HEBA ABUMOUSA
Summary
Senior Legal and Governance Counsel with over 15+ years of experience leading complex cross-border transactions, Joint Ventures, and technology driven regulatory projects across the Middle East. Skilled in drafting and negotiating strategic agreements, developing and implementing data-privacy frameworks, and digital governance initiatives. Reliable team player with flexible attitude towards changing case requirements, possessing strong analytical and negotiation skills. Proven ability to deliver pragmatic legal solutions, advising clients on complex issues, strengthen compliance, and support innovation across evolving business and technology landscapes.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Legal and Governance Counsel
AIR LIQUIDE MIDDLE EAST
10.2024 - Current
- Led high-value commercial negotiations involving restructuring a deficit generating Argon supply agreement, eliminating a $1.4M annual loss.
- Advised the business on Kuwait JV share transfer and provided in-house counsel on the process of the share transfer, saving $37k in external legal spend.
- Streamlined AMEI’s governance framework, designing a corporate governance assessment tool that benchmarked subsidiaries’ compliance posture, flagged risks, and drove management actions to remediate governance gaps.
- Drafted, reviewed, and negotiated complex cross-border agreements (supply, procurement, and employment contracts), ensuring alignment with corporate policies, regulatory frameworks, and commercial objectives.
- Directed in-house counseling of two major security incidents (employee phishing attack & payroll processor security attack), coordinating IT, HR, and legal teams to neutralize threats internally, ensuring business continuity, and saving approximately $40k in external counsel cost.
- Acted as Company Secretary for 3 subsidiaries (2 UAE, 1 Kuwait), ensuring transparent board governance, accurate statutory filings, and compliance with regional regulatory regimes.
- Partnered with HR on sensitive employment and compliance matters, including ethical investigations, and internal disciplinary processes.
- Provided in-house counsel to the HR on employment matters during entity redomiciliation from the DIFC freezone to Meydan Free Zone.
- Stayed up to date on regional laws, regulations, trends, and best practices, advising the Legal team and entity management on regulatory changes and policy impacts.
- Drove the deployment of the procurement, long and short-term contract templates across AMEI, ensuring compliance with legal requirements and guidelines.
- Acted as a trusted advisor to internal stakeholders, including Human Resources and Finance, offering guidance on regulatory, compliance, and other legal matters.
- Provided reliable counsel to management in Kuwait, Qatar, and UAE, contributing to risk management and the strategic development of projects in the region.
- Conducted legal research on a variety of topics, consulting with external counsel as necessary. Manage interactions with law firms on litigation matters.
- Initiated regular and ad hoc reports (position papers and internal memos to the management) regarding legal services to support strategic decision-making.
Head of Legal & Company Secretary
RAK ICC and RAK DAO
08.2023 - 09.2024
- For a period of nine months, led the development of DAO Association Regulations, a pioneering framework enabling decentralized autonomous organizations (DeSci, GameFi, Media & Work DAOs) to operate legally in the UAE. This involved coordinating weekly cross-functional workshops and reviews of the DAO Association Regulations with IT, compliance, registration teams, and the external counsel to align on the draft regulations and ensure compliance with the UAE laws and alignment with ESCA's standards for digital assets and the Web3 sector. The finalized regulations were successfully delivered in August 2023, enabling the incorporation of the DAO Association, which acts as a legal wrapper bridging the gap between decentralized on-chain activities (such as DeSci, GameFi, Service and Work DAOs, Media, Content DAOs etc) and the off-chain world. The Regulations can be accessed here https://www.rakdao.com/dao-association-regulations/
- Directed a major cyber impersonation investigation involving fraudulent website and false statements attributed to the Chairman, coordinating with IT on the takedown and handling regulatory notifications to safeguard organizational reputation.
- Provided comprehensive legal and corporate support to the Board of Directors, CEO, and executive management team, ensuring informed decision-making and adherence to best practices.
- Provided guidance on conflicts of interest, board appointments, Data Protection Laws and Compliance topics.
