The Most Innovative Law Firms To Watch

WWW.THEENTERPRISEWORLD.COM | EUROPE EDITION | JUNE 2022 The Most Innovative Law Firms To Watch Empowering Clients and Lawyers Mel Kang/ CEO MEZZLE LAW







From Editor’s Desk When we talk about effective law management, there are a number of factors that need to be taken into consideration, and oftentimes it might become hard to figure out where to start. Many of the law firms operating today will look at those factors which they will want to accomplish in the near future, like their future goals, expectations etc. And with all things in place, one thing they will forget is what can interfere with those things. And in times like these, it is important to have law firms that look at things with an innovative angle, think of everything they might impact with their actions. Featuring for The Enterprise World’s this issue of The Most Innovative Law Firms To Watch are the stories of such firms, that have shaken their angles a little and looked past the stereotypical world with an innovative lens. For the cover story read about- Mezzle Law is a legal consultancy which is seeking to disrupt the provision of legal services and the way that lawyers conduct their business. Providing a platform through which lawyers can join and continue to service their clients, without having to worry about the endless non-billable hours taken up by admin and running a business solo. Mezzle Law allows lawyers to join a global brand, have the support that they need to provide the highest level of service efficiently and effectively to their clients, while having the freedom to enjoy life and be their own boss. That’s the Mezzle Law Lifestyle. All of the lawyers associated with Mezzle Law are senior lawyers and experts in their field. This means that if a client is looking for a general legal counsel (whether corporate-commercial or dispute based) or for a legal expert for something specific, they need not look any further. Mezzle Law has everything that they need. Minesoft is a family-run business that emerged as an ideal opportunity to combine the skillsets of the two founders of the company, Ann Chapman and Ophir Daniel. Prior to starting the business, Ann had an established career in the online publishing industry, managing and directing companies in the field of published patents, sci-tech, and business information. In an interview with Mr. Javid Rafiq, Managing Partner, know more about the journey of their firm. Abdo Rafiq and Partners is a full-service law firm headquartered in the UAE, providing legal services throughout the UAE and the wider region across wide variety of specialisms. Abdo Rafiq and Partners are a diverse partnership of professionals and like-minded colleagues with decades of professional experience in multiple practice areas. In an interview with Shemane Amin, Partner, ALN Tanzania | A&K Tanzania, find out more about the journey of the company. ALN Tanzania | A&K Tanzania is one of Tanzania’s pre-eminent, full service corporate and commercial law firms and a leading regional powerhouse based in Dar es Salaam. Our lawyers have wide-ranging experience and deep knowledge of the Tanzanian market, which optimally positions them to provide pragmatic advice to clients navigating the local landscape. Shalmali Shalmali W.

High Street North, East Ham, England GB Follow Us On: For Editorial Concerns: [email protected] For Sales & Branding Enquiries: [email protected] For Subscription: [email protected] Publisher The Enterprise World Creative Content Editor Shalmali W. | Adeeb Marketing Coordinator Peter J. PR & Marketing Coordinator James H. Business Development Executive Lisa K. Creative Design Head: Sushant K. Social Media Manager Narendra S. Digital Circulation Manager Amanda V. Digital Marketing Executive Prachi K. This list is NOT a ranking. The companies on listed in magazine serve different aspects of the market, making ranking them in any order except revenue impossible and unfair. We try to bring a perfect platform for business organization to showcase their valued products/ services. Copyrights © The Enterprise World | 2019. All Rights Reserved. The images and content included in this magazine should not be copied, transferred or reproduced in any form or by any means, electronics, mechanical, photocopying, recording, otherwise, without proper permission from The Enterprise World. The Enterprise World solely owns all the reprint rights.

