An interview with Mustasan Mir, Group Chief Legal Counsel at Burjeel Holdings in UAE.
How would you describe the state of the GC Community in your region?
GC community in the MENA region is inactive as a community. All in-house lawyers look forward to meeting their peers, engaging and knowledge sharing but a one-off event a year doesn’t do justice.
How has it changed since you first moved in-house?
The change I have noticed is that lawyers in the region have matured in terms of sophistication at work and in dealings. Also, nowadays, most meetings are virtual which is time efficient, helps to manage calendars better, and people know their time slot to speak and complete what is needed.
Why is expanding your network important to you? What kinds of connections or discussions would be most valuable to you?
Expanding my network helps in knowledge sharing, sometimes identifying potential recruits, understanding latest trends in the industry and even navigating the winds of the economy. Also, networking gives a human touch to professional working relationships which fosters mutual respect between colleagues.
What do you want to achieve by collaborating with other GCs and senior in-house lawyers? Are there specific topics, challenges, or experiences you’d like to share or learn more about?
Knowledge and experience sharing, learning from each other’s mistakes and wisdom.