Senior Legal Associate, Governance and Data Privacy Lead
AIR LIQUIDE
07.2021 - 08.2023
- Implemented regional data privacy frameworks across KSA, UAE (based on DIFC DPL), and Oman, embedding compliance with KSA PDPL, DIFC DPL, Oman DPL into core business processes.
- Aligning with the Group's directions, security team and IT, designed and executed Data Processing Agreements, Data Protection Impact Assessments, and Privacy Impact Assessments, aligning business operations with evolving regulatory requirements.
- Negotiated and structured cross-border contracts with vendors, suppliers, and customers, balancing commercial interests with data protection, IP, and regulatory obligations.
- Drafted and reviewed agreements to support sales, procurement, and partnerships, ensuring risk mitigation and legal enforceability.
- Digitalized legal operations in AMEI, integrating contract automation and compliance tracking tools to accelerate deal support and governance reviews.
- Delivered training programs for regional management on privacy and governance disciplines, fostering accountability and awareness across multidisciplinary teams.
Senior Legal & Governance Advisor
Uber
10.2019 - 05.2021
- Served as the primary point of contact for all corporate governance matters in the MENA region, including the incorporation of new Uber entities, changes in shareholding, director appointments, handling government registrations, and ensuring compliance with local laws and regulations.
- Reviewed and amended a wide range of legal documents, including intercompany agreements, sales agreements, NDAs, MoUs, order forms, service agreements, and other legal instruments to ensure compliance and protect Uber's interests.
- Conducted dual-language risk assessments and translations of communications, letters, contracts, marketing materials, and press releases launched across MENA markets, ensuring clear and legally compliant messaging.
- Managed all annual filings, AGMs, EGMs, and audit requirements for Uber entities within the MENA region. Ensured timely completion of license renewals, registries, and annual registrations with local authorities.
- Reviewed and amended T&Cs and NDAs with external vendors, ensuring alignment with Uber's Policies and legal standards. Managed the RFP process to appoint law firms for corporate and litigation services, and prepared response letters for court orders and litigation materials.
Legal Advisor
THE BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP INTERNATIONAL, INC
05.2018 - 09.2019
- Served as the sole legal advisor for all contracting and risk management matters across the MENA region, including UAE, KSA, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait. Provided strategic legal guidance to mitigate risks and support business operations.
- Created comprehensive contracting and procurement manuals outlining key pillars for client engagements in the MEA region. Developed contracting summary sheets and Data Privacy key principles, highlighting key terms, risks, and mitigation strategies to streamline legal processes.
- Reviewed and negotiated a wide range of legal contracts, including digital services agreements, vendor supply agreements, consulting and master services agreements, NDAs, MoUs, teaming agreements, and subcontracting agreements in dual languages. Ensured compliance with local laws and organizational policies while mitigating risks.
- Prepared and reviewed RFPs and provided recommendations to senior management for shortlisting vendors. Delivered in-house legal knowledge sessions across local offices, enhancing understanding of local laws and legal functions.
- Advised consulting teams on key legal issues related to vendor contracts, client proposals, and technical documents. Provided ad hoc guidance on UAE employment law and prepared escalation memos to the global management requesting deviations from BCG's standard contractual terms.
- Worked closely with the global legal team to resolve complex contracting issues and collaborated with the Group General Counsel to implement corporate governance best practices.
Senior Paralegal
AL QATTARA INVESTMENTS LLC
12.2013 - 05.2018
- Drafted and translated various legal documents and standard agreements, including assignment agreements, service agreements, variation agreements, delegations, notices, LOIs, contract renewals and terminations, board and partner resolutions, and MOUs.
- Implemented corporate governance disciplines in line with Al Qattara internal policies, ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements and organizational standards.
- Attended board meetings, prepared minutes of meetings, and drafted board resolutions. Managed the preparation of documents for annual general meetings, including invitations, resolutions, and meeting minutes.
- Managed the preparation and legalization of powers of attorney and other legal documents.