Leaders in Spotlight For the cover story read about- business, Ann had an established career in the online publishing industry, managing and Mezzle Law is a legal consultancy which is directing companies in the field of published seeking to disrupt the provision of legal services patents, sci-tech, and business information. and the way that lawyers conduct their business. Providing a platform through which lawyers can In an interview with Mr. Javid Rafiq, Managing join and continue to service their clients, without Partner, know more about the journey of their having to worry about the endless non-billable firm. hours taken up by admin and running a business solo. Abdo Rafiq and Partners is a full-service law firm headquartered in the UAE, providing legal Mezzle Law allows lawyers to join a global services throughout the UAE and the wider brand, have the support that they need to provide region across wide variety of specialisms. Abdo the highest level of service efficiently and Rafiq and Partners are a diverse partnership of effectively to their clients, while having the professionals and like-minded colleagues with freedom to enjoy life and be their own boss. decades of professional experience in multiple That’s the Mezzle Law Lifestyle. practice areas. All of the lawyers associated with Mezzle Law In an interview with Shemane Amin, Partner, are senior lawyers and experts in their field. This ALN Tanzania | A&K Tanzania, find out more means that if a client is looking for a general about the journey of the company. legal counsel (whether corporate-commercial or dispute based) or for a legal expert for ALN Tanzania | A&K Tanzania is one of something specific, they need not look any Tanzania’s pre-eminent, full service corporate further. Mezzle Law has everything that they and commercial law firms and a leading regional need. powerhouse based in Dar es Salaam. Our lawyers have wide-ranging experience and deep Minesoft is a family-run business that emerged knowledge of the Tanzanian market, which as an ideal opportunity to combine the skillsets optimally positions them to provide pragmatic of the two founders of the company, Ann advice to clients navigating the local landscape. Chapman and Ophir Daniel. Prior to starting the

12. Mezzle Law

22. CONTENTS A&K Tanzania 26. Minesoft Ltd 34. Mssrs. Abdo Rafiq & Partners





Empowering Clients and Lawyers 12 J U N E 2 0 2 2

MEZZLE LAW www.theenterpriseworld.com 13

TTraditionally, people viewed the The Firm- lawyering profession as nothing more than just a set of services offered in Mezzle is a legal consultancy which is exchange for a fee. But one thing has seeking to disrupt the provision of not changed, lawyers have always legal services and the way that lawyers viewed themselves as the trusted, conduct their business. Providing a skilled advisors who advocate for their platform through which lawyers can clients. There have been many shifts in join and continue to service their the business of law over the years, but clients, without having to worry about no revolution to disrupt the space. For the endless non-billable hours taken up over 200 years, law firms have not by admin and running a business solo. evolved despite the industry changing. Mezzle allows lawyers to join a global This is where Mezzle Law enters the brand, have the support that they need space. to provide the highest level of service efficiently and effectively to their Featured in this months' Cover Story of clients, while having the freedom to The Enterprise World's issue of The enjoy life and be their own boss. That's Most Innovative Law Firms To Watch, the Mezzle Lifestyle. is Mezzle Law, a firm dedicated to bringing forth the Law 3.0 model and Cutting Through the Complexities- changing the way that lawyers provide their services and the way that clients When the firm started their practice, receive them for the greater good. and the new model of providing legal services, one of the challenges was scaling too quickly. “Even before Mezzle hit the market, there was a growing demand for our business model in the legal market”. Since “going live” the firm has been unmandated with requests to join the team and have found it hard to keep up with the demand. The lawyers Mezzle has onboard are all legal experts in their field. Senior lawyers with years of experience. This knowledge and skillset, coupled with the fact that Mezzle has found a way to make them happy, means that clients are also receiving better services, which makes clients more happy and happier clients also means a continuously growing client base. The success of Mezzle's services has reached a point where they are expanding into other jurisdictions even quicker than what they had planned to, because lawyers and clients in those jurisdictions are demanding that Mezzle does. 14 J U N E 2 0 2 2

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“Luckily our business model is such The Growth Quotient- Lawyers are used to being confined to that it can be expanded easily, and offices and working standard long something Mezzle accounted for before Mezzle is different to the normal and hours to get the job done, whereas with establishing”. traditional law firms currently in the Mezzle, lawyers can work anywhere market. The whole concept behind the and anytime they choose to and most When founding the firm, and launching model is that they are a remote based importantly they can dictate their the different kind of services that fee share model, whereby the benefit is working day/life. The idea about being Mezzle provides, the founders always seen by both the lawyers and the totally flexible and remote is why knew there would be a high demand clients alike. Mezzle is different, but also the very and that Mezzle would hit the ground fact that the lawyers keep the lion's running, they just didn't realise by how “We have heavily invested in our back- share of the income is a massive much. But it's a nice challenge to have, office systems, so each lawyer benefits differentiator in the current legal and one which the team openly from the best IT infrastructure and market. embraces. admin support so they can literally function from anywhere in the world”. 16 J U N E 2 0 2 2

