Martin Hayward

Law Update: Africa

This month we bring you a special focus on a continent that boasts the world’s largest free trade area, a diverse economic make-up and increasing political stability. The latest edition of Law Update focuses on Africa, a territory that continues to be an attractive business and investment destination.

Like the rest of the world, Africa is still re-building from the impact of COVID-19, however, there continues to be an optimistic view of the opportunities the continent presents. An example of the appetite for investment into Africa was captured in a report we commissioned, titled Legal Leaders in MENA. Our survey of legal leaders revealed a resounding desire to expand into new territories, with 81% naming Africa as their investment destination of choice.

Read the full edition

The leading law firm in the Middle East & North Africa region.

Martin Hayward

Head of Digital & Data

Biography

Martin is the regional Head of the Digital & Data practice at Al Tamimi & Company. He has over 12 years’ experience advising on the full range of commercial, outsourcing, telecommunications, technology, intellectual property and information law issues.

After qualifying into the Information, Communications & Technology team at Simmons & Simmons LLP in 2006, Martin spent several years working in their London office before relocating to Dubai in 2009. In 2012, Martin joined an Abu Dhabi government owned IT services provider as General Counsel and Company Secretary, and most recently held the position of Senior Corporate Counsel EMEA and Middle East Regional Counsel at a major US telecommunications solution provider.

Martin has spent extensive periods of time on secondment at a major UK telecoms company, in the supply management function of an international investment bank in the UK, and at one of the largest UAE telecommunications services provider.

Recent Experience

Advising a UAE telecommunications services provider (both as a customer and supplier) on a wide range of telecommunications services terms and conditions, satellite capacity and IT and telecoms supply, commercial and content agreements.
Advising a leading international co-location services provider on various material regional transactions.
Advising a “big four” accountancy firm on the global outsourcing of its data centre operations and various network outsourcings.
Advising on major Middle East joint venture arrangements in the defence and technology sectors (including related Offset Programme arrangements).
Advising various international telecommunications equipment suppliers on procurement matters (including telecommunications equipment import and export matters) in the Middle East and Africa.
Advising a government company on the procurement and roll-out of smart card and biometric technology, all related front end point of sale and back office fulfilment systems and PCI-DSS issues.
Advising a leading international investment bank (in both London and the Middle East) on its IT and non-IT procurement matters.