In 2005 a group of brand owners and legal consultants alarmed at the continuous expansion of counterfeiting and illicit trade and interested in the enforcement of intellectual property rights joined hands to form the Brand Owners Protection Group (Gulf BPG).
The Brand Owners Protection Group (Gulf BPG), is a non–profit organization that aims to use all legal means to achieve best IP environment and brand protection systems across the GCC and Yemen. The group focuses on education of the business community, consumers, media and interaction/collaboration with authorities – local, regional, and international – to strengthen the enforcement of those laws governing illicit trade in all its forms.
Organization Chart
Gulf Brand Owners Protection Group- Chairman
Malek Hannouf – Louis Vuitton Middle East
- Administrative & Operation Manager
Yara Khalifa – Administrative and Operation Manager
- Administrative and Media Coordinator
Nada Essam – Administrative and Media Coordinator
- Board of Directors
- Deputy Chairman
Norma Akoury Haddad – TotalEnergies UAE Services - Director of Communication
Rima El-Achkar – Louis Vuitton Middle East
- Treasurer
Cameron Walker – Beiersdorf AG
- Members
- Voting Members
- Non-Voting Members
Board Members
Chairman of Gulf BPG
Malek Hannouf is a Lebanese lawyer with over 5 years of IP regional experience.
Educated in France, Malek Holds Masters degree in Business Law and Taxation from Montpellier University.
Malek started his career at Saba IP & Co before joining Louis Vuitton as Head of Intellectual Property Department for Middle East & Africa.
Malek Hannouf is a Lebanese lawyer with over 5 years of IP regional experience.
Educated in France, Malek Holds Masters degree in Business Law and Taxation from Montpellier University.
Malek started his career at Saba IP & Co before joining Louis Vuitton as Head of Intellectual Property Department for Middle East & Africa.
Malek Joined the Gulf Brand Protection Group (Gulf BPG) in 2013, and is currently the Chairman of the Group.
Intellectual property Executive at Louis Vuitton
Rima El-Achkar is a Lebanese Intellectual property expert in the Middle East & Africa region.
Rima El-Achkar is a Lebanese Intellectual property expert in the Middle East & Africa region.
Rima holds a law degree from the Lebanese University – Filière Francophone de droit in Lebanon and studied her master’s degree in international business law at the same university.
She started her career at CWB Lebanon as an intellectual property paralegal before joining Louis Vuitton’s Intellectual Property team in the UAE as an Intellectual Property executive for Middle East & Africa.
Rima Joined the Gulf Brand Protection Group (Gulf BPG) in 2018 and is currently a member of the board of directors & the Director of Communication of the Gulf BPG.
Head of Legal at Ferrero GCC
Moutaz Abdullat is a Jordanian lawyer - of regional experience.
Moutaz Abdullat is a Jordanian lawyer - of regional experience.
Moutaz Holds Masters degree in Business International law From Paris Sorbonne University
Moutaz started his career at AGIP as Manager of the legal department, then joined Nestle as Regional counsel for Middle East & North Africa, and currently he is the General Counsel for Ferrero Trading.
Moutaz Joined the Gulf Brand Protection Group (Gulf BPG) in 2013, and is currently a Board Member.
Hussam Abu-Hamdeh is a corporate lawyer with over 13 years of extensive regional and international experience.
Hussam holds an LLB degree from the University of Jordan and is a member of Jordan Bar Association, Secretary-General of Jordan’s National Center for Environmental Justice (nonprofit organization),Certified Board Secretary by Hawkamah/ Institute of Directors and Dubai Financial Market and has received Yale Law School’s Recognition for Outstanding Commitment.
Hussam is currently working with Ferrero as their Regional Legal Advisor covering the Gulf and Arab Countries Region.
Hussam Joined the Gulf Brand Protection Group (Gulf BPG) in 2019, and is currently the Vice Chairman of the group.
Charles Hoskin is an Australian brand protection professional and trademark attorney with 20 years’ experience, predominantly in Asia.
Charles holds dual Masters degrees in Security and Asian Studies, and he is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.
