We emerged as an unrivalled super-regional IP firm in 2023 following the merger of leading intellectual property specialists Cedar White Bradley, PETOŠEVIĆ Group and Hahn & Hahn. We now service and manage the portfolios of some of the world's leading IP owners across Africa, Central Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
Our vision is to Transform How IP Services are Delivered and Consumed and looking to the future, we have huge ambitions to expand into more of the world’s secondary and underserved regions, always as One Firm.
What motivates us is our purpose and ability to have a positive impact on the regions we operate in. Thinking Beyond for a Better Future is our purpose - we aim to make the future better, by thinking beyond what is currently possible, to enable and empower creators and innovators to effectively extend their IP into secondary markets, to effect social reform, economic development, and technology advancement.
We want to be the IP firm that clients trust and want to work with above all others. We want to stand out because of our commitment to investing in our client relationships and empowering our teams, and because of our mind set. To do this we must have strong leadership and robust structures for risk management.
Our Executive Committee is CWB’s most senior management committee. It is chaired by the Group CEO and its members include the firm’s Regional Managing Partners, the Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Technology Officer, Chief Commercial Officer, and the Group People & Culture Director. It is the forum in which the senior management of the firm discuss issues relating to the firm, including its strategy and plans.
When a formidable team, with shared values puts all its experience and drive behind a clear and meaningful vision, some incredible things happen. Halim Shehadeh, Group CEO
Our approach to risk management is overseen by the firm’s Audit and Risk Committee. This Committee has a broad remit to consider risks, threats, succession, and controls across the firm. Any risks which it considers to be particularly strategic or important are raised as part of regular reporting to the Executive Committee.
Our offices and practitioners are consistently highly ranked by the most recognized legal rankings organizations, including Chambers and Partners, MIP IP Stars, The Legal 500, IAM Patent 1000, and World Trademark Review 1000. The rankings are based on an in-depth analysis of our work, comprehensive market research, client feedback and peer reviews. These accolades clearly reflect our commitment to excellence, professionalism, innovation and exceptional client service, confirming that our expertise and way of working are recognized and appreciated.
We operate in the world’s developing regions where organisation and transparency are not as prevalent as they otherwise may be. We owe it to our clients to let them know what we stand for and how we ensure compliance in these challenging geographies. That's why we put together The Code, a code of conduct that sets out our ethical standards and compliance responsibilities and how they are reinforced by our values, culture and our CWB Way. The Code also defines our expectations of everyone working in CWB, and acts as a guide for our behaviour with each other, our clients, and all our external stakeholders.
We do not advocate for or implement any ESG policies at CWB. This is a subject we know very little about and choose not to posture but instead focus on real world impact. We pursue a different approach to positively impact our communities and be good global citizens, an approach that focuses on good governance through character-based leadership.
We believe that leaders of good character can help our firm thrive over the long term, steering us clear of scandals and crisis, not just through good business practice, but on principle. We believe that putting people of good character in charge will lead to a better CWB, long term value creation for our firm and the clients we serve, and more virtuous practices – all of which would result in achieving the E and S as a natural consequence of good G.
Thinking Beyond with AI
At CWB, technology is not an add-on to our business. It is a core enabler of how we deliver intellectual property services at scale.
We are all-in on artificial intelligence across our organisation. We are positioning AI at the centre of how we operate, how we manage complexity, and how we deliver consistent, high-quality outcomes across one of the world’s most challenging and diverse IP landscapes.
A Firm Built for Super Regional Scale
CWB operates across Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia—regions characterised by regulatory fragmentation, jurisdictional nuance, and operational intensity.
Delivering consistent service at this scale requires more than technical legal expertise. It requires a deliberately engineered operating model. AI enables us to centralise oversight, standardise workflows, and manage volume and variation efficiently, while preserving local legal insight and professional accountability.
All In on AI for Operations and Back Office
CWB has made a conscious strategic decision to deploy AI extensively across its operational and back office functions. These include:
This deployment is not experimental. It reflects a firm-wide redesign of how CWB operates - allowing us to scale efficiently, improve consistency, and reduce friction without commoditising expertise.
AI in Client Work: Practitioner Support, Not Automation
In substantive client facing legal work, AI is used strictly as a practitioner support tool.
AI assists our professionals by organising information, supporting first pass drafting and document review, summarising complex materials, identifying issues for human review, and supporting structured IP workflows.
All legal advice remains under the direct supervision, judgment, and accountability of CWB professionals. This balance is deliberate and central to our value proposition: faster, more consistent delivery without compromising quality, trust, or control.
Technology Platforms
CWB deploys AI enabled IP workflow platforms within a controlled internal framework. These platforms combine document management, analytics, and generative AI capabilities to support drafting assistance, document interrogation, jurisdiction specific workflows, and repeatable process work.
Approved AI use cases are progressively embedded into our internal systems so that AI support forms a seamless part of day to day legal and operational workflows. These platforms operate under human direction and are designed to enhance consistency—not replace professional responsibility.
Client Confidentiality and Accountability
Client trust remains central to CWB’s use of AI. Client and matter information is subject to strict confidentiality, professional secrecy, and data protection obligations. Access to AI assisted tools is limited to authorised users within approved workflows.
Under CWB’s contractual frameworks, client data is not used to train or improve generally available AI models. CWB remains fully responsible and accountable for all work delivered to clients.
CWB Dubai office welcomed the AIPLA MENA Subcommittee delegation, creating a valuable opportunity to exchange insights on the fast‑evolving IP landscape in the UAE and the wider region.
Six CWB offices and eight practitioners have been shortlisted for the 2026 Managing IP EMEA Awards in five categories. Fingers crossed!
Thirteen CWB offices across the Middle East and Eastern Europe have been ranked and twenty-one CWB practitioners have been recognised.
If you could not make the live time, you can now access the recording and the slide deck on our website!
We are different from other firms in the way we think, work, and behave. We do not put competence ahead of character, we are a character first employer. We believe that people can work on and develop their competence whereas good character tends to be something more innate and the product of a set of closely held values. We find that people with this asset grow into the best leaders, with the right support.