Partner

Ben Gibson

Languages

English

Ben is a technology lawyer ranked in the Legal 500 and in Chambers and Partners and heads our Technology, Media and Telecoms Practice in the UAE. He specialises in complex commercial technology projects, including procurement, development and outsourcing, IT licensing, data protection and media regulation. His clients in the Middle East have included Bytedance/TikTok, Microsoft, Disney, Etisalat, Aldar, Google, Al Tayer, Al Futtaim, Equinix, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Authority, stc (Saudi Telecoms Company) and the King Abdullah Financial District.

Ben acted for the DIFC Authority on the drafting of its Data Protection Law 2020 (Law No 5 of 2020).

Before moving to the UAE, Ben practised in England where his clients included government departments and bodies along with businesses in sectors including financial services, energy and retail. He was also recognised in the Legal 500 UK for Information Technology work.

Awards & Recognitions

01 –

Quote

"Ben Gibson has been very helpful and has given very thorough, accessible and practical advice and guidance, covering all the points I was looking to address and within a reasonable fee quote.”

Legal 500

Relevant experience

The DIFC Authority on the drafting of the DIFC Data Protection Law 2020 and supporting regulatory tools and guidance.
Various Bytedance entities on matters associated with product launches in the Middle East.
Disney on the launch of Disney+ across 15 MENA territories, including advising on media regulation, data protection, consumer rights, advertising and marketing and more.
A major UAE conglomerate on a significant enterprise-wide cloud migration and procurement.
Dubai Digital Authority on the drafting of a public sector policy regarding data commercialisation.
A Dubai-based utility business on a suite of 30 research and development template agreements.
e& on the spin-off and operation of its e& Enterprise business division.
The World Bank on data value realisation consultation work with a major regional government.
A UAE-based investment company on the commercial and operational aspects of a joint venture to develop a commercial-scale data centre in the UAE.
Various global cloud service businesses on offering services in compliance with regulations in the Middle East and on enterprise customer subscription terms.
A UAE currency exchange and money transfer provider on the contracts to procure the development, support and maintenance of a new transaction processing and customer management system.
The United Kingdom Ministry of Justice on a major long-term outsourcing agreement.

Education

2007 – LLB – Nottingham Law School, Nottingham.
2004 – Philosophy, Cardiff University, Cardiff.

sectors

TMT - Technology, Media & Telecommunications

Insights

Global Reach

Insights

Global Reach

Select your region

Ben Gibson

Languages

Relevant experience

Education

sectors

Insights by Ben

New SDAIA rules and guidelines published as KSA’s personal data protection...

Playing by New Rules: The Introduction of the Commercial Gaming Regulatory...

CMS guide on the new KSA Civil Code – Fourth Edition - Commercial Contracts

Roundtable: urbanisation and transport