Lulwah Marafi is an Associate at ICB, with a focus on corporate and commercial law. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from City, University of London.
Ms. Marafi offers comprehensive legal counsel to both foreign and local clients, particularly in areas such as agency and distribution agreements, the establishment of local entities in Kuwait, and the negotiation of commercial agreements. Her practice is characterized by a deep understanding of the regulatory and operational challenges that businesses face in the region.
In addition to her corporate and commercial work, Ms. Marafi assists on Fintech, and data protection matters, advising clients on navigating these rapidly evolving fields. She also plays a key role in assisting with mergers and acquisitions, providing strategic guidance that aligns with her clients’ business objectives.
Ms. Marafi is a member of the Kuwait Bar Association.
Aisha Al Nesef is the Managing Partner at ICB, where she leads the general corporate practice with a specialization in Capital Markets and Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A). With over a decade of experience, Aisha has worked across various sectors, including financial services, telecoms, media, and energy. Before joining ICB, she was an attorney at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s Dubai office, where she spent over three years handling private and public M&A and joint ventures.
Additionally, Aisha served as a Senior Legal Advisor to the Board of Commissioners of the Kuwait Capital Markets Authority, where she played a key role in revising and restructuring the CMA Executive Bylaws to align with best practices and international standards.
Aisha holds a Bachelor of Law degree from Kuwait University and a Master of Laws degree in Business and Finance Law from George Washington University Law School. She is also a member of the Kuwait Lawyers Association.
Alnesef is recognized by Chambers and Partners for her expertise. She has been involved in several strategic transactions, including advising on the merger between Kuwait Finance House (KFH) and Ahli United Bank (AUB), KAMCO Investment Company’s acquisition of a 70% stake in Global Investment House, Dabdoob Holding Limited’s sale of a 70% majority stake to Jadwa Investment, and Oman Telecommunications Company’s (Omantel) acquisition of a 22% stake in Mobile Telecommunications Company (Zain) valued at approximately $2.2 billion.
Al-Anjeri?s practice involves legal counsel and advice on several aspects of corporate law and dispute resolution to local and international clients, particularly matters relating to international arbitration, incorporation and marketing of local and foreign funds, insurance, and regulatory related matters.
Mr. Al-Anjeri holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Kuwait University. He is a registered member of the Kuwait Bar Association and former president of Kuwait?s International Law Society.
William J. Brown is a partner at ICB. His experience includes advising on strategic planning, governance, risk management, claims management, and management of complex projects and cases (especially dispute resolution). His practice spans sectors such as oil and gas, power, aerospace, construction, asset management and investment banking.
For 16 years Mr. Brown practiced general corporate/securities law with Sullivan & Cromwell in their New York and Washington, DC offices. Additionally, he has spent considerable time working across the Gulf region, living in Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait.
Following S&C, in 2000 Mr. Brown joined Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) as Senior Legal Adviser. During this time he was involved in a number of ?special projects? for ADIA and the UAE, including: (i) case management of investigations and dispute resolution; (ii) designing templates for contracts which rebalanced risk from an investor perspective such as Investment Management Agreements and Custodian Agreements; (iii) advising the Director General of the Abu Dhabi Retirement Pensions and Benefits Fund with respect to design and implementation of its ?Master Plan? (iv) serving as a member of UAE?s Free Trade Agreements negotiation team, which included Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, negotiating the investment, financial services and dispute resolution chapters; and (v) being one of UAE?s representatives to the Sovereign Wealth Funds International Working Group that developed the ?Santiago Principles?.
Mr. Brown holds a Juris Doctor degree from Boston College Law School and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Notre Dame. He is a member of the New York, District of Columbia and South Carolina Bar Associations.
Prior to joining ICB, in 2009 Mr. Phillips served as Chief Legal Officer and Executive Committee member of the Qatar Financial Centre Authority with a key role to oversee and develop the Centre’s legal environment and regulations working closely with the Minister of Economy and Finance and regulatory authorities. He has extensive corporate and commercial law experience in a number of prominent international law firms in the UK, Europe, Latin America, and Gulf region including Pinsent Masons and Clyde & Co., as well as acting as in-house counsel for publicly listed international groups in financial services, including the Lloyds Banking Group and Old Mutual plc.
Mr. Roger Phillips holds a Master of Laws from Cambridge University (Pembroke College).
Roger Phillips is the Partner of the General Corporate practice. He has specialist sector knowledge and experience in all areas of financial services, insurance, and healthcare industries.
Abdul Rahman Al Haroun established the International Counsel Bureau in the State of Kuwait in 1994 and serves as its Chairman. His practice primarily is advising various governmental, semi-governmental entities and state-owned enterprises, as well as public and private companies (both local and international) on all aspects of Kuwaiti Law.
Areas of his expertise include oil and gas, corporate mergers and acquisitions, license agreements, construction contracts, local and international arbitration, and local litigation. He has advised on multinational BOT projects in Kuwait, in addition to acting as counsel on major EPC contracts and for major hotel management companies in the GCC. Mr. Al Haroun also was legal adviser on several strategic projects in Kuwait, such as the establishment of EQUATE Petrochemical Company (K.S.C.C.) and Kuwait Telecom Company.
Mr. Al Haroun began his legal career in the energy sector at Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) beginning in 1976. By 1987, he was appointed KNPC?s General Manager of the Corporate Legal Department and served there till his resignation in 1994 to establish ICB. As an example of Mr. Al Haroun?s recognition for applied expertise, he served as a member from 1996 to 2009 of the State of Kuwait?s Supreme Petroleum Council, the highest governing body of oil and gas matters in Kuwait. He is a well-known lecturer and acknowledged legal expert on Kuwait law. He has taken part in many international conferences, seminars and courses and served as an expert witness in his areas of expertise.
Mr. Al Haroun holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Kuwait University, and he is a registered member of the Kuwait Bar Association.
Abdullah Alharoun is a partner at ICB. He has a multidisciplinary professional and educational background. Abdullah is a seasoned attorney with a wealth of experience having worked on complex matters with several major local and multinational clients across a range of industries.
Alharoun’s practice focuses primarily on providing strategic counsel. He is an expert in general corporate matters. Furthermore, Alharoun was an integral member of the legal team that advised the Capital Markets Authority on the modernisation of its executive by-laws (the largest regulatory exercise in the history of Kuwait).
Since joining ICB, Alharoun has created and developed the finance practice. He advises borrowers, lenders, and issuers on all Kuwaiti law aspects related to debt and equity transactions (conventional and Islamic).
Alharoun was appointed as strategic counsel to manage several multijurisdictional transactions and assemble legal teams. He has a very close relationship with many of Kuwait’s flagship institutions. He acted as the Secretary to the Board of Directors of EQUATE Petrochemical Company K.S.C.C. (EQUATE) and has been retained to lead and manage the delivery of legal services to the organisation. Alharoun has led every transaction (including day to day corporate matters) and was involved in almost every dispute involving EQUATE. Abdullah dedicates a significant portion of his practice to advising on pro bono matters and nurturing and mentoring young talent.
Alharoun holds a Master of Laws degree from Columbia Law School, a Bachelor of Laws degree from London University (Queen Mary), and a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Sciences from Dalhousie University. He is a admitted to practice as an attorney in the State of Kuwait, New York, and Massachusetts.
