Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Committees
Publications
Affiliations
Languages
Accomplishments
References
Timeline
Receptionist
SONYA SHAYKHOUN

SONYA SHAYKHOUN

NY,NY

Summary

Dedicated and skilled Attorney specializing in complex and high-value cross-border transactions with twenty years' experience in legal counseling, contract negotiation, drafting, and management. Committed to pursuing the best outcomes for clients and legal firms alike. New York Attorney in good standing.

Overview

20
20
years of professional experience

Work History

Freelance Attorney

Lawclerk
Remote
07.2022 - Current
  • Successfully completed several freelance projects, including: writing a blog post on due diligence best practices; writing an ebook on the uses of "Recitals" in contracts; Drafting a partnership agreement; reviewing a brand license agreement for a Cannabis company in NY; and, a six (6)-month maternity cover for a GDPR-compliance data privacy project.

Contract Attorney

Epiq
New York City, NY
07.2019 - Current
  • Supported several document review projects (first level review and privilege review) in relation to a variety of matters, including litigation, arbitration, in-house investigations, labor disputes, FTC investigations, and regulatory reviews.

Founder/Attorney

Law Offices of Sonya Shaykhoun, Esq.
New York City, NY
05.2019 - Current
  • Advise on a wide variety of domestic, international, and complex cross-border legal matters and transactions, including TMT matters (including satellites), IT Outsourcing, cross-border litigation and dispute resolution, Middle East matters, and data privacy matters including data privacy agreements.
  • Teach the "Commercially Savvy Lawyer Contract Negotiation and Drafting Boot Camp on the Maven educational platform (NYS CLE pending.)

Senior Legal Specialist

Qatar Airways
Doha, Qatar
01.2017 - 04.2019
  • Drafted, reviewed and negotiated contracts including service agreements, software licenses, confidentiality agreements and other related documents related to the running of a multi-faceted 5-star global airline.
  • Highlights include negotiating and drafting: (i) the cutting-edge inflight connectivity agreement between Qatar Airways and Inmarsat worth more than one billion Qatari Riyals (i.e., about US$750 million); (ii) the multi-million-dollar sponsorship agreement between Qatar Airways, Jet Blue and the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY; (iii) the 1.3 billion Qatari Riyals (i.e., US$800 million) facility management contract with FMM (a Spanish facility management company); and, (iv) an inflight entertainment upgrade agreement worth US$165 million with Thales; and, (v) supported the Chief Legal and Compliance Officer in developing Qatar Airways’ award-winning Corporate Compliance Program.
  • Provided legal advice and guidance to corporate clients on a variety of global corporate, commercial, employment and regulatory matters.

Independent Legal Consultant

My-HD Media
Dubai, UAE
09.2015 - 06.2016
  • Drafted and/or negotiated rights and distribution contracts, termination letters, and, non-disclosure agreements as part of a contract renegotiation exercise between My-HD and their vendors.

General Counsel

Syscontech Limited W.L.L.
Doha, Qatar
02.2015 - 07.2015
  • Advised a technology start-up on complex agreements, documentation for tender submissions, litigation strategy, Qatari law matters with the assistance of local counsel, IT Outsourcing agreements, and IP matters.

Senior Legal Counsel

Al Jazeera Media Network (AJMN)
Doha, Qatar
02.2011 - 12.2014
  • Provided legal and operational support across the AJMN group in Qatar and on a global basis.
  • Reviewed, drafted and negotiated a wide range of commercial contracts, including license agreements, services agreements, joint venture agreements and purchase and supply agreements.
  • Managed AJMN’s global corporate, commercial contract and compliance matters either alone or with outside counsel and/or consultants.
  • Managed a global portfolio of and subsequent restructuring of more than 120 Al Jazeera bureaus (i.e., new companies and branches) and related regulatory, legal and tax compliance, governance, and employment law matters (including streamlining the global employment contract template).
  • Reviewed articles, scripts, and films for compliance with OfCom (Al Jazeera English’s regulator) prior to publication/broadcast.
  • Negotiated non-contentious dispute resolution matters.
  • Led internal investigations with HR and other AJMN executives.
  • Advised on a wide range of global IP issues.

