Baker Botts expands technology offering in the Middle East

Baker Botts LLP announced that Rob Flaws has joined its Dubai office as special counsel in its Corporate Group, focusing on technology, data protection, and intellectual property.

Flaws is a technology, intellectual property, FinTech and data protection law specialist.  He joins Baker Botts with over a decade of experience supporting both international and local clients across the Middle East in understanding complex legal issues in relation to technology and data, managing their intellectual property, executing transactions, and providing creative, practical solutions to clients.

Flaws joins the firm from his role as global counsel for telecoms giant MTN, where he supported MTN in its provision of technology and telecoms services across multiple jurisdictions, and on the growth and development of its new mobile money and FinTech businesses.

Prior to joining MTN, Rob was based in Dubai as the head of the Middle East Technology and Intellectual Property practice for a leading international law firm and remains a recognized practitioner within the MENA region. His’s work has included advising clients on multi-million-dollar digital transformation and outsourcing projects, coordinating data protection compliance and cybersecurity programs and leading on breakthrough projects in the region in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, E-sports, FinTech and Blockchain.  Flaws has also been heavily involved in the development and advancement of regulation in the fields of both data protection and FinTech, working with government entities and regulators to help shape legislation and assisting clients with responses to consultation papers and ongoing compliance with legislative developments in these and other areas.