Rob Flaws is a Partner and Head of the Tech and Innovation Team at Mishcon de Reya in the MENA region.
He brings more than eighteen years of international experience, fourteen of which have been spent based across the Middle East. Rob works with fast scaling technology, Fintech, blockchain, video gaming and artificial intelligence ventures, as well as both global and regional enterprises at the forefront of digital transformation. His experience includes supporting major organisations such as Emirates Airlines, leading UAE Government entities, regional banks and telcos and market shaping global technology consultancies including Accenture and Amazon on complex commercial, innovation and regulatory projects.
Rob has served as General Counsel/Head of Legal for several of the region’s most prominent technology innovators. These include Tabby which became the first fintech unicorn in the Middle East, Alpheya which is BNY Mellon’s artificial intelligence wealth technology venture and MoMo which remains one of the largest mobile money platforms in Africa. He has built and led legal and compliance functions across the UAE, KSA and wider international markets, guiding companies through fundraising, regulatory engagement and product market entry.
Rob is also an experienced Data Protection Officer with deep expertise in data governance, privacy frameworks and compliance filings. His regulatory background spans working with the CBUAE, SCA, VARA, SAMA and other leading financial authorities on both licensing applications and regulatory development. He maintains strong relationships across the regional innovation ecosystem including with major hubs in the ADGM, DIFC and the DMCC crypto and video gaming community. Rob regularly supports founders, investors and boards on strategic growth, commercial partnering and practical risk management.