Dubai, 12 December 2018: Al Tamimi & Company, the largest law firm in the Middle East, has appointed Martin Hayward as the new Head of the Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) practice, based in the Dubai office.

Prior to joining Al Tamimi, Martin gained extensive regional experience working in-house for a US listed telecommunications solution provider and an Abu Dhabi based IT service provider wholly owned by Mubadala. At both entities, Martin held senior leadership roles and, in addition to providing senior legal counsel, oversaw the corporate governance and regulatory requirements for both companies across the Middle East region.

After qualifying into the Information, Communications & Technology team at Simmons & Simmons LLP in 2006, Martin spent several years working in their London and Dubai offices, where he 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 providers.

Martin has been in the region since 2009 and advises both customers and suppliers on the full range of commercial, outsourcing, telecommunications, technology, intellectual property and information law issues.

The TMT sector is forecasted to see the highest levels of M&A deals and growth spurt in technology-led projects with several entities within the sector aggressively pursuing growth opportunities and digital transformation. With a core presence in the Dubai International Financial Centre, and now with specialist colleagues in various Al Tamimi offices across the region, Al Tamimi & Company’s TMT practice regularly acts as a one-stop source for legal advice on local and regional technology, media and telecommunications matters.
Husam Hourani, Managing Partner at Al Tamimi & Company, commented:

“We are extremely pleased to have appointed Martin, his extensive sector expertise combined with his regional experience will further reinforce our TMT practice and enable us to continue to offer strong counsel and support to our clients.”

Martin Hayward, said:

“I am delighted to have joined Al Tamimi & Company which is one of the few law firms to offer a fully-fledged TMT practice in the region.  At a time of huge technological transformation across all industry sectors, I’m looking forward to the opportunity to work with and further enhance Al Tamimi’s already impressive TMT capabilities, and further develop the TMT team’s strong base of local and international clients.”