2024 SBAI & DIFC Practical Workshop: How to Win Mandates in the Middle East

Carolyn J. D. Abram

Partner, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius

Carolyn J.D. Abram’s practice focuses on representing fund sponsors on the structuring, formation, and operation of private investment funds across asset classes, and other bespoke investment arrangements, including seed and stake arrangements with anchor investors, asset manager joint venture agreements, co-investment and warehousing arrangements, carried interest arrangements, secondaries transactions, and fund restructurings.

She also advises on regulatory and structural matters relating to the operations of asset managers and investment banks in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and other emerging markets, particularly for global asset managers seeking to enter the MENA market.

Hari Bhambra

Founder, Stone Advisory Ltd

Hari has over 20 years’ financial sector development and compliance experience and has been part of the development and drafting team of both the FSA (London) and DFSA (DIFC). She drafted parts of both regulatory structures of the DFSA and UK FSA (integration of the unitary regulator) including the development of the supervisory philosophy of both regulators.

She has been involved in financial sector development, including advising Central Banks on the implementation of Islamic Finance into secular jurisdictions, training supervisors on Islamic Finance including acting as a consultant to the US FSVC on financial sector development projects and has consulted for a range of financial institutions including sovereign wealth and government entities.

Ali Hassan

Senior Representative for Europe & North America, Dubai International Financial Centre Authority

Ali Hassan is a Senior Representative for the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Authority in Europe and North America and Director of Business Development for the Centre.

In his current role, Mr. Hassan supports the CEO in developing and promoting the Insurance, Banks & Capital Markets, Wealth and Asset Management financial sectors, the ecosystem for Innovation and Multinational companies, and professional service providers, in line with the Centre’s business strategies and plays an active role in managing client development. He is also responsible for promoting and spreading awareness of DIFC’s competitiveness and positioning regionally and globally.

Mr. Hassan brings vast regulatory knowledge and commercial experience to his position at DIFC Authority, having supervised and authorized a diverse range of businesses including exchanges, trading platforms, wealth management, investment banking, and brokerage operations with experience in the UK, Europe and the Middle East.

Salmaan Jaffery

Chief Business Development Officer, Dubai International Financial Centre Authority

Salmaan is the Chief Business Development Officer for the Dubai International Financial Centre. He is a member of the management team and is responsible for overseeing the DIFC client portfolio as well as the DIFC’s growth strategy.

Salmaan has 25+ years of experience in North America, Asia and MENA with leadership roles at global firms such as Oliver Wyman, Citibank, American Express and PwC.

Mr. Jaffery holds an MBA from Cornell University and a BA in International Relations (Phi Beta Kappa) from Colgate University in the United States and serves on the Boards of several non-profit organizations.