MANAGING PARTNER, BADRI AND SALIM EL MEOUCHI LAW FIRM

What impact do you expect the COVID-19 outbreak to have on the legal sector?

We will likely see more dispute resolution and an increase in tenants’ issues as well as banking, financial, and employment issues. At the same time, there will be transactional work, for example consolidations, restructuring, and positive investments such as joint ventures. On a larger scale, we may see more PPP transactions, as COVID-19 has demonstrated the need for greater collaboration between the private and the public sectors for large-scale projects. In addition, at a contractual level, we will have to consider how we draft our clauses and the possibility of including pandemics in force majeure clauses and covering this risk contractually.

What are the most exciting infrastructure projects that will bring jobs for law firms in Qatar in the next few years?

The 2022 FIFA World Cup is not in itself a major infrastructure project, but underneath it are many infrastructure projects going on, which will bring a great deal of work for law firms. Stadiums, hotels, and hospitality services need to be developed and completed on time, and there is the Hamad International Airport expansion. Infrastructure and energy projects will also bring a great deal of legal work, as will PPPs. In addition, there are new companies coming in constantly to the country to work on those projects that need to set up their operations. Finally, there is interesting legal framework that can be done in terms of the compatibility of Qatari laws with FIFA regulations.