“Happy lawyers also mean better work they need. The lawyer a client The firm has legal experts who specialise and happier clients. Happy lawyers engages with from the beginning of a in real-estate, hotel related matters, IP, and happy clients mean everyone matter, is also the lawyer they work film/media, healthcare, estate benefits from Mezzle's success”. with throughout, which means a better planning/wills, company incorporations, service, provided by a senior lawyer CSP services, corporate structuring, The Services- throughout the entire process. regulated set-ups, cryptocurrencies, funds, foundations, banking, insurance All of the lawyers associated with “At Mezzle, clients have direct access matters, onshore disputes (with the local Mezzle are senior lawyers and experts to senior lawyers, who they can courts), arbitration, logistics, shipping, in their field. This means that if a client develop a relationship with, and who aviation and more. is looking for a general legal counsel are the best at what they do, and can (whether corporate-commercial or provide them with the best in what The Road Ahead- dispute based) or for a legal expert for they need”. something specific, they need not look Mezzle is growing from strength to any further. Mezzle has everything that strength, and are continuing to actively www.theenterpriseworld.com 17

recruit good quality lawyers across the UK and UAE (for now, but there also plans for expansion). With the more lawyers that join the firm, the wider the firm's service offering becomes and with the model they have created and the infrastructure the team intends to give their lawyers, the demand keeps increasing. The ultimate plan is to continue this growth in both the UK and UAE, and further afield also. The fee share or consultancy model is one which will dominate the legal market in the future and Mezzle has been created at just the right time to be pioneers of this. “We believe the future for Mezzle is bright and one which shall see our base not only grow in the UK and UAE, but also in other jurisdictions”. The team is already in talks to open offices in 2 other locations in the next 12 months, which will be a massive achievement for the firm. Challenging and changing the traditional approach to the legal sector is what is key here and Mezzle are at the forefront of making this happen. 18 J U N E 2 0 2 2

Henzie Healley- Leading the Way- to impart knowledge and help others can achieve, and realise that law is an shares in her success. application of knowledge, which is MD transferred with a person and does not Named as one of the Top 10 Business remain in a firm/company when they “To create something unique, Leaders to Follow in 2021 and leave. They have realised that clients different and revolutionary is what a received this title twice on two separate create loyalty to persons and not leader should aim to strive for”. occasions for 2022. companies, and that if they provide good legal services in a responsive and Henzie started her own legal Featured in various magazine articles time efficient manner, they have consultancy in 2019 which she and received an award of honour from already made it in this industry and can merged with Mezzle in 2021. She is the Women's Empowerment enjoy the work while still being free, an expert in corporate-commercial Investment Forum, set to receive but that being a part of team is always law and is Managing Director of another award (the Lex Falcon Award) better than being alone, and that by Mezzle Middle East. at the end of March 2022. joining Mezzle, there is so much more that they can achieve. In her glorious career as a lawyer she Mezzle won Best Corporate & has- Commercial Law Firm 2022 during the Henzie's Advice to the Budding 2022 Global Excellence Awards, was Entrepreneurs- Drafted and negotiated a 3 year named one of the 5 Best Law Firms of contract valued at USD 8 million 2022 and has now had the honour of “First and foremost, if you are a with one of the world's most and being named one of the Innovative lawyer, join Mezzle and experience the most prestigious oilfield companies. Law Firms to Watch in 2022 by The joy. If you are an entrepreneur in any Enterprise World. other industry, contact Mezzle to Assisted over 100+ start-ups set-up ensure you are properly supported and establish themselves in the UAE What Makes the Mezzle Team from a legal point of view and have a and Saudi Arabia. Unique? strong legal partner backing you. It takes a lot more time, money and effort Worked with various governmental “We support our legal experts by to fix a legal mess than to have done it organisations to support with providing them with access to unique properly from the start. Once you are ongoing virtual in-house legal and revolutionary technology which ready, go for it and have fun! Enjoy the matters, and assisted them with helps them streamline non-billable journey. Its hard work, but its worth it. setting up a team within Mezzle, so work and free up their time, either for that they have the support of the best- more billable work, or to simply enjoy Its important to remember, you will of-the-best with any legal the finer things that life has to offer regret the things you didn't do, more requirement that their organisation (without compromising on their than the things you did do… and one may need. income)”. day there will not be any more time left to do the things that you have always Worked with various regulators all The firm equips lawyers with the tools wanted to do. There will always be over the world to create legislation that they need to be more efficient and another job, another thing you are for evolving legal environments and be their own boss, while still having waiting for to make you happy, another to create these for new service the support of other lawyers and an excuse you can use… do it now. Even if offerings entering the market. international firm (and with that comes you fail, you can say you tried and a full team of support to cover and still gave it your all, and wont be left Assisted various crypto and provide large law firm related wondering, “what if”, which is one of blockchain related projects, having functions). The Mezzle team is unique the worst feelings of all”. been featured in a documentary on because they are all revolutionaries the topic and continuing to advise looking for a change. clients on these accordingly. Tired of the traditional way of Spoken at various events, including working, Mezzle lawyers refuse to the Female Founders Initiative (about accept the fact that this is the way that being a women in business), and working in law has to be. They are not continues to work with various afraid to go after what they know they female founders and business groups www.theenterpriseworld.com 19





