LLB, lawyer & member of the BBA
15+ years in the Legal Field
English, Arabic and French
With 15+ years of experience in the legal industry in the Middle East working as in-house counsel and in private practice for a top-tier UAE law firm ranked by Chambers Global and Legal 500, Stephanie founded MIS boutique legal firm and built it since 2021 in her capacity as the Managing Partner, gathering a team that shares similar values.
She has served as a trusted advisor to Fortune 500 companies, multinational corporations, government and semi-government entities, high-net-worth individuals, as well as thousands of private-sector clients across diverse industries, including construction, real estate, banking and finance, aviation, media & entertainment, F&B, oil & gas and energy and healthcare.
Throughout her career, she has led and negotiated high-value, complex transactions in strategic sectors such as defense (Air Force), energy and construction and has successfully recovered millions of Dirhams for clients in the UAE and across the GCC, always aiming at securing her clients’ interests. Her ability to foster long-term relationships is reflected in the continued trust of clients who repeatedly engage her for their most sensitive and high-stakes matters.
In addition, she has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), advising clients on deal structuring, due diligence, and regulatory compliance. Her expertise also extends to business structuring, wealth management, and re-domiciliation, assisting companies, businesses and high-net-worth individuals in optimizing their corporate setups and asset protection strategies across multiple jurisdictions.
Dispute resolution is the basis of her practice. She has extensive experience in litigation before all levels of courts and has developed particular expertise in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). She has represented clients in numerous litigation proceedings under the UAE Federal and Local laws.
Stephanie is multilingual (Arabic, English and French), and offers cross-border legal insight and culturally attuned advisory services that bridge legal systems and commercial objectives.
She holds an LLB in Law and is a member of the Beirut Bar Association (syndicate of lawyers) and has obtained in 2011 a certificate in international criminal Law and international criminal proceeding from the Hague Academy in collaboration with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL). In 2020, she obtained a certificate from the World Bank Group for successfully completing the course, Training Lifecycle.
She has received several certificates of appreciation for conducting legal workshops with an in-house community based in Hong Kong and within Multilaw, an independent network of international lawyers headquartered in London.
LLM & member of the BBA
15+ years in the Legal Field
Arabic, English and French
With over a decade of experience in corporate law, contract drafting, and legal consulting, Danielle is a highly skilled legal counsel specializing in business, financial, and commercial matters. She provides strategic legal guidance to businesses, ensuring compliance, mitigating risks, and optimizing contract negotiations.
Danielle has worked with esteemed legal firms, advising on complex international transactions and representing multinational clients across various industries. Her expertise extends to corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, financial regulations, and contract law. She also served as a legal advisor at the Capital Markets Authority in Lebanon, where she played a key role in regulatory compliance and policy development for financial markets. Her extensive experience in both private practice and regulatory bodies positions her as a trusted legal strategist for businesses navigating the complexities of corporate and financial law.
Holding a master’s degree in law with a focus on international contracts, Danielle expanded her expertise into content writing, copywriting, and multilingual translation (English, Arabic, and French). This unique combination allows her to bridge the gap between legal intricacies and effective corporate communication.
MBA, MA, LLB & member of the BBA and the New York Bar since 1994
30+ years in International Business Law and Taxation
English, Arabic, French and Spanish
Adib Y. Tohme is an international tax and corporate lawyer, a virtual asset advisor, an economist, a writer, an entrepreneur, a financial analyst, and a professor and lecturer of law and economics at prestigious worldwide universities, including Harvard, Cornell, and Sciences Po. He has been involved in the crypto finance industry since 2017, when he helped to introduce an initial coin offering (ICO) in the US, Malta, the UK and Estonia.
His duties included transaction structuring, corporate governance and compliance, preparing ICO documentation (White Papers etc.) as well as managing negotiations with regulators. He was also involved in several international lawsuits around ICO fraud and intellectual property issues. He has been actively engaged in all facets of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets since 2017 and he advises MIS legal clients as an external legal counsel alongside many other businesses he leads.
