Corporate & Commercial
Day-to-day and transactional legal needs of your business
Structuring & Restructuring:
We handle all the legal requirements for the establishment and functioning of various types of companies and businesses, enabling you to conduct your activities in any industry in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. We also help companies or groups with restructuring, acquisitions and disposals of businesses and assets, implementation of exit strategies, optimisation of legal structures, etc., and assist shareholders, individuals or investment funds.
Agreements:
We cover all stages of your commercial transactions, from negotiation to execution, to ensure the protection of your interests and limit your liabilities. This includes discussing, drafting, revising and finalizing all commercial and corporate contracts and documents necessary for all aspects of your business, such as shareholder agreements, articles of association, share purchase agreements, agency, distribution, franchise and licensing agreements, and many more.
Advising:
With extensive legal knowledge and a keen eye for the complexities of commercial transactions, we safeguard your interests and advocate for your rights with bespoke legal advice. Our expertise encompasses various types of deals, with a focus on cross-border transactions, mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures. We guide you through all stages of the deal from legal due diligence, to negotiation and drafting of the relevant agreements, until finalization of the transaction.
Dispute Resolution
Asserting or defending your legal rights
We bring together seasoned litigation attorneys and professionals to advise on your case and assert your claims in various types of disputes, including commercial claims, real estate, rental, employment, insurance, shareholder, intellectual property, and others. We represent you throughout the dispute resolution process, from leading the efforts for out-of-court settlement and attempting to amicably resolve the dispute to escalation and litigation before local courts and arbitration committees.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Resolving conflicts efficiently and amicably without the need for litigation
We advocate for the amicable settlement of your disputes to avoid extensive and costly litigation procedures where possible. Starting from the preliminary assessment of the conflict to conciliation negotiations and mediation, leading to the drafting and finalization of settlement agreements, we ensure that your rights are protected and your demands are covered all the way through. We also follow up after the execution of the settlement agreement to ensure all obligations are respected by all parties.
Workplace Relations
Legal dealing between employer and employee
Contracts & Internal Organization:
We draft the contracts and documents and organize the workplace structure for your company to function according to the best standards and local applicable laws. Our services include advising on, drafting and revising internal policies and employee handbooks, codes of conduct, employment contracts, protection of client information, protection of personal data, non-compete provisions, restructuring and increasing of personnel processes, all in compliance with labor laws and regulations.
Dispute Resolution:
Our expertise in labor law extends to negotiating, mediating and litigating when disputes arise in the workplace or in connection with employment issues, such as discrimination disputes, wrongful and unfair termination, non-payment of end of service and employment benefits, and breach of non-compete provisions.
Advising & Regulatory Services:
With extensive knowledge of labor-related regulations and hands-on experience in the field, we offer legal advice on employment best practices and regulatory requirements, such as obtaining work permits and applying for visas, registration with regulatory authorities such as MOHRE, advising on end of service entitlements and employee rights, and much more.
Intellectual Property
Protecting your brand and creations
Registration:
We recommend and implement the necessary regulatory processes to ensure you fully benefit from your creations and innovations and protect them against third-party infringement and appropriation. To that end, we take care of all relevant trademark and copyright registrations in the UAE, the GCC and beyond.
Advising & IP Protection:
We advise on the best ways to safeguard and use your intellectual property rights and apply the needed measures to protect them, such as conducting an IP due diligence, drafting and serving cease and desist notices, and pursuing legal proceedings against infringement.
Agreements:
Beyond registration and protection, you should be able to capture the full value of your intellectual property rights. This is where we come in to lead the business negotiations and craft the relevant agreements, such as licensing and assignment contracts, to ensure you effectively exploit your IP rights to gain a competitive advantage and generate revenue.
Company Formation
Corporate service provider to your business
Corporate Services:
From incorporation to restructuring, we take a 360-degree approach to cover all aspects of the establishment and operation of your company and the soundness of your corporate partnership at every stage. Our services include conducting legal due diligence and a KYC check on all shareholders, UBOs, directors and authorized representatives, as well as preparation of submission documents for them, and drafting articles of association and resolutions, in addition to filing applications with relevant authorities and licensing your business. Through our strategic partnerships, we provide a ‘one-stop shop’ for services that every new business needs, such as bookkeeping, accounting, tax registration and filing, etc.
