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International In-house Counsel Journal logoInternational In-house Counsel Journal logo

Being a Luxury In-House GC in the Era of Disruption

April 2019
Intellectual PropertyRetail

Abstract

There’s no doubt luxury lawyers are working in an era of disruption. Luxury industries are witnessing changing demographics, changing tastes and increased privacy regulatory frameworks at an unheralded pace. The advancement in digital opportunities and challenges it presents is a driving force in the disruptive era. Most luxury companies aspire to do business globally, but in today’s disruptive environment, what are the strategies to enable positive growth? While luxury fads may come and go, brand engagement will never go out of style.

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Author

Portrait image of Ghada Qaisi Audi
Ghada Qaisi Audi
General Counsel, Seddiqi Holding , UAE

Ghada Qaisi Audi is General Counsel of Seddiqi Holding LLC, headquartered in Dubai, UAE, having prior held the post of Head of Legal of the group’s luxury watch and jewelry division, Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons. Ghada is a US-qualified, internationally experienced GC with extensive knowledge of retail, distribution, franchise, wholesale and after sales services across luxury and fashion brands. She also handles a diverse IP asset portfolio across the Holding Company’s various subsidiaries that include luxury and fashion retail, real estate, and after sales services. Ghada is an experienced arbitrator having acted as chairperson, party-appointed arbitrator, sole-arbitrator and counsel in several international and UAE-domestic commercial arbitrations under various institutional rules. She is a panel member of the GCC Commercial Arbitration Centre (Manama and Riyadh). Ghada is currently serving a second term as Vice President, Association of Corporate Counsel Middle East Chapter and has been member of the DIFC Courts’ Rules Sub-Committee since 2011. In 2018, the Seddiqi Holding Legal Department was included in the GC Powerlist Middle East Teams and was the winner of the Business In-House Luxury Team Award at the Luxury Law Summit and Awards, London, UK.

Company

Seddiqi Holding logo

Seddiqi Holding

Seddiqi Holding is a United Arab Emirates family-owned entity and its subsidiary Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons is the largest distributor of Swiss-made watches in the Middle East. From a humble beginning of a single store in the 1950s, the company’s portfolio now consists of over 70 prestigious watches and jewelry brands including Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Breitling, Chopard and Hublot. As an industry leader, Seddiqi Holding, consists of 850+ employees with six business units across the UAE and KSA. The Seddiqi Holding Legal Department advises across business units and departments, i.e. retail concepts, brand principal relationships, e-commerce; the watch repair unit (after-sales services); investment holdings, and commercial and residential developments.

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