After an early career in government, Charles entered the world of IP as an investigator in China. He has led regional Brand Protection teams in Asia for Unilever, Johnson & Johnson and LVMH. Most recently, Charles was the Head of Brand Protection at Shopee, a leading e-Commerce marketplace.
Charles is currently the Global Director of Brand Protection at Beiersdorf based in Dubai. He joined the Gulf BPG in 2024 and is the Treasurer of the group.
IP Counsel Brand Protection bei PUMA Group
Ulla Sieber is a German IP professional, with frequent changes of geographical responsibilities. She is now responsible for IP enforcement in the Middle East, Africa and West and Central Asia.
Ulla studied economic laws in Germany parallel to her employment.
She started her career at PUMA as a Junior Trademark Manager, optimizing and defending the company’s Trademark portfolio.
Ulla Joined the Gulf Brand Protection Group (Gulf BPG) in 2019, and is currently a member of the board of directors.
Ulla Sieber is a German IP professional, with frequent changes of geographical responsibilities. She is now responsible for IP enforcement in the Middle East, Africa and West and Central Asia.
Ulla studied economic laws in Germany parallel to her employment.
She started her career at PUMA as a Junior Trademark Manager, optimizing and defending the company’s Trademark portfolio.
Ulla Joined the Gulf Brand Protection Group (Gulf BPG) in 2019, and is currently a member of the board of directors.
Hadi Y. Alkanani, a Saudi citizen with 25+ years’ work experience & a diverse business profile in technical & managerial fields with local & international companies, out of which around 20 years in IPR protection field.
Hadi holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and a Bachler’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, both from King Fahad University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM). Hadi holds several certifications including IP Investigator Certification from Interpol, Project Management Professional (PMP), and Certified Cost Engineer (CCE).
Hadi currently works at Beiersdorf as the Regional Director for Brand Protection in the Middle East, Africa, Pakistan & India. Before that, Hadi worked for 3 years in Amazon as the Regional Head of Customer Trust & Brand Protection Strategic Partnerships for Middle East & Africa. Before Amazon, Hadi worked for 15 Years (2006-2020) as the Regional Brand Protection Manager for Procter & Gamble (P&G) managing various regions, including Europe, Middle East, Africa, Pakistan, India & China. Before that, Hadi worked for 7 years in Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) as Head of Planning & System Improvement of Electrical Distribution Projects.
Beside his membership in many groups & associations, Hadi is a founding member of the Gulf Brand Owners Protection Group (Gulf BPG). Hadi has been participating as a BPG member since establishment & continues to be an effective supporter to the BPG board.
Senior Manager, Global Brand Protection - EMEA Emerging Markets at Johnson & Johnson
Zahra Mansoor is a GCC national - in MNCs based in Middle East.
Zahra Mansoor is a GCC national - in MNCs based in Middle East.
Zahra has a double major degree in Finance & Management at the American University in Dubai.
She started her career at GE and moved to Johnson & Johnson as a Pricing Lead before joining the Global Brand Protection Department covering Middle East, Africa & Pakistan.
Zahra Joined the Gulf Brand Protection Group (Gulf BPG) in 2020, and is currently a member of the board of directors.
Senior Associate at Al Tamimi & Company
Manel Ben Said is a French Legal Counsel specialized in Intellectual Property, based in the UAE.
Manel Ben Said is a French Legal Counsel specialized in Intellectual Property, based in the UAE.
She is currently practicing as a Senior Associate in the Intellectual Property Department with Al Tamimi & Company.
Manel specializes in brand protection and enforcement of IP rights; management of global IP portfolios and alternative dispute resolution for domain names.
Manel studied in France and has been practicing in the Middle East since more than 10 years.
She started her career with IBM in France before joining and Louis Vuitton Malletier as in-house counsel responsible for Anti-counterfeiting matters for the Middle-East, Africa and India.
Manel Joined the Gulf Brand Protection Group (Gulf BPG) in 2015, and is currently a member of the board of directors.
Brand Protection Director, Unilever NAMET
Joined Unilever in October 1993 working in various roles from 1993 to 1999, in the Personal Department & Government relations.
Joined Unilever in October 1993 working in various roles from 1993 to 1999, in the Personal Department & Government relations.
Joined Trademarks department in 1999 as Training & networking Manger for GCC from 1999 to 2002.