LLB, lawyer & member of the BBA
15+ Years
Arabic, English and French
Rafik graduated from Saggesse University in Lebanon in 2010, he completed postgraduate studies in 2012 and joined the Beirut Bar Association in 2011
He participated as a representative of the Beirut Bar Association in a competition for the best legal research in the Arab Lawyers Union in Jordan in 2012 and won third place among the competitors.
He participated in the competition for the best legal research on Lawyer’s Day organized by the Beirut Bar Association and won first place.
He participated in the mock trials organized by the Beirut Bar Association as a representative of the defense.
He wrote dozens of published legal studies and research.
Partner in the Middle East Law Firm in the State of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. He is a
Partner with Al-Madmoun Law Firm in Riyadh - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He participated in several legal seminars and training courses, especially in the fields of arbitration, drafting contracts, taxes, etc.
Certified arbitrator at the Qatar Chamber of Commerce.
He is currently working in cooperation with the Qatar Chamber of Commerce to amend and unify the unified conditions for land, sea and air transportation, and finally Completing his PHD.
Territory:
LLB, Member of the Beirut Bar Association (BBA), Mediator, Member of Resolution Institute Australasia and AMINZ New Zealand
20+ years in the Legal Field
Arabic, French, English, Italian
With more than 20 years of legal experience in both litigation and legal advisory, Ange is a dedicated legal professional who brings insight and attention to detail across commercial, corporate, employment, construction, real estate, family, trusts, and contract law.
Her extensive background includes serving as Managing Partner at prominent Lebanese law firms, where she provided comprehensive legal counsel to clients across multiple jurisdictions.
As a litigator and advocate, she has represented clients in both civil and criminal proceedings. Her deep knowledge of Lebanese and French legal systems, complemented by working knowledge of US and New Zealand legal frameworks, enables her to work effectively across multiple jurisdictions.
Since relocating to New Zealand, Ange has served as an in-house legal advisor integrating her international expertise with knowledge of New Zealand law.
She continues to practice mediation and alternative dispute resolution.
Ange holds an LLB in Law and is a member of the Beirut Bar Association (BBA).
She also holds : an Interuniversity Diploma in Medical Law (DIU Droit Médical) from Lorraine, France ; a Certificate in Business Writing & Communication for Lawyers and in Advanced Contract Drafting from the Beirut Bar Association and the American University of Technology; a Certificate in International and Comparative Law from the Southwestern Institute for International and Comparative Law, Dallas, Texas; a Diploma in Mediation (Certificate of Proficiency in Mediation Vocational Practice) from CPM, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, co-signed by IFOMENE Paris and Association of European Mediators; and an Australasian Accreditation in Mediation from the Resolution Institute.
She is currently enrolled in the AMINZ Associateship Program through the College of Law and has been admitted into the LLM program in International Dispute Resolution at the University of London.
She is a Fellow of the American Southwestern Institute of International Business Law (since 2019), a member of the Resolution Institute in Australia and New Zealand and a member of Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of New Zealand (AMINZ).
Finance & BA in Lit. & Philosophy & Mutual Funds license accreditation
20+ years in the Legal Field
Arabic, English & French
Experienced Paralegal working across the UAE with international law firms recognized with Legal500 and Chambers & Partners including Charles Russel Speechlys, DLA Piper and Emaar Properties and with a strong background in Corporate and IP Law, providing comprehensive support in company formation, compliance, and IP portfolio management. Proficient in legal research, licensing, and coordinating with authorities. Multilingual professional with excellent organizational and communication skills, committed to delivering high-quality legal assistance in fast-paced legal environments. Recognized for efficiency, attention to detail, and excellent communication skills. Pascal possess track record in working alongside departments heads and senior associates in the corporate and commercial departments, ensuring seamless advisory and support to the client’s business and needs.
