Finalists 2012: Tim Frost, Al Tayer Group; David Haigh, G Capital Limited; Nick Hornung, Istithmar World; Phillip Reynolds, FRiENDi GROUP; Mohd Sadique, China State Construction Engineering Corporation

Tim Frost was recruited five years ago by Al Tayer Group to establish an in-house legal department. In the judging panel's view he has created one of the region's most sophisticated legal teams.

Frost also enjoys a wider role within Al Tayer Group, running several important non-legal initiatives, thereby establishing himself as a key member of the leadership team at this flagship Dubai-based company.

Al Tayer's business lines cover luxury and mainstream retail and vehicle dealerships, distribution rights for more than 30 engineering brands and distribution and retail franchise rights for leading cosmetics, fragrance and beverage brands. It also has its own brands in fragrance, cosmetics and furniture as well as operating a substantial real estate business.

Getting to grips with the legal requirements of such a diverse business in a region where sophisticated in-house legal departments were not commonplace would have presented Frost with a unique set of challenges when he first joined Al Tayer Group.

During his five-year tenure he has succeeded in establishing a multi-skilled legal team made up of six lawyers and one paralegal that is capable of handling the vast majority of Al Tayer Group's legal requirements.

Alongside his role heading up the legal team, Frost still undertakes a substantial amount of frontline legal work. For example, he led the negotiations for the opening of the first Bloomingdale's department store outside North America, the group's joint venture with Gucci and its Caffe Nero franchise.

He has also championed the use of fixed fees when the team does turn to outside counsel for legal advice.

Among the non-legal initiatives Frost has spearheaded is an ongoing project to improve cross-departmental communication within Al Tayer Group's head office, which employs 600 people.