Israel UAE | Business Guide | 2021

Israeli & UAE lawyers open Annual IBA Global Conference How one friendship can succeed in changing, just a little, the Middle East A fter their first meeting at the International Bar Association (IBA) Conference in 2010 , Eytan Epstein and EssamAl Tamimi became close friends and have succeeded in bringing Israeli and Palestinian lawyers together through their Young Leaders program, making their own modest impact on the road toMiddle East peace. They are both senior partners at their lawfirms, that are among the leading and largest in their countries. Epstein at M. Firon & Co. in Israel, and Al Tamimi at Al Tamimi &Co. in the UAE. Their meeting led to dialogue and subsequently to the initiation of the "Young Leaders Discussion Group" program, designed to promote dialogue between Israeli, Palestinian and Israeli Arab lawyers. IBA to their vision of encouraging professional cooperation, mutual respect and direct dialogue among lawyers in theMiddle East. In 2011 the IBA held its conference in Dubai and Essam, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, worked successfullywith Mark Ellis, the IBAExecutive Director to ensure that Israeli lawyers could attend. Eytan Epstein became one of the first Israeli lawyers to visit Dubai. The initiative by Eytan and Essam, encouragedbyMarkEllisandPresident David W. Rivkin, was supported by Homer Moyer, a member of the IBA and Chairman the CEELI Institute in Prague, an NGO working to advance the rule of law, and by Ibtissem Lassoued, a partner in Al Tamimi. Together they decided to establish in 2015 the "Young Leaders" program with support from the IBA and CEELI and through their efforts. From the many young, talented candidates, 12 young lawyers were finally selected, including Israeli Jews, Israeli Arabs and Palestinians. The group participated in discussions on the Israel-Palestinian conflict with senior figures from both sides in the disputes, including a former Jordanian Prime Minister, senior Israeli and Palestinian politicians, officials from the USState Department and former Quartet HeadKito de Boer. The group also had emotional meetings with representatives of bereaved families. The program was introduced at the IBA’s 2016 conference inWashington where participants talked about the program, the personal and professional relationships they had formed, and their hopes for the future. David W. Rivkin says, "The Israeli- Palestinian Young Leaders Discussion Groupwas one of themost satisfying experiences of my IBA Presidency …the great examples of Eytan and Essam will hopefully help lead their countries to peace." The friendship, trust and close professional cooperation between Essam and Eytan place them and their firms as leaders in themarkets' steps to materialize the potential of the Abraham Accords. Now, Eytan andEssamare opening the 2020 IBA Annual Conference where they will speak about the Abraham Accords, its potential impact and how one friendship perhaps succeeded in changing, just a little, theMiddle East. Eytan Epstein, Advocate Senior Partner, M. Firon & Co. Advocates Epstein@firon.co.il ● + 972 - 3 - 7540002 ● Your Israeli Legal Partner Eytan Epstein fromM. Firon & Co. Eytan Epstein from M. Firon & Co. and Essam Al Tamimi from Al Tamimi & Co. The IBA, founded in 1947 , comprises 190 Bar Associations worldwide and promotes the rule of law, civil rights, and the status of lawyers worldwide. Eytan andEssam, both active veterans of the IBA, decided to 'enlist' the Israel-UAE > Business Guide > 2021 42 > Business Services > M. Firon & Co. Advocates