Bachelor in Law, Master 1 in Law
5+ Years
Arabic, English and French
Lama is a dedicated and detail-oriented paralegal. Lama is a legal analyst responsible for providing legal translation services in Arabic, English, and French, with the ability to adapt the complexity based on client needs. Adept at supporting a variety of legal matters, including legal research on international arbitration, court litigation, cross-border transactions, investigations, compliance, and corporate governance. Skilled at drafting legal documents, conducting due diligence, managing cases and large-scale translation projects, performing comprehensive legal research, and analyzing complex legal issues.
WeChat ID: patrickdransfield
MA, BA (Joint Hons.)
20+ years
English
Patrick Dransfield is from England, based in UAE and Honk Kong since 2008 and is a senior advisor to MIS Legal Firm and assists in business development, client relations and advises regarding business strategies.
Patrick is widely recognized as an innovator in the business of law across Asia and the Middle East. Patrick holds a master’s degree in Chinese history, Politics and Anthropology from the School of Oriental & African Studies (SOAS), University of London.
He is also a special adviser to Sino-International Professional Advisory Council and was formerly Co-Director at Pacific Business Press where he was the architect of the 20,000+ In-House Community.
He was previously Managing Director for Euromoney Institutional Investor’s Asia Law & Practice and Business Development and Marketing Director, Asia, for international law firms Shearman & Sterling and White & Case.
Hindi and English
Jennifer Dcunha is part of the MIS team, she is a seasoned HR professional with a strong management and administrative background.
With over 10 years in the professional field, Jennifer can offer her services and expertise to ensure our clients are able to achieve their objectives and align MIS’s capabilities with our client’s business needs.
Jennifer closely works with all MIS' business partners to enable and facilitate our clients in the best possible way. She oversees and manages the MIS team’s day to day operations and works closely with finance to bridge the operational and financial goals of all parties involved.
(IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HESSA AL HAMMADI ADVOCATES)
Arabic and English
Hessa is qualified as an Advocate of the United Arab Emirates and is therefore entitled to appear before courts at all levels of the UAE judicial system including Federal Courts, Courts of Appeal and Courts of Cassation. She holds a bachelor’s degree in law from Saint Joseph’s University, one of the leading academic institutions in the Middle East.
She has experience in the conduct of court proceedings at all levels of the UAE court system and handles both civil cases (including commercial law, labor law, family law and property law) and criminal law matters. Hessa also advises clients on anti-money laundering regulations and other regulatory matters.
Arabic and English
Anthony is qualified as a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales (UK) and as a Legal Consultant of the Emirate of Dubai (UAE). He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oxford (Merton College).
Anthony is an experienced advocate in international arbitration and expert determination proceedings and has represented clients in numerous arbitrations, including under the DIAC, DIFC-LCIA, CRCICA, LCIA, ICC, AAA, SIAC, UNCITRAL and ICSID rules. Anthony has also acted in DAB proceedings, expert determinations, mediations, English High Court litigation and in connection with internal investigations.
Anthony particularly focuses on MENA matters and has experience in dispute resolution subject to UAE law, Egyptian law, Omani law, Jordanian law, and Lebanese law.
LLB, lawyer & member of the Egyptian Bar Association
15+ years in the Legal Field
Arabic and English
He is widely recognized as a leading cassation and supreme court advocate, distinguished by his role in securing landmark, precedent-setting judgments before the UAE Court of Cassation and the Federal Supreme Court that have reshaped judicial interpretation, enforcement mechanisms, and commercial litigation strategy across the UAE.
Hazem advises and represents banks, multinational corporations, real estate developers, construction companies, public and private joint stock companies, boards of directors, senior executives, and high-net worth individuals in complex, high-value disputes involving significant financial exposure and reputational risk. His practice spans commercial, construction, real estate, banking, corporate, enforcement, and white-collar criminal matters, frequently involving multi-party proceedings, technically complex expert evidence, and cross border enforcement considerations.
Federal Supreme Court Precedent – Cheque Enforcement & Frozen Accounts
A defining milestone in Hazem’s career is his successful advocacy in a landmark Federal Supreme Court judgment that conclusively resolved a long standing judicial conflict concerning the enforceability of cheques returned due to frozen bank accounts.
