United Advocates

Our litigation team is comprised of highly experienced lawyers qualified to practice in diverse jurisdictions. Our advocates are qualified to represent clients before the various UAE courts and tribunals. We are also registered to represent clients in the DIFC courts. We have lawyers with specific focus in specialised areas of law and disputes. Our strength lies in our knowledge of UAE laws and practical experience in dealing with a variety of cases. We are regularly instructed by foreign law firms and companies to advise and strategize on local court cases and litigation procedures and matters.

Our litigation experience includes:

• Prosecuting and defending civil and commercial claims including real estate and construction contracts, rental and labor disputes, criminal and personal affairs cases and all types of urgent matter cases, from First Instance to Cassation Court.
• Appealing judgments and preparing the required documentation as well as executing judgments.
• Filing and dealing with police complaints and representing clients before the relevant authorities.

The following are examples of our recent matters:

• Successfully represented a well-known UAE contractor in attaching the liquidation of a $75 million bank guarantee against a major international contractor.
• Representing a number of European citizens with complex criminal charges before the UAE authorities.
• Obtained a successful judgment in the labor Court for a private client of an amount of AED 500,000.

Our corporate team advises on an extensive range of legal issues concerning inbound and outbound investments, strategic alliances and collaborations in the UAE and across the Middle East.  We often work alongside foreign law firms and accounting firms as Local Counsel to advise them on relevant UAE laws that apply to their cross-border transactions. We also assist many foreign entities on procuring regulatory licenses and approvals.

We regularly advise clients of all backgrounds from Government owned companies and public listed companies to individual entrepreneurs about establishing or expanding their presence in the UAE and across the Middle East. This often entails a review of both offshore and onshore corporate entities and the risks and benefits of operating in or outside of the many free zones in the UAE.

Our Corporate & Commercial experience includes:

• Advising on corporate set-ups and structuring, joint ventures, agency, distribution, manufacturing, franchising, consultancy, outsourcing, services, sale of goods, general trading and many other forms of commercial activities.
• Advising and drafting company’s constitutional documents such as Memorandum of Association, Articles of Association and shareholders’ agreement, and many types of commercial agreements to support our clients’ businesses and daily operations.

The following are examples of our recent matters:

• Assisting a well-recognized European travel and tourism company to set up its branch in the UAE to provide services in the Middle East.
• Advising a high profile Indian university to set up an educational institute in Ajman.
• Advising several Chinese public listed companies in relation to the setting up of their regional offices in the UAE.

Our team has hands on experience in drafting a variety of contracts and agreements for the real estate development and property sales and leasing markets. We act on behalf of a wide range of diverse clients including international corporations, financial institutions, property developers, construction and engineering companies and government and state-owned entities.

Our Real Estate expertise includes:

• Advising on various land development joint ventures, short term and long term leases, sale and purchase of residential, commercial and retail units.
• Acquisition, disposal and financing of major commercial, retail and industrial properties, as well as tourism and leisure assets.
• Development, joint ventures and management advice and assistance.
• Due diligence and preparation of reports to assist with property and corporate acquisitions, disposals, restructurings, financing, and securities.
• Retail, residential and commercial long-term and short-term leasing and associated property management and tenancy issues.

The following are examples of our recent matters:

• Advising a prominent British owned Real Estate Development company in the negotiation and formation of a local joint venture for a project in Dubai.
• Advising and assisting a Chinese company in the preparation of legal documentation for the sale of off plan residential property in Dubai.
• Carrying out due diligence for a French client and advising on the procedures in relation to the purchase of property in Dubai.