A people oriented team leader known for working with a brilliant regional team, Anum brings an astute understanding of local law issues to the table helping the businesses to succeed.
Ranked by the Legal 500 as the only Accredited Mediator of CEDR, UK working in Saudi Arabia since 2017, Anum has been practising both as in-house counsel and in private practice, acting for some of the leading regional and international companies across various sectors since 2001. Anum’s experience is primarily focused on two areas: commercial and TMT.
He currently represents some of the world's largest information technology, media and consumer companies, advising them on various commercial, licensing, cloud computing, Privacy issues, IP rights, labour law, and other issues.
Known for providing commercially astute, practical and solution focused legal advice to support client’s business strategy with an explicit focus on compliance and risk management, he also empowers and mentors a regional team of lawyers through legal trainings and refreshers on legal developments.
In addition to the practical work, Anum is an active contributor to the legal discourse in the industry.
Latest Insights
- podcasts and webcastsTech Imprints: What you need to know about data protection in Saudi Arabia
- podcasts and webcastsTech Imprints: Saudi Arabia’s adoption of disruptive technologies
- legal updatesKSA Civil Code - Part 4
Anum’s recent experience includes acting as lead commercial advisor to:
- a Chinese internet technology company operating several machine learning-enabled content platforms in the GCC. He has assisted ChinaCo on a range of different regulatory issues, including in relation to data protection and platform content;
- a prominent international technology company on the intricate nuances of personal data privacy practices within their video-sharing/social media platform, including conducting comprehensive benchmarking against the prevailing practices in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the existing frameworks and regulations, contributing to the establishment of industry-leading standards
- an international energy company on the cybersecurity and data protection regarding two landmark projects in the Kingdom with significant socio-economic effects
- preparing comprehensive reports that delve into the data residency and retention periods within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on different kinds of data including corporate, financial, personal, HR aspects)
- an international pharmaceutical company, on the intricate treatment and handling of highly sensitive health data within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- a joint venture that is designated as critical national infrastructure” in ensuring their robust compliance with stringent cybersecurity controls and conducting a thorough assessment of its operational data helping prepare impact assessment reports for the transfer of data outside the Kingdom
- international investment bank on the preparation of template notifications of data breaches to both the regulator and the affected data subject in-line with the requirements under the data privacy frameworks
- one of the leading Shariah compliant fast-growing financial institutions in Saudi Arabia on the electronic invoicing project implemented by Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority of Saudi Arabia for a smooth integration of the new business systems into their operations along with an AML compliance project
- one of the Big Five American multinational technology company, which focuses on e-commerce, cloud computing, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence, on regulatory compliance issues on a regular basis;
- a multinational client operating in the insurance sector in Saudi Arabia in relation to a gap analysis exercise by conducting a review and assessment of the policies and procedures against the applicable regulatory data regime issued by SAMA and other regulators;
- one of the only two digital banks licensed in Saudi Arabia into their digital platform, software development and licensing procedure with SAMA;
- a multinational conglomerate (the largest industrial manufacturing company in Europe) on the supply of software to a Saudi government entity for use in a strategic digitisation programme.
- the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the region on their proposed cryptocurrency offering for their clients in KSA
- multiple global search engine providers on content liability, cybercrimes, data protection in Saudi Arabia
- the world's largest and most highly integrated producer of titanium dioxide (TiO2) on a successful Economic Concentration Application with the Saudi Competition Authority.
Muhammad has taught corporate law and allied subjects for almost a decade, publishes regularly on legal issues and has spoken at various panel discussions. Anum's comments have been carried by the 'Wall Street Journal', 'Bloomberg', 'The Lawyer' and 'The National'.
- Ranked by the Legal 500 as the only Accredited Mediator of CEDR, UK working in Saudi Arabia
- member of the Punjab Bar Council
- LLM (Law), University of Toronto, Canada, 2004
- MA Economics, Government College University (GCU), Pakistan
- Bachelor of Law, University of the Punjab, Pakistan
- Yale University, Executive Education course- Connected Leadership
- Johns Hopkins University, Executive Education course- The Persuasive Leader
- University of Pennsylvania, United States- Wharton business School, Executive Education course- People Analytics
- Imperial College London, Executive Education course-Creative Thinking: Techniques and Tools for Success
- University of Michigan, Stephen M. Ross School of Business, Executive Education course-Successful Negotiation: Essential Strategies and Skills
- University of Pennsylvania, United States- Wharton business School, Executive Education course-Removing Barriers to Change
- The University of Sydney, Australia, Executive Education course-Innovation Through Design
- Copenhagen Business School, Denmark, Executive Education course-Strategic Management