Highly commended: Allen Merhej, The First Investor
Finalists:
Firas Oggar, Foulath Holding BSC (closed) • Nicholas Polley, SEDCO • Safwan Said, Waha Capital • Salem Al Darei, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company • Ziad Zarka, Muntajat

The judging panel described Phil Reynolds as "an experienced and well-rounded leader to a diverse legal team, with a proven record of identifying and mentoring talent". They also credited him with playing a pivotal role in his company's successful expansion in the Middle East.

Virgin Mobile Middle East and Africa has been operating in the region since 2009, and is the first mobile company to set up a virtual network.

This groundbreaking model has put Reynolds at the heart of the business given the need to secure the necessary regulatory approval for the network to operate. For example, Virgin Mobile became the first company to launch mobile reseller operations in Saudi Arabia, a move that was achieved two years before the Saudi government introduced a formal legislative framework for mobile virtual networks (MVN). This put the company in the perfect position to secure one of the three MVN licences issued by Saudi Arabia last year.

Reynolds has overseen the creation of 19 legal entities since Virgin Mobile's launch in the region and advised on several multimillion-dollar fundraising rounds.