About First Compliance

Adil is a Partner at Anjarwalla Collins & Haidermota, leading the Corporate M&A team and the Pakistan desk. He brings extensive experience in corporate M&A, banking, and finance, advising clients across diverse sectors, including banking, energy, pharmaceuticals, and logistics. His client portfolio includes notable names like Proparco, Oman Trading International, GEMS Education, Getz Pharma, and governmental entities such as the Government of Somaliland.

Adil is a Legal Consultant registered with the Dubai Ruler’s Court, an Advocate of the High Court in Pakistan, and an Attorney and Counselor at Law in New York, USA. He is also a member of the New York State Bar Association and the American Bar Association.

Atiq Anjarwalla is a Senior Partner at Anjarwalla Collins & Haidermota with over 39 years of experience in law. He is a licensed Legal Consultant, Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales, and an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya. His expertise spans mergers and acquisitions, corporate advisory, family succession, and estate planning for high-net-worth clients, with a focus on tax planning and offshore structures. Atiq has a significant track record in assisting international investors entering the African market.

He is a recognized speaker, having presented at conferences hosted by the IFC, Financial Times, Academy & Finance, and STEP, and has been interviewed by Emirates News and The National. Consistently rated as a leading lawyer by Chambers Global, Legal 500, and IFLR1000, Atiq is known for his deep expertise in corporate and M&A transactions, particularly within the finance and hospitality sectors.

With over 20 years of expertise in regulatory and company secretarial practices in the UAE, Deepa Kokkandathil leads the firm’s Company Secretarial Department at Anjarwalla Collins & Haidermota in Dubai. A specialist in corporate management and regulatory affairs, she manages a broad portfolio of clients both locally and internationally. Deepa also provides strategic support in corporate restructuring, inheritance, and succession planning, ensuring comprehensive guidance and compliance for her clients.

With over 15 years in AML-CFT compliance, Sathiyamoorthi is certified by the IMF, ACFCS, and Financial Crime Academy, and serves as an approved Compliance Officer for the UAE Central Bank. His expertise includes ML-TF Risk Assessment, AML Gap Analysis Audits, Sanction & PEP Screening, and Enterprise-Wide Risk Assessments. An accomplished trainer, Sathiyamoorthi leads CLPD and ACAMS certification sessions and conducts compliance training at RAKICC. Known for mitigating AML penalties and advising clients during DNFBP inspections, he brings exceptional skill in compliance management, regulatory strategy, and risk mitigation.

Uma Maheswari is an expert in financial crime compliance, with over 10 years of experience in AML, ML-TF Risk Assessment, and GRC. She has a strong background in Sanction Screening, Transaction Monitoring, UBO Analysis, and regulatory implementations in both financial and non-financial sectors. Skilled in designing KYC and EDD forms, she also conducts training aligned with global standards such as FATF and Basel AML requirements, and has successfully implemented the ICXS Customer Experience Standard program with BSI.

Willie Oelofse brings over 25 years of experience in advising organizations on risk management, financial crime, fraud, AML compliance, and corporate intelligence across private and public sectors. He has deep expertise in forensic investigations, fraud risk management, ethics, contract compliance, and crisis management, along with substantial cross-border experience throughout Africa. Previously, he led forensic strategy for two Big Four firms in East Africa.

Willie’s notable work includes advising a top international bank on a regulatory investigation involving suspected money laundering, conducting AML/CFT assessments for a Pan-African insurance firm, and reviewing anti-bribery, AML, and FATCA compliance for an East African bank. He also led a forensic investigation for a prominent East African insurer, examining broker onboarding, commission processes, and internal controls to detect potential conflicts of interest.

Vibin brings over 25 years of experience in software development and project management, with a specialized focus on AML and compliance solutions. As a seasoned leader, he leverages advanced technologies to create scalable, high-performance applications, underpinned by his extensive expertise in data management and regulatory compliance. Vibin is committed to enhancing operational efficiency and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, overseeing the company’s technical architecture, software development, and data security to ensure industry standards and excellence.