A&K Tanzania Handling Sophisticated Transactions Across Borders Be it within the country, or market, which optimally positions them What were the initial challenges you across the borders, business to provide pragmatic advice to clients faced? law, or as one may call it, the navigating the local landscape. corporate commercial law plays a vital There are many challenges of being a role for a business, regulating its The firm's consolidated and seamless new entrant in terms of growing a practice. It helps the businesses to cross-border offering is driven by a modern and sustainable business which understand and compensate for the diverse and talented team of over 100 is up to speed with the fast-changing various issues faced in an organization, lawyers based in our Dar es Salaam, demands of our clients and their and at the same time safeguards the Dubai, Nairobi and Mombasa offices. businesses. A key challenge of rights of the shareholders. It is Our lawyers have wide-ranging operating a law firm in this part of the especially important if you are experience and deep knowledge of the world is bridging the gap between the handling transactions across borders. Tanzanian market, which optimally written law and its application. For positions them to provide pragmatic clients, obtaining practical advice Featuring for The Enterprise World's advice to clients navigating the local which reflects the reality on the ground this issue of The Most Innovative Law landscape. and which is simultaneously Firms to Watch is A&K Tanzania, a commercially sensitive, is of the law firm with an expertise in corporate ALN Tanzania has extensive expertise utmost importance. We are therefore commercial and various fields. handling sophisticated transactions constantly challenged to ensure that we across sectors, including in financial fulfil our role as a trusted advisor by In this interview with Shemane Amin, services, mining, energy, taking a pragmatic approach to our Partner, ALN Tanzania | A&K manufacturing, telecommunications and work and packaging client deliverables Tanzania, let us find out more about hospitality. in a manner that fits the needs of their the journey of the company. business while remaining within the ALN Tanzania is recognised as a bounds of the law. We take great pride Tell us about the firm. market leader by distinguished global in the fact that advising on complex legal guides, including Chambers transactions across sectors remains our ALN Tanzania | A&K Tanzania is one Global, IFLR1000, and Legal 500 and greatest strength and we have of Tanzania's pre-eminent, full service our market-leading offering is bolstered established our position in the market corporate and commercial law firms by our pan-African reach through ALN, through the extensive experience we and a leading regional powerhouse an integrated alliance of the leading have accumulated in handling based in Dar es Salaam. Our lawyers full-service corporate law firms in 15 sophisticated transactions in Tanzania have wide-ranging experience and African countries and the UAE. and across the region. deep knowledge of the Tanzanian 22 J U N E 2 0 2 2

