Brian Meenagh

Brian Meenagh is a partner in the Dubai office of Latham & Watkins. His practice focuses primarily on:

Complex technology transactions, projects, and joint ventures
Procurement and sourcing, including outsourcing and offshoring
Data privacy and cyber-security compliance
Financial technology (fintech) and block chain technology

UAE Free Zone Navigator

United Arab Emirates (UAE) free zones are attractive jurisdictions for early and growth-stage companies. Free zones are designed to encourage startups and foreign investors through simpler processes and procedures, permiting 100% foreign ownership. However, the more than 45 free zones in the UAE each have their own rules and regulations, so choosing the right free … Continue Reading

Key Considerations for Middle East Entities Looking to Invest in US Technology Companies

By Brian Meenagh, Eyad Latif and Mehreen Shafiq on June 1, 2017 Posted in Intellectual Property, Technology, United Arab Emirates, Venture Capital

Four of Latham & Watkins’ leading emerging company partners in Silicon Valley, Luke Bergstrom, Tad Freese, Jim Morrone and JD Marple, recently hosted a webinar titled “Achieving Successful Outcomes as a Non-US Company Investing in or Acquiring Technology Companies in Silicon Valley”. The webinar can be viewed here. In this blog we have sought to … Continue Reading

The Legal Landscape for Drones in the UAE

By Brian Meenagh and Jawahir Al-Subaie on February 28, 2017 Posted in Regulatory, Technology, United Arab Emirates

The use of “unmanned aerial systems” or “drones” for commercial, government and consumer purposes has significantly increased in recent years across the globe. In the UAE, the office of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, introduced the Drones for Good Award at the Government Summit held in Dubai … Continue Reading

The Legal Status of Bitcoin in the United Arab Emirates

By Brian Meenagh on February 16, 2017 Posted in Banking and Finance, Regulatory, Technology, United Arab Emirates

This is the first in a series of articles considering legal issues relating to bitcoin, cryptocurrencies and blockchain in the UAE. In this article we focus on the legal status of bitcoin and address the question of whether bitcoin is banned in the UAE. In part two we will consider the case for regulating bitcoin … Continue Reading

United Arab Emirates – the New Digital Payments Regulatory Landscape

By Brian Meenagh and Madonna Kobayssi on February 16, 2017 Posted in Banking and Finance, Technology, United Arab Emirates

New Regulations balance innovation in the payments sector with safety, security and maintaining the public’s trust in the UAE payment ecosystem. After a long period of consultation, on 1 January 2017 the Central Bank in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) issued the Regulatory Framework for Stored Values and Electronic Payment Systems (Electronic Payment Regulation). The … Continue Reading

3 Key Considerations Before You Begin Outsourcing in Qatar, Saudi Arabia or the UAE

By Brian Meenagh on February 14, 2016 Posted in Outsourcing, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Technology, United Arab Emirates

Outsourcing has historically not been a major pillar in Middle East public and private sector organisation’s strategic architecture. While the benefits of outsourcing are understood and recognised, organisations have sought to engage with major outsourced service providers through managed service agreements and joint ventures. This approach has generally worked well. It has enabled local organisations … Continue Reading

How Oil and Gas Companies can Optimize Technology Performance and Costs During Oil Price Volatility

By Brian Meenagh on January 21, 2015 Posted in Oil & Gas, Outsourcing, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Technology, United Arab Emirates

An unexpected surge in production coupled with weakened global demand has resulted in a 50 percent drop in the price of crude oil since June 2014 and currently averaging US$50 a barrel. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) announced it would leave market forces to determine crude oil price and would not cut … Continue Reading

Navigating the Risks of Omnichannel Retail

By Brian Meenagh on January 13, 2015 Posted in Intellectual Property

Digital innovation is reinventing the retail experience. IT is changing the way retailers interact with customers by integrating sales and communication channels, enabling in-store digital interfaces and diversifying payment platforms. As retailers look to fuse existing operational silos in favour of an omnichannel strategy, the role of IT is increasingly recognized as critical to achieving … Continue Reading

