The inaugural meeting of the ACC Middle East and North Africa Telecommunications (Telco) Network took place in February 2021, with a panel discussion on the industrial impact of the pandemic.
Around 80 ACC members attended to hear the insights and experiences of the esteemed panelists:
- Anneliese Reinhold, General Counsel, DU (UAE)
- Firas Oggar, Group Head of Legal, Zain Group (Kuwait)
- Nassib Abou-Khalil, Chief Legal Officer, Nokia (Finland)
- Bertrand Alexis, Head of Legal, M&A and Innovation, Ooredoo Group (Qatar)
The panel was moderated by Zain Group Legal Director Richard MacNamara.
The panelists discussed the accelerated digital transformation triggered when in-house teams are forced to adopt new ways of collaborative working. They also examined the increased risk of contractual performance issues due to the impact of pandemic-related government measures, which can be compounded by new HR issues around employee safety and remote working, despite the telco industry provided enhanced services and infrastructure meant to support their networks in line with increased customer demand.
Watch a clip of the panel discussion.
The Telco Network will meet quarterly from now on to discuss topics relevant to the network, with topics and speakers suggested by members of the network. The network is meant for all in-house counsel from all parts of the telecom ecosystem in the region to meet, collaborate, and share their experience and best practice.
Contact the chapter office for further details on the Telco Network and how to engage. The next meeting of the group will be May 26, 2021.