Shemane Amin, Partner www.theenterpriseworld.com 23

In 2014, ALN Tanzania, then known as legal advisory service offering we are businesses. Through our Forensics, ATZ Law Chambers and ALN Kenya able to offer to our clients through the Risk and Compliance team, we entered into a close-knit strategic above-mentioned key areas, coupled conduct risk and compliance due alliance to service the increasing with our regional connectivity, know- diligence to enable clients to assess the number of clients doing Tanzania- how and resources, differentiates us financial health of a target opportunity. Kenya cross-border deals. The alliance from others in the market. The service Through an integrated approach, we allowed for seamless interaction on offering is further bolstered by a team help our clients to close deals across deals, sharing of know-how and the of African lawyers who have an in- industries, including leading exchange of lawyers between firms. depth knowledge of the local landscape multinationals and other corporations, ALN's focus on creating a platform of and who have the ability to think major commercial and investment leading law firms in Africa to improve globally and act locally. banks, private equity funds, and their infrastructure, processes and train entrepreneurs. the lawyers to serve clients at their best How do you decide to take the has greatly contributed to the success company a step further in terms of With our wider hub in Nairobi, the of the Firm. ALN recently launched its your products/services? recent appointment of ALN Kenya's refreshed brand, making a bold joint Managing Partners Daniel Ngumy statement about its modern strategic We are constantly improving how we and Rosa Nduati-Mutero, is designed vision and its role in the service our clients including leveraging to continue strengthening our client transformational shifts needed, and cutting-edge technology. The firm service and collaboration and to already underway, in the way excellent began investing in and using artificial respond to the transformational shifts legal services are delivered in Africa. intelligence several years ago to ongoing globally and in Africa in the With the brand refresh, the alliance enhance our legal due diligence for our way high quality and specialised legal reimagines its approach on how it sees clients, then internally to streamline services are delivered. new global opportunities to help our workflows and databases for unlock value for our clients who are utmost efficacy in service delivery. As What would be your advice to the doing business and investing across part of our support to our clients, we budding entrepreneurs? borders; so that they can confidently use our AI platforms to assess potential work to build trust and deliver contractual exposure quickly and No one is born as an experienced sustained commercial objectives in affordably. The AI platforms review entrepreneur – they learn and gain irrevocably changing business and and analyse what could be a client's knowledge by making mistakes as well legal environments. potential risk, exposure, and any as from those who have already liability under a contract by achieved their goals. Start early and do What are the products/services the highlighting specific clauses such as not let limited resources keep you from firm focuses on? How are your force majeure, frustration, and the getting started. Having a sharp vision services different from those in the ability to delay obligations or terminate and growth strategy keeps the focus of market? the contract. This fastens our lawyers' the business aligned with real-world reviews enabling us to pass on the cost challenges. Lean on your strengths by ALN Tanzania's focus is on three savings onto our clients. We also pride putting your previous experience and practice areas: (i) Corporate ourselves in our use of technology for strengths to work. It takes time and Commerical/M&A; (ii) Banking, the automation of key transactional patience to scale and grow a business Finance and Insolvency; and (iii) documents, which again improves to success; it is a tedious process that Projects and Infrastructure. In order to efficiency and the delivery of quality involves constant failures, iterations, better serve our clients, we have output to our clients. and alterations – stay focused, and ask completed those practice areas by for help where necessary if you need it. building significant expertise in the Combining legal, accounting, following cross-cutting practices which economic, investigative and are relevant for clients across the technology skills enable the firm to board: (i) Tax; (ii) Forensics, offer an end-to-end solution for our Investigations, Compliance; (iii) clients through a dedicated forensics Dispute Resolution; (iv) Employment; and corporate investigations practice, (v) Competition. The fully-integrated enabling clients to mitigate risk and build transparent, compliant 24 J U N E 2 0 2 2



SPECIAL PROFILE MINESOFT Your Global Patent Information Solutions Provider Ann Chapman-Daniel, Co-Founder & CEO 26 J U N E 2 0 2 2

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SPECIAL PROFILE What is a patent and why is Featuring for The Enterprise World's working in the early internet era. In patent information vital for winner of the 'The Most Innovative 2003, the pair began a close innovation? A patent is a Law Firms to Watch' is Minesoft LLP, cooperation with RWS PLC, a publicly type of intellectual property that a global patent solutions provider. quoted UK specialist translation specifically protects inventions. It company. gives the inventor a monopoly, which The Company allows the patent holder to protect their “Together, we built a searchable invention from competition for a set Minesoft is a family-run business that database which now hosts about 150 period. By granting such rights, patents emerged as an ideal opportunity to million patent documents and RWS's provide incentives for innovators and combine the skillsets of the two translation engine helps us provide this enable them to appropriate returns on founders of the company, Ann in many different languages.” investment. This ultimately drives Chapman and Ophir Daniel. Prior to innovation and technological growth. starting the business, Ann had an Fast-forward to the present day and As a result of this, access to patent data established career in the online Minesoft has grown leaps and bounds. is vital for businesses as it can show publishing industry, managing and In 2022, the company closed on a you where your industry is headed, directing companies in the field of substantial growth investment from what your competitors are doing and published patents, sci-tech, and MLM 2, an information services and ultimately, to plan your own business information. On the other software platform, and Warburg competitive and R&D strategies. hand, Ophir had successful career as an Pincus, a leading global growth in-demand web-based developer investor. 28 J U N E 2 0 2 2

