Arjun Uppal has left India to expand his legal experience beyond home borders, joining KARM Legal as an of counsel in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
“Taking on fresh challenges in a new jurisdiction was the foremost thought that drove my decision – and I chose to do it in the UAE,” Uppal, formerly a partner at AZB & Partners, told India Business Law Journal.
“I spent over eight years at AZB, out of the 12-plus years of my practice. I spent a long and satisfying time at the firm, starting as an associate and leaving as a partner. The experience that I gained … through navigating complex matters for clients gave me a solid foundation and assisted me to grow professionally,” he added.
On his new firm, Uppal said, “Anything and everything tech is KARM’s forte.”
“KARM’s founder, Kokila Alagh envisions revolutionising the traditional approach to legal issues and services in the age of innovation and digitalisation,” said Uppal, adding that it will be a challenge.
“My practice at KARM will involve focusing on fintech and data protection,” said the of counsel, adding that the firm is rooted in innovation and progress, which “perfectly aligns with my vision for clients”.
KARM Legal is a UAE-based firm that specialises in virtual assets, blockchain, fintech, data protection and corporate law across its practice, serving private and public sector entities as well as regulatory authorities. The firm has focused on these key areas since its official launch at the Global Legal Forum in August 2018, at the Peace Palace, The Hague.
“The desire to develop fresh perspectives and perhaps do the same thing differently will be my vision for the role that I am taking up with KARM, which has fintech as one of its primary areas,” said Uppal, who will handle complex matters in a new jurisdiction with a different regulatory framework.
Uppal adds, “Any regulatory change is only interesting and contributes to the growth story. Here, the change for me lies in the entire legal and regulatory framework, so the opportunities to contribute are massive.”
