Business & Money | Wednesday 6 January, 2016 2:08 pm |

The First Investor (TFI), the investment banking division of the Barwa Bank Group, was recognized at the IAIR Awards 2015 for its legal expertise and excellence. 

At the awards’ 19th edition, The First Investor walked away with the Legal Team of the Year - Investment Banking accolade, owing to its crossover role in driving all core areas of Barwa Bank Group’s business forward, as well as to its service and support excellence vis-à-vis clients, regulators and shareholders. The First Investor team ranked among a select group of top tier institutions and individuals in the regional corporate, legal, forex and banking fields.

The award ceremony capped the IAIR’s 7th CEO Summit, a knowledge exchange platform between top CEOs, executives and companies. Held this year under the theme “Leadership: Skills and Visions for Growth”, the summit gave way to a slew of discussions and debates around the skills and challenges for top-ranking company leaders, as well as the role of the Middle East in the global economy growth.

Commenting on the recognition, Mr. Youssef Al-Obaidan, Acting Chief Executive Officer of TFI, stated:

“This year’s CEO Summit theme comes in light of a crucial transition for the investment banking industry where disciplines, business models and best practices are being continuously reshaped and redefined. Financial institutions no longer work in departmental siloes and, this translates into a dire need to continuously evolve the cross-functional capacity of each pillar discipline underpinning their growth and strategy forward. Our legal team has proactively led efforts on this front, constantly and strategically expanding the scope of its services to anticipate risks, trends and dynamics that would play into our business in the future.     With this accolade from the IAIR Awards, it is being duly recognized for both its internal and external legal, regulatory, reputational and transactional expertise but, also, for the integrity and transparency it has committed to as guiding values for its role.” 

Held with the patronage of the European Commission and that of the Expo 2015 organizers, the IAIR Awards is a global roadshow that is focused on global economy and sustainability across green economy, alternative investments, business opportunities, global corporate excellence, foreign exchange, ETFs and Commodities, Law, Asset Management, Family Office and wealth management, among other areas. The next global CEO Summit & Awards will be held on March 11, 2016 in Hong Kong.