Profile
Omar Hegazy has 20 years’ experience advising on varied commercial and regulatory matters across the Middle East. With almost half of his legal career in-house, he brings an invaluable 360-degree view and commercial nous. He regularly advises corporates and government clients on complex venue projects, events management, sponsorships, policy, privatization of sports assets, and more.
Previously, as a director with Pearson plc’s legal team (the world’s largest education publisher), Omar led a team providing legal support to the Middle East and Africa operations and advised leadership and C-suite stakeholders on regulatory matters, commercial transactions, risk management, and anti-bribery and corruption compliance.
Before moving in-house in 2012, Omar practiced in the corporate and commercial group of the largest law firm in the Middle East.
Capabilities
Experience
- Advised a GCC-based government entity on the potential introduction of a gaming and comprehensive regulatory regulations.°
- Advised a sports media rights agency on gambling regulatory and compliance aspects on its international licensing and distribution of betting streaming rights.°
- Advised a major esports tournament organizer in relation to its holding of online and offline tournaments in the UAE and KSA.°
- Advised leading esports team in respect of all legal aspects of its operations, including in respect of M&A, employment and sponsorship.°
- Negotiated, with a GCC Ministry of Education, content adaptation and license agreements delivering curricula built to the client’s specifications over a period of seven years.°
- Negotiated, with a GCC regulatory authority, a major software license and maintenance agreement that underpinned one of its primary technology tools it needed to deliver its remit.°
- Negotiated multiple author and other rights-holder agreements for the launch of an Arabic language teaching series.°
- Negotiated, with a GCC regulatory authority, a services agreement for the creation of a bespoke curriculum to be taught nationwide.°
- Negotiated, with a GCC government customer, multiple transactions involving the disposal of certain lines of businesses to the acquiring government customer bringing service in-house.°
°The above representations were handled by Mr. Hegazy prior to his joining Khalid Al-Thebity Law Firm in affiliation with Greenberg Traurig Limited.
- Pearson, 2015-2022
- Legal Head, Middle East and Africa, 2020-2022
- Legal Head, Middle East Hub, 2015-2020
- Senior Legal Counsel, GEMS Education, 2012-2015
Recognition & Leadership
- Member, Egyptian Bar Association, 2003-Present
Credentials
- LL.B., Cairo University
- Dubai Legal Consultant
- Egypt
- Arabic, Native
- English, Fluent