Dubai v Stockholm: two partners, two cities, one day in the life
Two White & Case partners on how major deals and morning routines differ in Dubai and Stockholm
February 23, 2018 at 06:22 AM
7 minute read
Sami Al-Louzi and Jan Jensen are, respectively, capital markets and private equity partners at White & Case. Both joined the firm last year – Al-Louzi in Dubai from Latham & Watkins and Jensen in Stockholm from Hannes Snellman. This interview compares their day-to-day lives in two of the firm's 25 offices across the EMEA region.
What is your morning routine before work?
Al-Louzi (Dubai): My alarm goes off at 6.40am every day for a 7am workout at the gym – an energetic start that prepares me for the working day.
Jensen (Stockholm): Being a night owl, I usually wrestle with my alarm clock for a good while before I manage to get up around 7.30am. Most weekdays I exercise between 7.45am and 8:30am, which means running (unless the weather gives me an excuse) or a workout, before I leave for work a little after 9.00am. Luckily, I have an easy five-minute commute to the office on my bike, slightly downhill.
What does your role involve? What are you responsible for?
Al-Louzi (Dubai): I'm a corporate lawyer covering both capital markets and M&A. My practice covers two main markets – Saudi Arabia and the UAE. While Dubai is my home, I tend to split my time between Dubai and Saudi Arabia on an equal basis.
Jensen (Stockholm): As head of private equity in the Nordic region, I'm responsible for making sure we, as a firm, are helping our key private equity clients in implementing their strategies in the Nordics. This means coordinating our efforts with the wider EMEA PE team, as well as with our global M&A team across all continents, as required by each deal and client. I am also relationship partner for a number of our key PE clients, so I typically work closely with them on executing their investments and exits, but also monitor our team's work for our clients' portfolio companies throughout the investment period. In addition to deal work, this means I spend a lot of time on calls and VCs with colleagues in many of our 40+ other offices, and a fair amount of travelling as well.
How did you get the job?
Al-Louzi (Dubai): As a young lawyer practicing in Jordan, my ambition was to work in the GCC with one of the top international firms. In 2002, I had an opportunity to join White & Case and I happily grabbed it, working at the firm from 2002 until 2010, when I left to join another international firm in the GCC. In 2017, I had an irresistible opportunity to rejoin. I have always considered White & Case to be one of the very few law firms with a long history in the Middle East that is positioned as a leading global law firm in many of its key markets.
Jensen (Stockholm): I'm a Johnny-come-lately to the firm, having joined White & Case only a few months ago, in October 2017. My decision to join White & Case was a result of two merging forces: clients asking for a more global platform as they tend to be more and more active on a wider European or global market, and White & Case – having such a global footprint – approaching me with an offer to take part in building the leading European private equity practice by 2020. After more than 20 years on Nordic platforms, that was a perfect fit and felt like an exciting challenge, and opportunity, for me at this point in my career.
What is a typical day for you?
Al-Louzi (Dubai): Phonecalls, emails or an early morning flight to Riyadh. Then more phonecalls and emails, client and internal meetings, then more calls and emails.
Jensen (Stockholm): Calls, calls and calls. Client meetings and internal meetings. And trying to keep up with an ever-growing mail flow in between. Focusing on live deals, and trying to catch up with all other things in the evenings.
What do you like about working in Dubai and Stockholm?
Al-Louzi (Dubai): Dubai is a vibrant city that is home to an international community of top banking and legal talent from across the world. It is great to work in such a high calibre environment. On the social side of things, Dubai offers great entertainment and culture, as well as the chance to meet people from all walks of life on any day. I think this is priceless.
Jensen (Stockholm): The combination of working with some of the leading private equity funds in the business and living in a great city. Always working with smart, driven and inspiring people, often in complex situations and at a fast pace. At the same time, Stockholm is big enough to always offer new things to see and do, like testing new restaurants and seeing the big artist at concerts, and yet small enough to offer a small-town lifestyle. And it's a beautiful city, especially as the seasons shift. The only thing missing is three more summer months…
What has been your proudest professional moment?
Al-Louzi (Dubai): My first proud moment was when I put a structure for the first private equity deal in Saudi Arabia that was the cornerstone for the private equity industry in the Saudi market.
Jensen (Stockholm): Moments like making partner, helping to accomplish landmark deals and now being part of a talented, dedicated and committed team at White & Case are very important. On a personal level, I'm still very proud of a small pro bono matter. A number of years ago, I helped a group of young artists save their glassworks from an aggressive takeover by a senior shareholder who wanted to close it down. It wasn't profitable or commercially successful, but helping to save their business and ensuring the shareholder wouldn't have an influence made a world of a difference to my clients, and I'm glad I was able to use my skills as a lawyer to their benefit.
…and worst day on the job?
Al-Louzi (Dubai): I really don't look at life in that way! I think every day offers new opportunities for growth and development. However, the worst day is when I feel that I go home and discover that my family has not seen me for a few days in a row!
Jensen (Stockholm): Leaving a firm where you have invested a lot of time and energy is not easy, especially when some of your best friends still work there.
What do you tend to do after work?
Al-Louzi (Dubai): Work doesn't end when I leave the office – the 'late shift' usually starts again right after dinner when I've had a chance to catch up with my wife and play with the children. There's always work to be done on the latest deal the team is advising on!
Jensen (Stockholm): My work often involves deal teams in distant timezones and is ongoing at all hours of the day. 'After work' means leaving the office. My wife is also an M&A lawyer and we always try to have dinner together, either at home or out. Then it's more calls and emails from home. However, I do try to squeeze in a couple of games of tennis each week!
What is your favourite restaurant (and why)?
Al-Louzi (Dubai): I love fusion Chinese food and Hakkasan is one of my favourite restaurants in Dubai. It's full of life with one of the nicest outdoor sitting options in the city. However, I'm also a pretty simple guy – there's nothing like fresh bread straight out the oven.
Jensen (Stockholm): Riche for the crowd, atmosphere and food. Lilla Ego for the outstanding food. Fotografiska for the combination of great food, great photo art and a spectacular view.
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