Wissam Lahmar

Senior in-house legal professional with 18+ years of international experience in corporate and commercial law, contract management, and strategic legal operations.

Proven

Head of Legal with demonstrated expertise managing complex cross-functional legal matters, delivering pragmatic commercial advice to senior management, and leading complex negotiations across multinational organisations. Extensive background in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating high volume corporate and commercial agreements across diverse sectors such as technology, fintech, aerospace and energy. Multilingual and experienced in managing legal operations and compliance frameworks across multiple jurisdictions such as Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific regions.

Bilingual

French/English, fluent in Spanish and Arabic spoken. Able to work on own initiative and as part of a team. Proven leadership skills involving managing developing and motivating teams to achieve their objectives. A persuasive individual possessing strong negotiating skills, oral and written communication skills.

Head of Legal, EMEA at ACI Worldwide (EMEA) Ltd (2022-03 – 2026-03)

Strategic leadership of all legal operations across Europe, Middle East, and Africa region, managing legal risk, regulatory compliance, and commercial transactions for multinational payments technology company.

• Serve as Head of Legal for EMEA region, providing strategic legal guidance and commercial advice to senior leadership.
• Lead complex negotiations on all major business transactions including software licenses, SaaS agreements, distribution arrangements, partnership agreements, and ancillary contracts across EMEA.
• Provide comprehensive commercial legal services spanning regulatory compliance, dispute management, and risk mitigation.
• Act as strategic legal partner to business units, translating complex legal and regulatory risks into practical business outcomes.
• Manage and develop team of legal counsels across EMEA; drive team performance and professional development.
• Work closely with Group General Counsel team on M&A and commercial, regulatory, corporate, litigation, and policy matters across legal operations.
• Direct all legal aspects of regulatory compliance and dispute resolution strategy for the EMEA region.
• Establish and oversee corporate governance and compliance policies across all business lines and jurisdictions. Optimise legal spend and external counsel(s) relationships; ensure cost effective legal service delivery.
• Streamlined and modernised EMEA legal operations, terms-sheet and key risks allocation provisions. established centralised legal knowledge management system.
• Consistently secured major on Premise and SaaS commercial framework agreement(s) and/or renewals exceeding £50m in annual contract value.

Head of Legal, Asia Pacific region at ACI Worldwide (Asia) Pty Ltd (2018 – 2022)

Set up the legal operation team to support day to day legal activities and strategic initiatives across the Asia Pacific region covering 15+ jurisdictions. Started with 1 lawyer and built a strong team of 5 lawyers embodied in their respective allocated sub-region with strong partnership and trust with key stakeholders.

• Served as Head of Legal of Asia Pacific region, overseeing all legal operations and strategic legal matters.
• Led negotiations for all major business transactions including software licenses, distribution agreements, partnership arrangements, professional services agreement and ancillary contracts across APAC.
• Assist M&A team with Asia Pacific initiatives.
• Provided comprehensive commercial legal services including regulatory compliance advisory and dispute resolution strategy.
• Acted as strategic legal partner to business units, identifying and mitigating complex legal and compliance risks.
• Managed team of 5 legal counsels; led team development and performance management.
• Implemented compliance policies and governance frameworks across all business lines throughout the region.
• Work closely with Associate General Counsel on M&A and commercial, regulatory, corporate, litigation, and policy matters across legal operations.
• Establish and oversee corporate governance and compliance policies across all business lines and jurisdictions. Optimise legal spend and external counsel relationships; ensure cost effective legal service delivery.

Legal Consultant, Privacy Law & GDPR at ACI Worldwide (EMEA) Limited (2018-07 – 2018-10)

Led all data protection and privacy law initiatives for EMEA region, to ensure implementation and compliance with GDPR regulation. Establishing comprehensive GDPR compliance framework and privacy governance.

• Provided strategic guidance on EU and international data privacy legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Reviewed, drafted, and negotiated Data Processing Addendums (DPAs) with customers, service providers, and processors.
• Advised business units on GDPR compliant policies, commercial agreements, and contractual provisions.
• Led GDPR and Privacy matters team consisting of 2 legal counsels; establishing compliance protocols and procedures.

