Haytham Alieh Interview
In this exclusive interview, with Mr. Haytham Alieh, a seasoned legal expert with a distinguished career spanning top international firms and regional leadership roles. Now a Partner at BLK Partners, Haytham shares the motivations behind his transition, insights on the firm’s unique “Glocal” approach, and how his cross-border legal experience is helping shape the future of legal services across the Middle East. He also weighs in on key developments, from ESG regulations to foreign investment laws: that will define the region’s legal landscape in the years ahead.
Haytham Alieh’s Journey to BLK Partners
We started the interview by asking, “You have held senior legal positions across major firms and regions. What motivated your transition to becoming a Partner at BLK Partners in 2023?”
Haytham Alieh replied, “After many years in both private practice and in-house roles, the opportunity to join BLK Partners came at an ideal time in my career. I was particularly drawn to the firm’s unique “Glocal” approach, which combines international legal standards with deep-rooted regional insight. Having led legal teams across various jurisdictions, I understand how essential this combination is for clients navigating complex, cross-border matters.
What also stood out to me was BLK Partners’ clear vision and its trajectory as one of the region’s fastest-growing firms. The opportunity to contribute to a platform that is actively shaping the future of legal services in the Middle East was compelling. The firm’s commitment to building a truly client-centric and regionally attuned practice aligned closely with my own values and professional experience.
Joining as a Partner wasn’t just a new title—it was a natural progression and a chance to be part of something dynamic, impactful, and deeply aligned with the evolving needs of our clients. For me, the move was a natural progression rather than a shift, a continuation of my professional journey.”
Legal Leadership Across Borders
The Arab Today: How has your experience leading legal teams across the UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey shaped your approach to cross-border legal matters?
Haytham Alieh replied, “Working across these diverse jurisdictions has been an incredibly enriching experience. Each country has its own legal system, cultural expectations, and approach to enforcement, and I’ve learned that being effective means being adaptable. You can’t apply a blanket legal strategy and expect success everywhere. Instead, I’ve developed a hybrid approach—one that respects local nuances while aligning with international legal standards. This has allowed me to build frameworks that are both robust and flexible, helping clients navigate complex, cross-border legal challenges with confidence. At BLK Partners, this insight is critical. Our clients often operate in multiple markets, and being able to advise them seamlessly across borders is part of the value we offer. I’d say the biggest takeaway from my regional experience is the importance of cultural intelligence alongside legal expertise. Both are essential in delivering meaningful, business-focused legal solutions.”
From Global Giants to Regional Excellence
The Arab Today: Having held leadership roles at global firms like Baker McKenzie and DWF, how do you integrate that international experience within the regional context of BLK Partners?
Haytham Alieh replied, “My time at international firms such as Baker McKenzie and DWF provided a strong foundation in global legal standards, corporate governance, and strategic risk management. These roles emphasized the importance of precision, consistency, and proactive legal thinking. At BLK Partners, I bring this global mindset into a regional context, ensuring that our legal solutions meet international benchmarks while remaining deeply rooted in local laws and business realities.
Our clients often operate at the intersection of East and West, and they require legal counsel that is both technically rigorous and locally compliant. By combining international best practices with a nuanced understanding of Middle Eastern markets, I help clients avoid the pitfalls of misaligned legal strategies and regulatory missteps.
The ability to think globally while acting locally isn’t just an advantage—it’s a necessity in today’s legal landscape. It’s also a key reason why BLK Partners continues to be a trusted advisor to high-profile clients across the region.”
What Sets BLK Partners Apart
The Arab Today: What distinguishes BLK Partners from other law firms operating in the Middle East?
Haytham Alieh replied, “BLK Partners stands out for its unique structure, a unified legal platform built from top-tier, independent firms across the GCC and broader Middle East. This gives us the ability to deliver consistent, high-quality service across jurisdictions, without compromising local depth or agility.
What truly sets us apart is our “Glocal” approach. We combine global legal insight with deep-rooted, on-the-ground knowledge, which ensures seamless accessibility, prompt assistance, and tailored support, empowering clients with localized expertise to address legal matters swiftly and effectively. Our clients value that we not only understand local legal systems, customs, and regulatory environments but also deliver counsel that aligns with international standards and expectations.
Unlike a network of loosely affiliated firms, we operate as a fully integrated team, sharing the same vision, values, and operational standards. This means our clients receive seamless, coordinated support whether they are investing in the UAE, expanding into Saudi Arabia, or navigating complex regulations in Lebanon. In a region that is rapidly evolving, our structure allows us to be agile, responsive, and strategically aligned with our clients’ business goals.”
Haytham Alieh on the Legal Changes
Lastly we asked, “Looking ahead, what areas of law or regional developments do you believe will most impact your clients in the next 3–5 years?”
“The legal landscape in the Middle East is evolving at an accelerated pace. Over the next few years, I anticipate that areas such as data protection, ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) regulations, and foreign investment laws will be central to many of our clients’ strategies. With governments across the region pushing for economic diversification and greater transparency, legal compliance is no longer a mere operational function—it’s become a strategic priority.
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, for instance, is already transforming the business and legal environment, with similar reforms underway in the UAE and other GCC countries. As these changes unfold, clients will need legal advisors who not only understand the nuances of these reforms but can also anticipate their broader implications.
At BLK Partners, we are closely monitoring these developments to offer proactive, forward-thinking guidance. Whether it’s a multinational navigating new regulatory disclosure requirements or a startup expanding with ESG principles in mind, our goal is to help them stay ahead of the curve, both legally and strategically.” Haytham Alieh Concluded
Connect with Haytham Alieh on LinkedIn
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