Attorney

Charles Russell Speechlys LLP
Manama, Bahrain
04.2008 - 08.2010
  • Advised on a range of contract reviews for various media, IT Outsourcing (vendor and client side), technology, insurance, and facility management companies in Bahrain and other Arabian Gulf countries.
  • Developed client relationships for Charles Russell’s Bahrain office,
  • Seconded to the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) and Gulf Air in Bahrain respectively for six (6)-month engagements.
  • Managed complex due diligence projects via digital war rooms.
  • Managed the "Know Your Client" protocols for new clients.

Senior Legal Counsel

Orbit Communications Company WLL
Manama, Bahrain
05.2004 - 02.2008
  • Managed a broad range of Orbit’s corporate, commercial, and regulatory matters.
  • Active member of Orbit’s Anti-Piracy team combatting TV piracy globally.
  • Managed the extensive global trademark portfolio with third party trademark agents.
  • Provided Noorsat (Orbit’s sister company) with support on legal, corporate, and regulatory matters.

Education

Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Corruption, Law and Governance -

University of Sussex And The Rule of Law And Anti-Corruption Center
10.2018

Master of Laws (LL.M.), Corporate and Commercial Law -

School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London
10.2003

Legal Practice Course -

BPP Law School
06.2002

BA in Arabic and Law (equivalent to a Juris Doctor) -

School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London
06.2000

MA Honors in English Language and Literature -

University of St. Andrews
06.1995

Space Law Certificate Course -

London Institute of Space Policy and Law

Skills

  • Global employment law experience
  • Legal Writing
  • Intellectual Property Law Expertise
  • Legal Research
  • Corporate Law
  • Document Preparation
  • Evaluating Documents
  • Contract Negotiation
  • Strategy Development
  • Intellectual Property Law
  • Negotiation
  • Legal Compliance
  • Settlement Negotiation
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Complex project management
  • Time management

Committees

  • March 2021 - June 2023 Member of the NYC Bar Association Committee on NYC Affairs
  • March 2022 - present, Member of the NYC Bar Association Committee on Aeronautic Affairs

Publications

Confidentiality agreements in the Middle East, Business in the Gulf (BIG), published November 2009; Presented a paper at “Satellite Law Workshop” at Capital Club, Dubai sponsored by Charles Russell, 2010; and Contributed extensively to specialist satellite industry magazines.

Affiliations

  • Avid tennis player in NYC public courts
  • Accomplished equestrienne
  • Enthusiastic pianist
  • Filmmaking, screenplay writing, and Off-Off-Broadway playwright
  • Writing and blogging

Languages

Arabic
Professional
French
Professional

Accomplishments

  • Member of GC Powerlist's Middle East Teams 2018 - Transport and Infrastructure

References

References available upon request.

Timeline

Freelance Attorney

Lawclerk
07.2022 - Current

Contract Attorney

Epiq
07.2019 - Current

Founder/Attorney

Law Offices of Sonya Shaykhoun, Esq.
05.2019 - Current

Senior Legal Specialist

Qatar Airways
01.2017 - 04.2019

Independent Legal Consultant

My-HD Media
09.2015 - 06.2016

General Counsel

Syscontech Limited W.L.L.
02.2015 - 07.2015

Senior Legal Counsel

Al Jazeera Media Network (AJMN)
02.2011 - 12.2014

Attorney

Charles Russell Speechlys LLP
04.2008 - 08.2010

Senior Legal Counsel

Orbit Communications Company WLL
05.2004 - 02.2008

Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Corruption, Law and Governance -

University of Sussex And The Rule of Law And Anti-Corruption Center

Master of Laws (LL.M.), Corporate and Commercial Law -

School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London

Legal Practice Course -

BPP Law School

BA in Arabic and Law (equivalent to a Juris Doctor) -

School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London

MA Honors in English Language and Literature -

University of St. Andrews

Space Law Certificate Course -

London Institute of Space Policy and Law

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