- Prepared and updated lease agreements, license agreements, residential agreements, notices to tenants, and other correspondence as required to support property and tenant management.
- Managed trademark registration processes and addressed relevant intellectual property topics to safeguard company assets.
Executive Legal Officer
Waha Capital
02.2011 - 12.2013
- Acted as the primary point of contact on behalf of the Group Legal Counsel, managing communications with regulators such as ESCA and ADX and ensuring timely dissemination of accurate information.
- Assisted in implementing best practices for compliance and corporate governance, including maintaining corporate registers and preparing PoAs, various agreements, board and shareholders resolutions.
- Developed standard legal templates in dual languages and managed translation of all legal correspondence and contracts in line with the business needs.
- Prepared and reviewed legal documents, ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements and internal policies, while liaising with regulators to address compliance matters.
Legal Officer
Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank
10.2005 - 01.2011
- Managed the preparation of presentations, board minutes, and resolutions, ensuring accurate documentation and effective communication with relevant departments for action.
- Managed the preparation of documents for annual general assemblies and facilitated processes such as cash dividend distribution to shareholders.
- Managed the drafting of corporate legal documents including PoAs, resolutions and share transfer agreements, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
- Monitored updates from ADX, ESCA, and other authorities on shareholder matters, transparency, and disclosure, ensuring adherence to new regulations.
- Managed the preparation and legalization of powers of attorney and other legal documents.
Education
Masters - Sustainable Development and International Law
Paris Sorbonne University
01.2018
Bachelor of Business Administration - Management
Abu Dhabi University
01.2012
Diploma - Management
Emirates College of Technology
01.2007
Skills
- Corporate governance expertise
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Risk assessment and mitigation
- Strategic decision making
- Stakeholder relationship management
- Efficient legal task delegation
- Proficient legal research
- Compliance management
- Corporate and employment Law
- Data security management
- Board Management
- Digital tools management
- Contract Drafting and Negotiation
- Microsoft SharePoint and Data Management (Egnyte, HCue, Effacts, Brightflag, G- Docs)
- Google Drive, Microsoft Visio and Google Forms
LANGUAGES
English
Arabic
TRAINING
- Attended the Middle East Academy program providing understanding on various legal practices; delivered by A&O Shearman, May 2025.
- Completed two-days training focused on the principles of UAE, KSA & DIFC Data Protection Laws, delivered by Latham & Watkins, in June 2023.
- Attended the annual legal training (hosted in London) where multiple in-house training sessions were delivered; involving commercial contracting, UAE and global regulatory systems and general knowledge of foreign laws, in Dec 2018.
- Completed full three-days training on effective legal & business writing, IIR Center and George Washington University in January 2017.
- Attended seminar on understanding commercial, contract, civil and labour laws in the UAE, delivered by George Washington University, in January 2015.
- Completed ICSA training with a focus on “Boardroom Governance”, delivered by Abu Dhabi Exchange Market, in January 2011.
- Completed a certificate in Language: Minutes of Meetings / Language of Presentations organized by ELS Center in July 2009.
Timeline
Senior Legal and Governance Counsel
AIR LIQUIDE MIDDLE EAST
10.2024 - Current
Head of Legal & Company Secretary
RAK ICC and RAK DAO
08.2023 - 09.2024
Senior Legal Associate, Governance and Data Privacy Lead
AIR LIQUIDE
07.2021 - 08.2023
Senior Legal & Governance Advisor
Uber
10.2019 - 05.2021
Legal Advisor
THE BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP INTERNATIONAL, INC
05.2018 - 09.2019
Senior Paralegal
AL QATTARA INVESTMENTS LLC
12.2013 - 05.2018
Executive Legal Officer
Waha Capital
02.2011 - 12.2013
Legal Officer
Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank
10.2005 - 01.2011
Bachelor of Business Administration - Management
Abu Dhabi University
Diploma - Management
Emirates College of Technology
Masters - Sustainable Development and International Law
Paris Sorbonne University