
read articleInterview
Mohammed Yousif Soud Al-Sabah , Board Chairman & Director, Public Authority of Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR)
PAAAFR has adapted a package of policies to face challenges inherent to deserts, hot climate, and water scarcity, bringing Kuwait closer to achieving national food security, one step at a time.
read articleInterview
Yang Chunsen, Vice President/ Chief Representative, China State Construction Engineering Corporation Middle East (CSCME) Kuwait
CSCME is a technology-driven company that leverages its R&D and long-standing partnership with the government to increase its participation in the future development of Kuwait.
read article