As Bitcoin Gains Momentum, Focus on Regulation Increases

By Alan Avery, Vivian Maese and Brian Meenagh on November 23, 2014 Posted in Banking and Finance, Capital Markets, Regulatory, Technology, United Arab Emirates

The virtual currency market has emerged in the United Arab Emirates with Dubai’s first Bitcoin ATM introduced in April 2014. Middle East entrepreneurs have begun launching Bitcoin payment products and SMEs are beginning to realise the potential of such technology, with The Pizza Guys becoming the first restaurant in the UAE to accept Bitcoin payments. … Continue Reading

5 Ways to Protect your Business from a Cyber Attack

By Gail Crawford and Brian Meenagh on September 10, 2014 Posted in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Technology, United Arab Emirates

Global cyber-attack threats stand at the highest ever recorded level, jumping 14 percent from 2012 to 2013 (Cisco 2014 Annual Security Report). Furthermore, a recent Microsoft Security Intelligence Report found that operating system infection rates in the GCC countries were almost twice the worldwide average, with up to 13 computers out of every 1,000 being … Continue Reading

How to Effectively Manage Outsourcing Contracts

By Justin Cornish, Brian Meenagh and Alice Marsden on October 22, 2013 Posted in Outsourcing

The Middle East is emerging as one of the biggest growth markets for outsourcing. Organizations seeking cost and efficiency savings combined with greater continuity and risk management are switching to outsourcing as a method of managing their back-office business operations. MENA outsourcing revenues are predicted to hit US$2.69 billion by 2016 (Frost & Sullivan). Across … Continue Reading

How to comply with laws that protect personal #data in the #Middle East

By Justin Cornish, Brian Meenagh, Omar Elsayed and Alice Marsden on July 18, 2013 Posted in Qatar, Regulatory, Saudi Arabia, Technology, United Arab Emirates

Digital Identity Dominates Having a digital identity for online browsing, transactions and interactions has become necessary to operate in this information age. As more and more lifestyle and business services shift to the digital platform, there has been an explosive growth in personal data capture. The “Big Data” phenomenon has the potential to transform, innovate … Continue Reading

Middle East and Africa Technology, IP and Sourcing Focus

By Justin Cornish, Alice Marsden and Brian Meenagh on February 20, 2013 Posted in Outsourcing, Regulatory, Technology

Latham & Watkins’ Middle East Technology, IP and Sourcing team has just published the sixth edition of Middle East and Africa Technology, IP and Sourcing Focus. This edition includes a white paper on preparing a statement of work for a technology or sourcing transaction, guidance on US Trade Controls for companies operating in Qatar, Saudi … Continue Reading

Middle East and Africa Technology, IP and Sourcing Focus – Volume 5

By Justin Cornish, Brian Meenagh and Alice Marsden on November 11, 2012 Posted in Intellectual Property, Technology

Latham & Watkins’ Middle East Technology, IP and Sourcing team has just published the fifth edition of Middle East and Africa Technology, IP and Sourcing Focus. This edition includes articles on the running of a competitive RFP process, a note on the use of warranties, indemnities and undertakings in English, South African and UAE law and a Middle East Regional Telecommunications update. Please contact Justin Cornish, … Continue Reading

Middle East and Africa Technology, IP and Sourcing Focus – Volume 4

By Justin Cornish, Brian Meenagh and Alice Marsden on July 18, 2012 Posted in Intellectual Property, Technology

Latham & Watkins’ Middle East Technology, IP and Sourcing team has just published the fourth edition of Middle East and Africa Technology, IP and Sourcing Focus. This edition includes articles on the importance of due diligence in an outsourcing transaction and on maintaining competitive pricing in a long-term services arrangement and updates on the amendments … Continue Reading

Middle East and Africa Technology, IP and Sourcing Focus – Volume 3

By Justin Cornish, Alice Marsden and Brian Meenagh on June 19, 2012 Posted in Intellectual Property, Outsourcing, Technology

The April edition of Middle East and Africa Technology, IP and Sourcing Focus, a newsletter from Latham’s Middle East Technology, IP, and Sourcing team, is now available. The new issue considers several topics, including the challenges that organisations looking to implement an outsourcing strategy must consider in their outsourcing agreements, updates on the eGovernment strategy … Continue Reading