The Challenges and Success Minesoft had a humble beginning - Ann and Ophir started the company independently and conceptualised the business around their kitchen table. Despite this, they were able to turn their idea into a success story without any initial outside investment or substantial start-up capital. “It is important to understand that gaining a client is one thing. Keeping them is another.” Minesoft has one of the highest client retention rates in the industry, something the team has always taken pride in. Customer service has been prioritised as a key part of Minesoft's business model from an early stage, relationships are extremely important in patent information industry. A way that they have achieved this cleanliness, accuracy and developments over each of the extraordinary client retention rate is via completeness is and it is always good product's lifecycles. Ann explains that the provision of unlimited customer to know when we are doing a better job search platforms should be built for service that is delivered by highly on the searchability side, as well as users, by users, and this is at the core trained customer success teams. Their listening and responding to where we of the Minesoft ethos. commitment to ensuring that a client need to do better.” really reaps the full benefits of their Minesoft has tried to strike the balance subscription is vital. As such, Minesoft Minesoft's Arsenal of Products and between development cycles whilst takes the time to ensure that clients Services simultaneously remaining responsive fully understand the system and data to client feedback. User feedback has capabilities through offering face to There are several different user types had a profound impact on the face trainings, training days and topic that require Minesoft's patent database development of their products and specific webinars delivered to whole platform and analytics capabilities. continues to shape the trajectory of teams and individuals alike. These range from patent attorneys, their product development. For businesses performing freedom to instance, Minesoft has developed tools Further to this, Minesoft boasts an operate searches, R&D teams and for consumers in the biotech, chemical impressive customer-led enhancement many more. The search and analytics and life sciences industries which turnaround. Often, the request can be platform (Analytics V3) available on range from the automation of text received in the morning and actioned PatBase, allows users to interact with a extraction and association to creating by the afternoon, ensuring its graphical output of their search query the tools to easily draw chemical availability worldwide via the instantaneously. structures for search input. dedicated IT and support teams. Minesoft puts more power in the hands Since the formation of the company, “If our clients have ideas about how of the customer, who in turn stay loyal the Minesoft team has worked we can further help them, we will do to the company. consistently on improving the so, even if the benefit is focused on a platform, with hundreds of particular vertical market segment.” “Clients in the patent world understand how important data www.theenterpriseworld.com 29

SPECIAL PROFILE The Road Ahead- Not only is Minesoft able to respond to Furthermore, the company is also customer feedback on a very embarking on an exciting journey Moving forward and continuing to meticulous level. Minesoft is also able adding some more innovative products provide clients with excellent customer to respond to the needs of the market to their arsenal. Minesoft's service, keeping clients at the centre of as a whole. This is made evident by the development team is focussing on their business model and product launch of their new platform 'PatDocs' natural language searching and development is essential to Minesoft. – a streamlined patent document semantics, as well as automated delivery system aimed primarily at translations and landscaping analysis. “Our customers are experts in the paralegals looking for efficient ways to Artificial Intelligence is a big patent information field and often use supply patent information to attorneys. buzzword in the Online Publishing Minesoft products on a day-to-day Industry at present, and the team are basis so who better to make informed PatDocs has automated tools to relieve prioritising development in this area to decisions about future development the workload of IP professionals and further automate and streamline their than them.” the laborious task of finding patent products. information via national patent offices. Being a small, dynamic team with in- These include auto-populate IDS forms “We host about 150 million patent (sci- house development specialists – and a family tree mapping tech) documents right now and this is Minesoft can often make tweaks based functionality that allows for the increasing literally each week.” on customer feedback on the same day. visualisation of complex relationships between patent families. Such a large body of research material 30 J U N E 2 0 2 2

