Eversheds Sutherland has expanded its consulting and alternative legal and compliance services practice to the Middle East with a strategic hire.
Richard Chudzynski joins Konexo from PwC Legal, where he established and led the Middle East team’s data protection, data, regulatory, and AI governance business from 2016.
Konexo is present in the UK, the US, Asia and now the Middle East. Under Chudzynski’s leadership, the business will provide legal and consulting services to the firm’s clients in the Middle East, and those seeking to expand their presence in the region. Based in Dubai, his practice will have a focus on the industries of data protection and regulation, and artificial intelligence (AI) governance.
In a statement, the firm said it will further strengthen its regional presence with additional hires to support its growing practice.
Chudzynski advises on privacy projects across banking & finance government services, hospitality, and aviation. He has led on a range of client activity including legal privacy scope assessments, implementation activities, privacy operating models and governance, third-party contracting, international transfers, policies and procedures, and the use of cloud services, geospatial technology, data ethics, and AI governance.
Additionally, he brings experience supporting data and AI regulators in the Middle East, with projects including the establishment of the first GCC national data protection regulator from inception to implementing its data protection law, and drafting the data privacy Implementing Regulations.
“This is a significant move for the firm and supports our recent investment in the region including building on our joint venture relationship with our colleagues at AlDhabaan & Partners in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” said the firm’s Middle East managing partner, Tawfiq Tabbaa. “Demand for legal advice, supported by consultancy and implementation, continues to grow at pace in the region and we are pleased to be able to work closely with Richard to expand the firm’s offering to our clients.”
David Saunders, partner and head of Konexo, said: “The Middle East and North Africa data market is projected to reach over $3 billion by 2030, driven by rapid digital transformation across many industries, and Richard’s unique set of legal and consultancy skills will help support our clients to make these changes. His understanding of numerous industries’ data protection, cyber, privacy regulation, and AI governance requirements in the Middle East are issues which our clients continue to identify as their biggest areas of risk. Richard’s deep experience here will support our clients and he will work seamlessly with Konexo’s team in the UK, US, and Asia, and Eversheds Sutherland’s global network.”
In November, Ashurst expanded its consultancy offering with the launch of a risk advisory business in the Middle East.