Combining our multi-disciplinary approach with a nuanced understanding of the UAE laws, regulations and culture, we also advise Very High Net Worth Individuals (VHNWIs), prominent families, family offices and their companies from around the world on establishing and operating companies, family offices and trusts in the region.
Regulatory Services:
We are legally qualified to complete all necessary regulatory processes before different mainland and freezone regulatory authorities across the UAE, including registration, licensing, annual renewals, amendments, KYC and AML and we provide PRO support throughout your business journey.
Mainland Companies:
We have advised companies wishing to be Sharia’ compliant and conducting business activities within the UAE.
Offshore Companies:
We have advised multiple companies and successfully obtained licenses for ADGM (for Abu Dhabi Offshore Companies) and DIFC (for Dubai Offshore Companies).
UAE Free Zones:
We advise companies across all Free Zones (FZ) in the UAE and have successfully completed company registrations in: Abu Dhabi Mainland, DMCC (Dubai), Dubai Mainland, IFZA Dubai, Meydan FZ, Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEL) and SPC (Sharjah) FZ.
Real Estate
Comprehensive Real Estate Legal Solutions for Investors, Brokers & Developers
Transactions & Agreements:
We guide you through every step of your real estate transactions to protect your rights and secure your investments. Our services cover advising on, negotiating, drafting, and finalizing agreements for property sales, purchases, leases, mortgages, joint development, and property management across residential, commercial, and industrial properties.
Registration & Ownership Transfer:
We handle all legal procedures for registering properties with the Land Department and completing the transfer of ownership to ensure compliance with real estate laws and Land Department regulations and a seamless transaction process.
Dispute Resolution:
We represent you in resolving real estate disputes, including breaches of agreements, construction defects, boundary and tenancy issues, through negotiation, mediation, or litigation before the courts or arbitration panels.
Development & Investment Advisory:
We offer strategic legal advice to developers, investors, and property owners on structuring real estate investments and developments, including joint ventures, sales, and large-scale projects.
Digital Assets Regulatory Advisory
REGULATORY AND COMPLIANCE SOLUTIONS FOR GROWING BUSINESSES
We advise you on navigating the UAE’s rapidly evolving regulatory landscape, particularly the regulated digital assets sector. From licensing and regulatory structuring to ongoing compliance, we support you in building legally sound financial operations.
Our Digital Assets and crypto-finance practice is led by Professor Adib Tohme (Of Counsel), a Harvard graduate who has been active in the sector since 2017. In 2024, he was granted the first Virtual Assets Advisory Provider license by VARA, bringing rare regulatory insight to our clients’ licensing and compliance matters.
Our services include:
- Licensing Advisory: Advising on the licensing of multiple Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), including
Virtual Asset Exchanges, Broker-Dealers, Custodians, and Investment funds, headquartered in various
jurisdictions, including China.
- Regulatory Engagement: Preparing submissions and supporting clients through engagement with key regulatory
authorities, including:
- VARA (Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority Dubai)
- DFSA (DIFC)
- FSRA (ADGM)
- SCA (Securities & Commodities Authority)
Private Wealth Management Advisory
STRUCTURED WEALTH SOLUTIONS FOR FOUNDERS & FAMILIES
The UAE has become an international hub for private wealth structuring, offering secure and flexible common-law frameworks through the DIFC and ADGM. We advise high-net-worth individuals, founders, and families on establishing and managing wealth structures designed to protect assets, support succession planning and centralize asset management.
We guide you on selecting the most suitable jurisdiction and structure for your specific objectives, whether in the DIFC or ADGM, based on your governance preferences, asset type, and succession planning goals.
Our Private Wealth Management Services include:
Family Offices:
Advising on the establishment and structuring of family offices to manage personal investments, financial affairs, and family governance.
Foundations:
Advising on the creation and administration of foundations as independent legal entities in the DIFC and ADGM, especially recommended for holding real estate and investment assets and supporting long-term succession planning.
Trusts:
Advising on the structuring of trusts in the DIFC and ADGM, including the roles of settlors, trustees, and beneficiaries, and the legal mechanisms required to manage assets for defined purposes under regulated common-law systems.