Minesoft & RWS launched PatBase, a searchable database of patent documents designed by experts in the complex art of patent information research. Since it's conception to now, PatBase boasts a customer base of over 90,000 users worldwide. needs to be made accessible to contributes to levelling the economic In 2009, Minesoft won the prestigious companies who are working to pioneer playing field between developed and Queen's Award for Enterprise for an new solutions. Search speeds are developing countries. outstanding achievement in rapidly getting exponentially faster, the growing export markets in the field of computer industry and data delivery For the past 20 years, Minesoft has Intellectual Property Information. This mechanisms (including the Internet) been providing reliable and powerful is a testament to the international are developing rapidly too. The recent digital solutions to access the success of PatBase and to the investment will accelerate the technological and scientific dedication of the development, sales, development of new products and information which is often only and support staff behind the product enhance existing products with available in patent documents. and company. analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning – so watch this “We invest a lot of time and effort in Minesoft has expanded its portfolio of space! designing and developing the search innovative patent information products tools according to the feedback we to include PatBase Express, Unmatched Leadership of Ann receive from our users, so they are PatentOrder, PatDocs, IPShare, Legal Chapman-Daniel- equipped to handle the multiplicity of StatusTracker, CiteTracker, Chemical data and sources.” Explorer, Pat-KM and PatBase Co-Founder | CEO Analytics. This continuous innovation Giving unfettered access to this data was instrumental in Minesoft being “We believe it is very important for helps to drive innovation globally and awarded the Queen's Award for businesses to play a positive role in supports advancement in the scientific Enterprise for a second time in 2015. local communities.” and technological fields, whether it's a The award was given for an new pharmaceutical drug or impressive, sustained growth in As a global patent solutions provider, technology for electric vehicles… International Trade. The company Minesoft is committed to driving building on these ideas can change the demonstrated an outstanding innovation worldwide. As such, they world for the better. achievement in rapidly growing export have partnered with the World markets in the field of Intellectual Intellectual Property Organisation The Many Accolades of Minesoft- Property Information. (WIPO) in the ASPI programme. This program allows patent offices and Minesoft's history spans over 20 years Minesoft has also recently been named academic and research institutions in and during this time the company has Legal Tech Company of the Year 2021 developing countries to have access to received numerous accolades and by ACQ5 and The Most Recommended Minesoft's solutions. Access to high- awards for its commitment to customer Legal Technology Solution Providers quality patent data can drive service and the development of in 2021. innovation and industry growth, which industry leading IP solutions. In 2003, “These awards are a testament to our ongoing work to meet the needs of our fast-growing global clientele.” www.theenterpriseworld.com 31





Javid Rafiq, Managing Partner 34 J U N E 2 0 2 2

Providing Clients with Cost-Effective and Efficient Legal Advice It is generally considered prudent UAE and the wider region across wide stage where we can see the benefits of to retain a legal services partner variety of specialisms. We are a diverse our hard work and sincere efforts via which can prove beneficial to your partnership of professionals and like- the results, feedback and accolades we company's professional reputation as minded colleagues with decades of have received from our clients, peers well as the overall financial health and professional experience in multiple and the legal services fraternity. the corporate social profile. In practice areas. Our team is comprised particular, for cross-border transactions of advocates and legal consultants with What was the point that triggered and especially transactions involving high professional qualifications and the growth of the firm? the acquisition of a foreign target excellent expertise. Most importantly, company, a legal opinion is usually our team has all the relevant up to date We have been in a constant growth well recommended. A legal opinion knowledge related to UAE such as pattern, even prior to setting up Abdo helps to inform and identify the legal laws and procedures, litigation, Rafiq & Partners, but what really risks and issues for the board and financial services and corporate- triggered the growth of the firm was management of the acquiring entity. commercial transactions. branching out into other jurisdictions. In particular, building relationships Featuring for The Enterprise World's What were the initial challenges you through the prestigious CONSULEGIS column on The Most Innovative Law faced? network to target high quality work in Firms to Watch, we have Mssrs. Abdo the UAE provided us with a platform Rafiq & Partners, a legal services Our first challenge was taking the leap to expand and provided us with access firm providing its clients with cost to rebrand and re-launch our practice to like-minded colleagues in other effective and efficient legal advice. under Abdo Rafiq & Partners during parts of the world. This was in essence, the peak of the global pandemic. a natural progression given our niche In this interview with Mr. Javid Rafiq, Although we benefitted from our many as a high quality legal services Managing Partner, he will be telling decades of combined experience in the provider in the small to medium sized us more about the journey of their firm. local legal field and have always been category. We are delighted to have up to date with current issues our been invited to the CONSULEGIS Tell us about the firm. clients face, rebranding during this network last year and take the tumultuous time was a great challenge opportunity to expand and gain access Abdo Rafiq & Partners is a full service for us as a firm. This was around two to quality legal services in more than law firm headquartered in the UAE, years ago that we made this change, 120 worldwide jurisdictions. providing legal services throughout the and we are delighted to now be at the www.theenterpriseworld.com 35

