Ahmed Zekry

Ahmed Zekry is Head of Banking and Finance practice, bringing over 20 years of experience advising leading financial institutions across the Middle East on complex banking, finance, regulatory, and corporate matters. Prior to joining the firm, Ahmed held senior legal leadership positions at some of the region's most prominent financial institutions. He most recently served as SVP – Head of Legal at Banque Misr (UAE). Before that, he was Head of Legal, Compliance and Board Secretary at Emirates Development Bank, where he led regulatory compliance, governance, and board advisory functions. Ahmed's earlier career includes senior roles at Mashreq Bank (UAE) as Vice President, Ahli Bank (Qatar), and Commercial International Bank CIB (Egypt), where he began his banking legal career. Across these roles, he advised on conventional and Islamic banking transactions, syndicated and structured finance, security documentation, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, and cross-border matters across the UAE, Qatar, other GCC jurisdictions, and Egypt. Ahmed has extensive experience advising boards and executive management on legal risk, regulatory change, and strategic initiatives. His practice covers high-value financing transactions, Islamic finance structures, AML/CFT and KYC frameworks, regulatory engagement with central banks, and the management of complex legal and compliance functions. Known for his pragmatic, commercially focused approach, Ahmed combines deep technical expertise with a strong understanding of business objectives, enabling clients to navigate regulatory complexity while achieving sustainable growth. Ahmed holds an LL.M in International Business Law from the University of Liverpool, a Professional Diploma in Executive Management from the American University in Cairo, and an LL.B from Cairo University. He is a qualified lawyer admitted to the Egyptian Bar, a CEDR-accredited mediator, an LCIA-listed arbitrator, a Certified Compliance Officer, and a Certified Board Secretary.