Eversheds Sutherland launches its consulting practice, Konexo, in the Middle East with strategic hire

Richard’s hire reinforces the firm’s commitment to providing comprehensive legal and consulting services to the firm’s global clients already in the Middle East, and those clients seeking to expand their presence in the region. Based in Dubai, his practice will have a focus on the complex and fast-growing industries of data protection and regulation, and AI governance. The firm will further strengthen its regional presence with further hires to support its growing practice.

An English-qualified lawyer, Richard established and led PwC Legal’s Middle East team’s data protection, data, regulatory, and AI governance business from 2016. He is recognised as one of the leading data protection and privacy lawyers in the region and brings extensive experience from advising clients on their significant privacy projects across banking and 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, Richard brings to the firm a deep experience of 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. Richard has also supported numerous other regulators in the region on key areas of data privacy and AI law as well as leading the drafting of complex regulatory guidance and handbooks.

Richard will work closely with Eversheds Sutherland’s and Konexo’s global legal teams to advise on end-to-end data protection and privacy as well as regulatory, cyber and AI governance services from both a legal and consultancy lens.

Tawfiq Tabbaa, Eversheds Sutherland Managing Partner Middle East comments:

“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. 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 comments:

“I am delighted that Richard has chosen to join the firm’s Middle East practice. 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."

Richard Chudzynski, Partner and Head of Konexo Middle East  comments:

"Clients are increasingly seeking experienced legal counsel and consultancy services under one umbrella to ensure compliance and mitigate risks associated with the new regulatory requirements of the digital era. We aim to provide end-to-end support to meet the growing demand for data protection, regulatory services, and AI governance, and advise clients on the new data protection laws and AI requirements across many Middle Eastern countries. I look forward to working closely with our teams in the Middle East in particular in the UAE, Qatar, Jordan, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which is a key focus for our team. With my entrepreneurial approach, I am eager to embrace this new challenge and develop a leading team to support our clients, and provide a truly multidisciplinary team and approach addressing the complex challenges our clients face."

In January 2025, Taimur Ghaznavi joined the firm as Head of Konexo US.