What is the reason behind your associations and collaborations Can you please brief us about your company's long-standing success? whilst maintaining focus on new professional experience? sectors and practice areas developing Our success is built on a number of in the UAE. The UAE is home to a My early professional experience comes factors, such as staying ahead of the large and growing number of from working in the banking and finance market trend in the UAE and being international groups and corporations sector with major international and adaptive to change. The legal field is looking to grow into other overseas national law firms headquartered in the forever changing and in order to be markets. We can assist our clients UK and in the last 15 years here in the successful we must stay abreast of all with this by staying on the cutting UAE. I have extensive experience in the legal developments in the UAE to edge of developments in the legal area of banking and finance and have provide our clients with the most up to field. acted for banks, local government public date legal advice. At the same time, we bodies, finance companies, corporate also ensure that our fee tariff is We have most recently added borrowers and a range of other contemplative of the global trend in the capabilities in immigration and commercial and corporate clients. I have legal services sector where clients are insolvency to our existing also acted for insolvency office holders in ever more cost conscious. Our key ethos departments in line with our vision to recovery matters. My experience includes is prioritising the client in all aspects of continue to expand into international our work and growing at a healthy pace cross-border work while also so as to ensure our long-standing clients capitalising on UAE as our home feel part of our success and the quality jurisdiction. of work we deliver is maintained throughout. What are the notable achievements in your journey so far? The Products/Services: In addition to our invitation to What are the products/services the become a member of the prestigious firm focuses on? How are your CONSULEGIS network, we are services different from those in the most delighted to receive recognition market? from the Legal 500 EMEA 2022 rankings as a Leading Law Firm and Our firm is primarily focused on Firms to Watch categories. providing dispute resolution, financial services, corporate-commercial and Leadership : related legal services. As a niche firm, we are in a unique position to be able to What do you think are the provide high quality work in both local responsibilities of an UAE Courts as well as the specialist entrepreneur? Courts and tribunals across the UAE. We pride ourselves delivering world- Becoming a successful entrepreneur class, personalised and bespoke service requires commitment to your values to all of our clients whilst maintaining and vision, whatever that might be. cost effectiveness, which makes us a An entrepreneur's vision must very strong competitor in the realm of include supporters such as junior international law firms. staff members, colleagues and family members because those are the How do you decide to take the people who support you in failure company a step further in terms of and celebrate your successes. your products/services? Without supporters, no individual can be successful in achieving their Our continued objective is to expand our “magnum opus”. global network further through 36 J U N E 2 0 2 2

advising lenders and borrowers on How do you look after your What would be your advice to the bilateral transactions, security documents employees? What makes your budding entrepreneurs? and structures, acquisitions, management team unique? buy-outs and general secured lending and First, as a successful lawyer and I have advised on sales of business assets My approach to looking after my second, a successful entrepreneur, my by receivers and liquidators together with employees is to understand what advice to budding entrepreneurs in the advising administrators on placing drives them and motivates them, so legal sector would be to look to the companies into administration. In as to empower them to be future and not just the present. addition, I have also most recently successful lawyers and business Tomorrow's lawyers will be very focused on advising both local and owners whether it is within our different from today's lawyers and if international financial services institutions practice or elsewhere. I often tell you want to be successful then you on all aspects of regulated financial my juniors and trainees that it is must follow the disruption, look at activity and financial business. My equally critical to be enterprising technology that is anticipated to impact practice also includes advising UAE, and commercially aware as much the legal field and take your aim DIFC and ADGM based fund operators in as it is to be a good lawyer. accordingly. Of course, this is easier relation to both public and private funds. said than achieved! www.theenterpriseworld.com 37