Stewart Dearden

Stewart Dearden has a diverse and extensive work experience in the legal field, with roles in various prestigious companies. Stewart started their career as a trainee solicitor at Addleshaw Goddard from September 2005 to September 2007. Stewart then moved to Linklaters, where they worked as a Managing Associate from September 2007 to April 2013, focusing primarily on financing, restructurings, project deals, and capital markets.

In 2013, Stewart joined Jumeirah Group / Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts as a Senior Legal Counsel, where they participated in a range of corporate activities such as corporate finance, licensing and franchise agreements, and brand protection.

From May 2016 to May 2019, Stewart worked as the General Counsel and Board Secretary at Blu Stone Management, an investment manager of a Family Office. Their responsibilities included structuring significant transactions, negotiating group financings, providing company secretarial services, managing legal counsel across jurisdictions, and negotiating the necessary documents to form an investment fund.

Currently, Stewart is the Chief Legal Officer at AMAN, a position they have held since January 2021. Stewart serves as a key executive and is fundamental in transforming AMAN to a $3 billion valuation. Their expertise lies in corporate, mergers and acquisitions, and finance, advising on JV arrangements, shareholder agreements, M&A projects, and group financings. Prior to this role, they held the position of Director of Legal Operations at AMAN from May 2019 to January 2021, overseeing joint venture agreements, all group financings, M&A activities, and corporate actions. Stewart has extensive familiarity with various finance structures and bond offerings.

Overall, Stewart Dearden's work experience showcases their expertise in corporate law, finance, mergers and acquisitions, and structuring significant transactions.

Stewart Dearden completed a Chartered Company Secretary program at the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators in 2014. Prior to that, they obtained a Law degree from the College of Law, including a Graduate Diploma in Law in 2004. Stewart also holds a BA (Hons) degree in Geography, Business & the Environment from the University of Nottingham, which they earned between 2000 and 2003. In addition, Stewart is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators since 2014 and a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Governance, specializing in corporate governance. No specific time frame was provided for the latter.