Worked as Trademarks Department Manager for GCC, Yemen & Iran from 2003 to 2007 later moved to Brand Protection Manager for North Africa & Middle East role from 2007 to 2014 thereafter Brand Protection Director for NAME MCO, Malta & Turkey from 2014 to present.
Partner and Head of Intellectual Property and Competition at Al Tamimi & Company Vice President of AIPPI-UAE
Omar Obeidat is a Partner in Al Tamimi & Company and the Head of Intellectual Property Department and enjoys over 20 years of experience in this field.
Omar Obeidat is a Partner in Al Tamimi & Company and the Head of Intellectual Property Department and enjoys over 20 years of experience in this field.
Omar obtained his LL.B degree in 1996 from Yarmouk University, Jordan, and his LL.M. degree in 1997 from the University of Georgia at Athens, USA.
Omar is ranked Band 1 in Chambers and Tier 1 in Legal 500, The World Trademark Review ranked Omar as Gold and states “IP head Omar Obeidat is the star of the show; he is strongly endorsed for his anti-counterfeiting know-how and his in-depth understanding of IP law”. Omar was also a Winner of the Client Choice Awards 2015 under the practice Intellectual Property-Trademarks. He was also chosen by Managing Intellectual Property in the IP Stars Handbook of 2014 and 2015.
Omar is a member of the Gulf Brand Protection Group (Gulf BPG) from 2005.
Principal- Country Manager UAE & KSA at Rouse
Bassel El Turk is a Lebanese lawyer - of IP regional experience.
Bassel El Turk is a Lebanese lawyer - of IP regional experience.
Educated in Lebanon & the UK, Bassel Holds BA in Law and a Master of Laws in Commercial Law.
Bassel Joined Rouse in 2006 as a Paralegal, he now heads our UAE and KSA practices as well as heading up our Dispute Resolution Team
Bassel Joined the Gulf Brand Protection Group (Gulf BPG) in 2006, and is currently a Board Member.
Motasem Abu Ghazaleh is an intellectual property advisor with over 27 years of
industry experience. While Motasem focuses primarily on trademarks, he has also
worked on reviewing and drafting intellectual property laws and has contributed to
implementing regulations and procedure manuals in the Middle East. Motasem has
handled infringement and counterfeit actions for trademarks, patents, and
copyrights; he provides consultation on trademark prosecution and brand protection
enforcement.
Motasem has successfully worked to identify, negotiate, and establish business
relationships between brand owners and international IP associations and attaches
in both the private sector and with governmental bodies. His breadth of knowledge
and insight is a valuable resource to clients and associates alike.
Motasem is a frequent speaker on international trademark issues and currently sits
on the board of INTA.
industry experience. While Motasem focuses primarily on trademarks, he has also
worked on reviewing and drafting intellectual property laws and has contributed to
implementing regulations and procedure manuals in the Middle East. Motasem has
handled infringement and counterfeit actions for trademarks, patents, and
copyrights; he provides consultation on trademark prosecution and brand protection
enforcement.
Motasem has successfully worked to identify, negotiate, and establish business
relationships between brand owners and international IP associations and attaches
in both the private sector and with governmental bodies. His breadth of knowledge
and insight is a valuable resource to clients and associates alike.
Motasem is a frequent speaker on international trademark issues and currently sits
on the board of INTA.
Bilal Jabak is the Head of Aftersales department at Nissan Middle East FZE. He has been involved in IP activities in various automotive companies over the past 10 years.
Educated in the US, Bilal holds a bachelor’s in international business form Framingham State University.
Bilal started his career at General Motors Middle East & Africa, then Ford Motor Company before joining Nissan in 2019.
Bilal joined the Gulf Brand Protection Group (Gulf BPG) in 2023, and is currently a member of the Board.
Educated in the US, Bilal holds a bachelor’s in international business form Framingham State University.
Bilal started his career at General Motors Middle East & Africa, then Ford Motor Company before joining Nissan in 2019.
Bilal joined the Gulf Brand Protection Group (Gulf BPG) in 2023, and is currently a member of the Board.
Gulf BPG Team
Yara Khalifa
Administrative and Operation Manager
