ASAR – Al Ruwayeh & Partners (ASAR), Kuwait’s leading tier 1 corporate and commercial law firm, concluded the ‘ASAR Seminar 2022’ yesterday in the presence of Dr. Abdullah Al-Owaisi, Executive Director at the Competition Protection Agency (CPA). ASAR Seminar 2022 was themed under ‘Competition Law and the Rise of IPOs in Kuwait’ and saw the attendance of more than 200 delegates and business professionals looking to gain insights from ASAR’s legal experts and network with colleagues from leading local and regional organizations.

Sam Habbas, Senior Partner at ASAR, said: “With more than 40 years of experience in the region, ASAR is pleased to have hosted the ASAR Seminar 2022 as a platform to benefit business and legal professionals in Kuwait and share valuable knowledge and insights that are critical for the advancement of businesses locally and regionally. This event reiterates ASAR’s commitment to ensuring that its clients and stakeholders are kept up to date with the most topical legal developments.”

Ahmed Barakat, Managing Partner at ASAR, provided an overview on what conflicts may occur between administrative and criminal courts and what is the legal status of exclusivity and loyalty clauses under the competition law. He also explained the mechanism for challenging decisions issued by the Competition Protection Agency and insights on how Kuwaiti courts deal with competition disputes and precedents.

John Cunha, Partner at ASAR, delivered a session on ‘Competition Law – The Lay of the Land’ where he detailed what the Kuwait competition law entails, risks associated with non-compliance, the scope of anti-competitive agreements, the types of competitive abuses, and merger control considerations.

Addressing the ‘Rise of IPOs in Kuwait’ panelists Rob Little, Counsel at ASAR, and ASAR Partner Ezekiel Tuma, explored the profiles of IPOs in Kuwait, the factors behind the increase of IPOs, listing requirements, and the application and offering process in Kuwait.

Commenting on the seminar, Ahmed Barakat said: “ASAR has always been keen on following all legislative developments that impact our clients’ business in Kuwait. The introduction of the applicable competition law and the challenges surrounding its interpretation and application have been a critical development that warrants vigorous discussion and brainstorming among all stakeholders. We hope the presentations and the dialogue that took place at the seminar provided the audience with better insights and would be a launching pad for better implementation of the competition law and a healthier and more competitive market place.”

With its more than 40 years of experience operating in the Gulf region, ASAR’s team of highly skilled lawyers are capable of providing comprehensive legal advice and support on the most complex legal matters across diverse practice areas. The firm’s reputation and recognition amongst reputable international legal guides is a testament to its commitment to delivering excellence to all its clients.