Member Profiles

José leads the tax and international investment practice of the firm focusing on transactions with international issues and with Portuguese-speaking countries and is fluent in Portuguese and English. José is a full member of the Portuguese Bar Association, Portuguese Fiscal Association (AFP) and International Fiscal Association (IFA) and has already been recognized as a leading practitioner in Portugal by International Tax Review. José holds a law degree from the University of Lisbon (2006) and several post-graduation degrees on tax law as well as an Adv. LL.m. in International Taxation from the International Tax Center (Leiden University). José worked as an associate at RFF & Advogados and as a tax expert for McKinsey & Company

Rashid Al Saad was previously General Counsel at Qatari Diar and Qatar Rail. His experience covers all areas of Construction, Hotels, Arbitration & Litigation, Transactions, Estate, Corporate as well as Project Finance. He has been instrumental in drafting and negotiating agreements for some of the most sophisticated transactions in Qatar. Mr. Al Saad has extensive knowledge and experience in major infrastructure projects, rail projects and large-scale commercial transactions, particularly cross-border transactions and ventures, outsourcings and Public Private Partner-ship (“PPP”) projects in the State of Qatar and abroad. He also specializes in real estate.

Ghada M. Darwish Law Firm is established by an experienced Qatari lawyer. Ghada, who is currently a PHD candidate at Cairo University, has graduated from Qatar University with a Bachelor of Law degree. Following her graduation she joined the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) in Qatar. Effectively establishing the legal department within the Committee, she was appointed in the position of Head of Investigations and Legal Advice. Her duties comprised of reviewing and considering petitions and complaints of human rights abuses, meeting concerned parties, formulating legal opinions and advising management and the parties concerned on their legal rights. She liaised with local authorities, carried out field visits and participated in preparing periodical reports.

Mr. Sultan Al-Abdulla is the founder of Sultan Al Abdulla & Partners (SAP). As part of his practice, he provides legal services to a wide range of corporate and institutional clients. Prior to establishing his practice in 1999, Mr. Al-Abdulla worked for Qatar Petroleum (QP) for 22 years. During the last three years of his career with QP, he served as Managing Counsel and in this capacity represented the government of the State of Qatar and QP and its subsidiaries in major transactions as lead negotiator. Mr. Al Abdulla in his private practice, has counseled, and negotiated on behalf of, local and multinational clients, major business transactions and projects. As a litigator, he represents clients before all tiers of courts in Qatar up to the Court of Cassation. He is a member of the International Bar Association and the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators and Inter Pacific Bar Association

Mr. Hamzeh has been in the practice of commercial and corporate law since 1999 He has worked in Jordan, UAE and Qatar, specializing in M&A transactions, corporate assignments, commercial agreements, companies and partnership arrangements and disputes, intellectual property rights and commercial audit processes. He is a profound and diversified lawyer in the region. Mr. Hamzeh has worked with well-known law firm in Doha, Qatar. He deals with commercial and corporate law transactions, provides counsel in relation to legal and regulatory framework, assistance in procurement of permits, and exemptions for the establishment of business. He has advised extensively in relation to Securities Market listings, IPO, private placements, labour and employment matters, and intellectual and industrial property rights He also worked as a General Counsel of Qatar Media Services Group - he was responsible for managing the legal affairs of the group and reported directly to the group Chief Executive Officer. His main responsibilities included drafting and advising on contracts; carrying out regulatory compliance and corporate restructuring exercises; advising on and forming legal strategy and on various transactions, acquisitions, mergers and joint ventures being undertaken by the company; and advising on and undertaking dispute resolution exercises including arbitrations, court proceedings and the like. Other positions held within the Qatar Media Services Group: Member of the Board of Directors for a number of overseas companies under the Group, member of several committees of the Group including Steering Committee, Tender Committee as well as member of the Executive Committee of Gulf Film Group.