A private client partner at Al Tamimi & Company who is also a mother, yogi, and reiki master, has joined the speaker roster for Law Middle East‘s inaugural event, Women in Law Forum 2025, taking place next week on the morning of June 24. Secure your place.
During a fireside chat, Dipali Maldonado will discuss her pivotal career moments, lessons learned, and what it takes to thrive as a woman in law in the Middle East.
Date: Tuesday June 24, 2025
Venue: VOCO Dubai by IHG, Origami Ballroom
Maldonado began her legal career as a corporate lawyer in London, handling multi-million pound M&A, IPOs, and private equity transactions. This demanding role led to long hours and little work-life balance. After the birth of her first son, she decided to leave corporate law and embarked on a six-month trip around the world with her then two-year old, visiting India, Indonesia, Italy, Norway, Russia, and Spain. She then came to Dubai, where she met with Al Tamimi & Company founder and chairman, Essam Al Tamimi, who asked her to join what is now the largest law firm in the Middle East with 17 offices in ten countries across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
She accepted the offer and launched the firm’s private client practice, focusing on private wealth, family, estate and succession planning, wills and probate. At the time, Al Tamimi & Company was primarily known for corporate law, and bespoke private wealth services were uncommon among Middle East law firms. This new practice allowed Al Tamimi to effectively compete with international firms for high-net-worth clients in the region.
Outside of work, Maldonado supports her family’s businesses which include a wellness resort in Bali and a natural health apothecary in London. She is also a reiki master and yoga practitioner, as well as a proud single mum to two sons, aged 15 and 10 years.
Maldonado joins a speaker roster which so far includes:
• Careem general counsel Daniela Bartolo;
• ADNOC Group senior vice president & general counsel, group legal commercial & operations Danielle Brownrigg;
• Drake & Scull group general counsel Ahmed El-Bayouk;
• Sunset Hospitality Group general counsel Maude El Khoury;
• Al Tamimi & Company antitrust partner Mariam Sabet;
• Clifford Chance corporate partner Lynn Ammar;
• Linklaters partner and Middle East construction head Sarah Hudson;
• Baker McKenzie dispute resolution partner Sally Kotb; and
• Gibson Dunn banking and project finance partner Laleh Shahabi.
Find out more about the speakers in private practice and in-house.
Law Middle East’s inaugural event will gather the most influential women in the legal industry to discuss their growing role in shaping the future of law across the region. This high-impact morning for a select group of professionals will prioritise real conversations, fostering connection and collaboration.
Places are limited and subject to confirmation; register your interest now.
Women in Law Forum 2025 is headline sponsored by Al Tamimi & Company, with support from international law firm Gibson Dunn.