Legal Consultant, EMEA at ACI Worldwide (EMEA) Limited (2018-03 – 2018-10)

Provided comprehensive commercial legal advice and strategic support to EMEA operations across all commercial, regulatory, and compliance matters.

• Advise EMEA region on a variety of general commercial agreements.
• Develop and negotiate all sort of transactional agreements for all type of business transactions.
• Advise business and sales team on legal risks with operational business decisions.
• Advise and support implementation of GDPR across EMEA.
• Support business with dispute management and settlement.
• Support and lead all commercial contract negotiation for the French market.

Legal Director and Compliance Manager at Bristow Helicopters Ltd / Bristow Helicopters Australia Pty Ltd (including Capiteq Pty Ltd trading as Airnorth; Bristow Defence Industries; Bristow Travel Services) (2015-03 – 2017-12)

Served as Legal Counsel based in London providing global legal operation support. Subsequently appointed as Legal Director responsible for Asia Pacific operations managing all legal operation matters for Airline and Helicopters activities including Oil and Gas offshore commercial activities, compliance and regulatory matters.

• Served as Legal Director for Bristow Helicopters Australia and all subsidiaries managing all legal and compliance operations matters.
• Work closely with Associate General Counsel, Global Head of Legal operation and Chief Compliance Officer on commercial, regulatory, corporate, litigation and policy matters for the APAC region.
• Advise the Asia Pacific commercial team on a variety of general commercial contracts including Oil and Gas offshore activities, regulatory matters and dispute management.
• Established and implemented compliance policies across all business lines in accordance with group standards.
• Actively partnered with business units on commercial contracts, negotiations, and deal structuring.
• Provided strategic legal advice to business management on commercial and operational matters.
• Managed outside counsel relationships across multiple jurisdictions; optimised legal spend.
• Provide legal risk analysis, mitigation strategies, and risk-based advisory to business units.
• Advised on joint venture structures, memoranda of understanding, and strategic collaboration agreements.
• Supported M&A transactions, corporate restructuring, and cross-border corporate matters.
• Managed property leases, licensing arrangements, and sale-leaseback arrangements.

Trainee Solicitor (Secondment) at Hill Dickinson LLP (2014-04 – 2014-07)

Completed solicitor training at leading international law firm specializing in Aviation, maritime, and insurance matters.

• Assisted Partners on complex regulatory matters spanning EU, Middle East, and US regulatory frameworks and jurisdictions.
• Advised on contentious matters relating to personal injury claims, including airlines fatal accident litigation cases.
• Provided support to Commodity and Shipping team on commercial disputes and claims matters affecting African and Middle East operations.

International Lawyer at McLarens Aviation (formerly Airclaims Limited) (2006 – 2015)

Provided specialist aviation claim legal advice in relation to aircraft accidents. Also provide legal advice in respect of aircraft asset management legal services to Lloyd's insurance market and international aircraft operators.

• Reviewing Aviation hull and liability insurance policies and provide claim management for and on behalf insurance companies.
• Negotiation of high-value aviation and cargo claims on behalf of Lloyd's insurers and international clients.
• Prepare contractual agreements, claim documentation, and dispute resolution paperwork.
• Provided legal support to risk management and asset management business unit which include drafting and negotiating aircraft and ancillary parts sales agreements.
• Conduct international aircraft and ancillary parts auction sales for and on behalf of insurance companies worldwide. Such activities included drafting invitations to tender documents, organizing the auction, then drafting and negotiate the sale and purchase agreements including bill of sale, and various regulatory requirements such as acceptance certificates.
• Review and provide legal advice on various Aviation and liability insurance policies.

Admitted as Solicitor in England and Wales – August 2014

Legal Practice Course (LPC)

University of Law – London, 2011–2013

Specialisation: Commercial Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution

Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)

College of Law – London, 2009–2011

LL.M. in International Business Law

Université Paul Cézanne – Aix-en-Provence, France, 2004–2005

Specialisation: Aviation Law and Air Transport Management

Master Degree in Private Law

Université Paul Cézanne – Aix-en-Provence, France, 2003–2004

Spécialisation – International contract Law