The legal sector like other professional sectors in the UAE is in the throes of change and for the law fimrs the country serves as a hub to serve the Gulf Region. Local and international firms are constantly updating their expertise to cope with the challenges that come up in new areas like Intellectual Property Rights, Ilamic Finance, Real Estate, Media, Healthcare, Sports etc.
Local firms such as Al Tamimi & Company, Hadef & Partners and Afridi & Angell have rights of audience before the local courts, something which the international firms with a dispute resolution practice in the region do not offer. The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Judicial Authority provides a common law judicial system within the financial district.
These law firms have also to cope up with the legal and administrative changes that a country like the UAE, a thriving economy, which is home to over 200 nationalities, constantly undergoes. There are many full-service as well as specialised law firms, both local and international, with branches in all the Emirates as well as overseas, that are providing excellent service to their varied clientele.
Sunil Thacker Associates
STA is an international Law Firm with Multi Jurisdictional Presence. Their Attorneys have solid transactional and dispute resolution capabilities ands specialize in corporate, commercial and civil legal services. STA’s Dubai law firm advises national and multinational corporations, financial institutions, insurance and banking clients on matters ranging from day to day business decisions to the most complex and challenging business transactions.
Al Tamimi & Company
Al Tamimi & Company is one of the premier law firms in the Middle East and the largest law firm in the region. It has particular expertise in arbitration & ADR, banking & finance, dispute resolution & litigation, IP & data security, shipping & aviation, project & infrastructure finance, real estate & construction, corporate & commercial, technology, media & telecommunications, insurance and private client. Established in 1989, with 49 partners and a staff of over 565, the firm has 14 offices in eight countries including Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and throughout the UAE in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah.
Hadef & Partners
Hadef & Partners is a leading independent UAE law firm, with more than 90 lawyers in our offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Founded in 1980 by Dr. Hadef Al Dhaheri, who served as Minister of Justice (2008-2014), the firm has grown to become an internationally respected, full-service business law firm supporting local, regional and international clients and government entities. Their lawyers come from a diverse range of backgrounds, many having trained and practiced in Western and other Middle Eastern jurisdictions, with in-house as well as private practice experience.
Allen & Overy LLP
Allen & Overy LLP, with its 85-year-old history, has been able to build on the foundations of its long heritage to attract the most talented people and develop the high-performance culture necessary to innovate and change the face of business. The firm has a truly global network now spanning 44 offices in 31 countries. We have also developed strong ties with relationship law firms in more than 100 countries where we do not have a presence. This network has allowed us to become one of the largest and most connected law firms with a global reach and local depth that is simply unrivalled. Allen & Overy is able to combine its international resources and sector expertise to work on cross-border transactions directly in the markets and regions important to clients.
Clifford Chance
Clifford Chance is celebrating 40 years in the Middle East and are well known for innovative, market-leading work. With a team of over 80 lawyers, the firm, which has an in-house Arabic capability, advises clients on domestic, regional, and international matters and have delivered many first-of-a-kind deals. We opened our first UAE office in 1975 and are well known for innovative, market-leading work. The firm advises many financial institutions, corporations and government entities on regional matters and regularly deliver complex regional and international transactions.
Clyde & Co LLP
Clyde & Co is a dynamic, rapidly expanding global law firm focused on providing a complete legal service to clients in its core sectors of worldwide commerce and trade. The firm’s combination of sector expertise, commercial attitude and in-depth regional understanding provides a unique perspective. The firm’s capability now covers every facet of the insurance and international trade markets. It mirrors clients’ operations and are early movers into key hubs for international commerce.