Prior to this ruling, UAE courts had adopted inconsistent and conflicting approaches as to whether cheques dishonoured because of account freezes could be enforced directly through execution proceedings, or whether creditors were required to pursue alternative procedural routes. This uncertainty had serious practical and commercial consequences for banks and creditors, often resulting in delayed recoveries, fragmented enforcement strategies, and inconsistent judicial outcomes.
Before the Federal Supreme Court, Hazem advanced a principled, technically rigorous, and commercially grounded legal argument, establishing that the freezing of a bank account constitutes a regulatory or administrative measure that does not extinguish, suspend, or affect the underlying civil obligation arising from a cheque. He successfully demonstrated that a cheque remains a valid and enforceable commercial instrument irrespective of account restrictions, and that creditors retain the right to direct execution without procedural dilution, circumvention, or unnecessary preconditions.
The Federal Supreme Court adopted this reasoning in full, issuing a binding precedent that unified judicial practice across the UAE. This judgment is now routinely relied upon by execution judges, banks, and practitioners nationwide and has had a transformational impact on cheque enforcement strategy, banking litigation, and execution proceedings. Hazem continues to advise banks and
commercial clients on matters directly influenced by this precedent, including enforcement planning, provisional attachments, frozen accounts, third-party creditor rights, and creditor-protection strategies.
Court of Cassation Leadership & Corporate Governance Precedents
In parallel with his Federal Supreme Court work, Hazem has secured multiple seminal judgments before the UAE Court of Cassation, including a leading precedent on mandatory acquisitions and minority shareholder squeeze-outs under Article 191 of the UAE Companies Law. This ruling clarified statutory interpretation, resolved conflicting judicial approaches, and provided critical guidance for public joint stock companies, boards of directors, shareholders, and M&A transactions, significantly strengthening legal certainty in governance and shareholder disputes.
Hazem has also represented boards of directors, senior executives, and CEOs of leading UAE banks and conglomerates in complex white-collar criminal proceedings, successfully exposing procedural violations and securing dismissals in cases involving allegations of corruption, fraud, embezzlement, breach of trust, and cheque-related offences. His ability to manage parallel civil, commercial, and criminal exposure is a defining feature of his litigation practice.
High-Value Litigation & Strategic Dispute Management
Hazem has led and advised on multi-billion-dirham disputes, particularly in the construction and real estate sectors, involving delay and disruption claims, variation disputes, liquidated damages, defective works, termination claims, and investor-related litigation. He is widely known for his innovative litigation strategies, meticulous handling of technical evidence, and commercially focused advocacy, which have consistently delivered exceptional outcomes, including achieving up to 75% reductions in client liability and successfully defending claims with exposure exceeding AED 100 million.
He has extensive experience working with court appointed experts, including engineers, accountants, auditors, and valuation specialists, and is highly regarded for his ability to translate complex technical findings into clear, persuasive legal arguments at trial, appeal, and cassation levels.
Enforcement, Banking & Cross-Border Matters
Hazem advises clients across the full spectrum of enforcement proceedings, including enforcement of local and foreign court judgments and arbitral awards (including GCC awards), provisional and precautionary attachments, asset tracing, account freezes, and execution proceedings involving third party debtors and creditors. He is frequently instructed in matters where enforcement strategy is as critical as the underlying judgment, particularly in banking and financial disputes.
He also advises banks and financial institutions on compliance with UAE court decisions and regulatory directives, including matters involving summary measures, provisional relief, and execution against complex asset structures.
International Collaboration & Professional Standing
Hazem works closely with leading law firms in the UK, Europe, and the MENA region, acting as trusted UAE counsel in cross-border litigation and enforcement matters and supporting international clients navigating the UAE judicial system.
He is also licensed as a Legal Consultant with the Dubai Legal Affairs Department. He is recognized as a Rising Star by Legal 500 (2023 and 2024) and is known for combining deep procedural knowledge, strategic clarity, and decisive advocacy in the most complex and sensitive disputes.
He handles cases at all levels of the UAE court system including Courts of Appeal and Courts of Cassation.
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