Grace El Tayar is the General Counsel of Al Nasr Contracting, a multi-national EPC contracting company established in the U.A.E. since 1971, the CEO & Founder of GTRANCE, and a Strategic and Innovative Non-Executive Board Member.
Grace relocated to Abu Dhabi in 2000 and embarked on her professional career with the Abu Dhabi office of the International Law Firm Afridi and Angell. Grace was then the Director of Legal Affairs and Corporate Governance of Rotana Hotel Management Corporation PJSC and later the Legal & Corporate Governance Director of Sorouh (currently ALDAR). Grace obtained the Honorable Associateship from the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA) in 2019. She has been a Chartered Corporate Secretary since 2014 and is a Chartered Governance Professional. She is also a member of the “Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners” (STEP), following her certification in International Trust Management (with distinction) in 2016.
Grace is an Attorney at Law and a member of the Beirut Bar Association since 1997. She received her Masters of Laws LL.M. in Commercial and Corporate Law, Banking and Finance, and Intellectual Property from the University of London, Queen Mary. Grace did various internships worldwide, including but not limited to the Legal Department of the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (MPAA), the London Office of Willoughby and Partners, and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
Grace is an AmCham member since 2001, a member of AmCham’s Legal Affairs Committee, and served on the Board of the Lebanese Business Council. Grace serves on the Board of a few private companies and heads a Nomination and Governance Committee. She is a Certified Board Director (HAWKAMAH - DIFC), an Accredited Mediator (RICS), a Board Certified Doctor of Natural Medicine, a Board Certified Master Trainer of Neurolinguistic Programming and Emotional Intelligence, a Professional Certified Coach (PCC), and a Corporate and Personal Transformation Expert.
Grace is the author of a number of books and many articles, and aspires to enhance Emotional Intelligence, AI, Corporate Governance, Leadership, Change Management, Strategy & Innovation, CSR, and ESG cultures across the region, cross contextually, starting from the Boardroom.
Grace has completed multiple Advanced Executive Education Programs and Certifications at Harvard Business School and MIT in Leadership, Digital Business, Strategy & Innovation, and Leading the AI Driven Organizations. She is a top 10 award winner and active member of WomenExecs on Boards.
