Afridi & Angell

Bankruptcy and Insolvency

Our bankruptcy and insolvency practice is a pioneer in the region and offers unmatched insight into and knowledge of the market.

The firm has handled insolvency matters in the UAE for decades, amassing experience and insights that are unique in the market. The firm has advised lenders and other claimants in respect of the public sector defaults that resulted from the 2008/2009 economic downturn.

Over the years, we have contended with insolvencies under the 2016 Bankruptcy Law, under the Commercial Code prior to that, and under the ad hoc system that existed before that. We have dealt with special tribunals and local and foreign courts, representing liquidators, lenders, shareholders, directors and employees.

Being a UAE-based law firm with unmatched history and depth of experience in the jurisdiction, we are uniquely placed to provide valuable practical insights into the risks and benefits associated with corporate structures in the region, as well as to implement the structures we recommend.

Corporate and Commercial

Our team prides itself on its high degree of capability and innovation which are enhanced by many years of experience in the corporate and commercial field.

Afridi & Angell has a track record of advising clients in leading corporate transactions in the region.  We pride ourselves on our innovation and ability to bring commercial acumen to a broad variety of matters in respect of our clients’ inward and outward investment activities and joint ventures as well as their ongoing corporate, financial and commercial matters.

We assist our corporate clients in their day-to-day legal requirements including advising on the structuring and establishment of businesses in the UAE; advising on corporate compliance, corporate governance, agency law, and anti-bribery and corruption.  We also draw together experts from across the firm in key areas impacting the corporate, commercial and retail sectors including contracting, corporate finance, technology, intellectual property, employment, financial services, real estate, litigation and dispute resolution.

In addition to our corporate expertise, commercial contracting is another core practice of the firm and our lawyers have advised clients in the public and private sectors on domestic and cross-border agreements. We assist clients in preparing a broad range of commercial agreements and in particular agreements for complex multi-jurisdictional corporate restructurings, supply and distribution agreements, asset and equity acquisition agreements, and labour and employment agreements. We also have extensive experience in drafting and negotiating software agreements, technology licensing and outsourcing agreements, software development and licensing agreements, and software support and maintenance agreements.

We advise  clients in the energy, infrastructure and construction industries on bidding and contracting. Our lawyers are well versed on the bidding and tender regulation in the UAE and the UAE federal laws governing contracts of public works, services and supplies. In addition to the federal law, we are also familiar with the specific provisions regulating government procurement activities for each individual Emirate.

Dispute Resolution

Afridi & Angell’s dispute resolution practice is unrivalled.

Our dispute resolution team is recognised as one of the strongest in the UAE. Our in-depth knowledge of the law and court procedure, commercial approach and ability to offer workable solutions is valued by clients. We represent clients in civil and criminal matters with a number of our lawyers having advocacy rights to appear before the DIFC Courts. In the local courts, our team assists and coordinates litigations with local advocates to develop strategies, evaluate facts and formulate legal positions for clients in the enforcement of awards and judgments. We built very close working relationships with UAE advocates which enable us to instruct the right advocate for the job and in supervising the case. We also work closely with notable and leading barrister chambers in London to provide clients with the best options for advocacy in arbitral proceedings (up to senior Queens’ Counsel level), if such is required.

Our team is very active in arbitrations under various arbitration rules including the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the DIFC-LCIA Arbitration Centre and the Abu Dhabi Commercial Conciliation & Arbitration Centre (ADCCAC). We represent clients in international and ad hoc arbitrations. Such cases have involved concessions, constructions contracts, contractual payment claims, banking matters, commercial agencies, partner disputes, foreign currency, futures trading and other investment matters.

Employment

Our Employment team, which advises on non-contentious and contentious employment matters, is one of the most highly regarded in the UAE.

We are recognised for our commercial, practical and workable advice in respect of all commercial aspects of the employer/employee relationship.

Our partners are well versed in all aspects of UAE and DIFC employment matters and work with local and international companies to ensure compliance with UAE and DIFC labour and immigration laws. We assist clients in reviewing existing and drafting new employment contracts for all levels of staff, senior management and directors. We also assist clients in the review and drafting of employee handbooks, advise them on compensation and incentive schemes, as well as enforcement of non-compete clauses.

We have extensive experience in negotiating settlements and coordinate closely with our Dispute Resolution team should a matter proceed to court or arbitration.

Insurance

We have been closely involved in setting-up of and advising the leading life insurance providers in the UAE.

In addition to providing general corporate, commercial and employment advice, we regularly advise insurance companies in relation to insurance claims and with respect to regulatory issues facing companies, brokers and agents.

Additionally,  we act for a number of P&I clubs on maritime insurance matters, and advise lenders and companies on matters relating to ECA insurance facilities.

Real Estate

Our Real Estate team’s in-depth understanding of the legal and business environments in the UAE and the region, combined with its strong relationships with government authorities, enables it to provide commercially astute and trusted advice to clients.

The team regularly represents master developers, sub-developers, property owners, architects, engineers, contractors and government entities in all stages of the real estate and construction processes.  The team has a wealth of experience in advising on purchase and sale transactions, hotel management structuring and transactions, leasing, jointly owned property strategies and documentation, and related court cases and arbitrations.

Afridi & Angell successfully led a lawyer’s group consisting of real estate partners from major law firms with offices in the UAE in negotiating with the Dubai government to establish the legal opinion precedent to be used with respect to the newly introduced jointly owned property law’s mandatory regulatory filing requirements of Jointly Owned Property Declarations.  This was a first in Dubai - setting the market standard.

In addition to advising clients on day to day real estate matters, the head of our real estate team, Shahram Safai, is involved in the development of the legal framework for real estate and is a lecturer on a number of the Government’s professional development courses which focus on current legal developments in real estate.

We also represent clients in contentious matters involving concessions, constructions contracts, contractual payment claims, and commercial agencies.