Global Advocacy & Legal Counsel

CORPORATE & COMMERCIAL

Global Advocacy and Legal Counsel’s Corporate & Commercial practice provides a full range of corporate solutions to our local, regional and international clients.

We are able to advise on all stages of a transaction, whether a small domestic transaction or a high value complex international project.  Our team provides advice on mergers, acquisitions and IPOs and assists with corporate structuring, restructuring and reorganisation, offering creative commercial solutions tailored to each client’s business needs.  We assist our clients with the negotiation of complex commercial arrangements as well as draft, review and advise on all types of agreements.  We also advise on all aspects of corporate licensing and conduct legal due diligence.

We assist companies with incorporation both inside and outside of the UAE’s free zones and are a registered agent for offshore companies in Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA).  We also provide advice on the establishment of branch and representative offices and all related agreements.

We provide specialist services in relation to the UAE’s local sponsorship rules for clients wishing to establish a business here, as well as advice and support in the management of these local sponsor relationships.

Our lawyers have a deep understanding of the local and regional legal environment and strong relationships with local authorities and regulators.  Our clients gain the benefit of our knowledge and contacts by being kept up to date with new regulations and policies to ensure they are always meeting the necessary corporate governance requirements. 

BANKING & FINANCE

Global Advocacy and Legal Counsel’s Banking & Finance team has recognised expertise and unmatched knowledge of both local and cross-border/multi-jurisdictional banking and finance transactions. We help our clients navigate through the myriad of issues they may face in today’s growingly complex modern banking system. 

From acquisition finance to securitisation, our Banking & Finance team is comprised of lawyers who are experts in Islamic banking, property finance, asset finance, project finance, insolvency and restructuring, structured finance and finance litigation.  Our experience of acting not only for arranging banks and lenders but also for credit enhancers and borrowers, in relation to a wide range of industrial and financial sectors, means we are able to anticipate and address the requirements of all parties to a transaction.  

Islamic finance

Islamic banking has grown into a global financial force and there is ever-increasing demand for Shari’ah compliant financial products. Our Islamic finance specialists have extensive experience advising on a full spectrum of Islamic finance products - from capital markets to retail – and have been involved in some of the most innovative Shari'ah compliant financing structures and transactions. 

Finance litigation

There have been major developments in the banking and finance industry in the Middle East in recent years.  The increasing number of financial products available, together with the globalisation of banking transactions, means that the scope for disputes in the banking sector is broadening, becoming more complicated and involving multiple jurisdictions.  Our Banking & Finance lawyers work closely with our Dispute Resolution team advising clients, from banks to investors, on local and international banking litigation and enforcement matters in the UAE.

CRIMINAL

Global Advocacy and Legal Counsel’s Criminal practice provides clients with bespoke legal advice and representation in all types of criminal proceedings.

Our Financial Crime team specialises in white-collar criminal cases and advises on matters covering corporate fraud and embezzlement; corruption and bribery; international judicial cooperation and anti-money laundering.  We also advise on technology crimes, including piracy and theft of information, as well as on matters involving breach of trust.  Our experienced team of lawyers are able to advise at every stage of criminal proceedings, remaining focused on our clients’ best interests when disputes threaten to harm both their business interests and reputation.

We also represent individuals in criminal matters and are able to provide clients with 24/7 assistance at police stations throughout the UAE, representation before Public Prosecution and filing of criminal complaints.  Our expert team includes former members of Dubai Police and lawyers licensed to appear before all courts of the UAE. 

LITIGATION

Global Advocacy and Legal Counsel’s Litigation team advise clients on all types of civil and commercial litigation.  We offer tailored legal solutions to each client and advise on all stages of the litigation process, from evaluating the strength of potential claims to advocating on our clients’ behalf in court.  As a local law firm, our team of highly skilled and experienced advocates and legal consultants are permitted to appear before all courts of the UAE (including the Federal Supreme Court) and the Dubai International Financial Centre. 

Internationally licensed, experienced and educated, our diverse team combine a wealth of international knowledge with unrivalled understanding of UAE law. We have acted on some of the most high-profile cases in the UAE and have recognised expertise in the following areas:

Construction
We offer our construction clients a comprehensive advisory service, from drafting and reviewing standard-form and bespoke contracts with the aim of avoiding future disputes, to representing our clients’ interests in court when disputes do arise.  Our superior knowledge of the construction industry in the UAE combined with our ability to navigate the local judicial system means we are ideally placed to support the needs of contractors, developers, consultants and financiers.

Labour
We advise clients, employers and employees, on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious labour issues in the UAE.  Our litigation team have significant experience in advising on boardroom disputes, severance claims, discrimination and breach of contract claims, settlement negotiations and all types of labour-related disputes.

Banking
There have been major developments in the banking and finance industry in the Middle East in recent years.  The increasing number of financial products available, together with the globalisation of banking transactions, means that the scope for disputes in the banking sector is broadening, becoming more complicated and involving  multiple jurisdictions.   Our specialists advise a range of clients, from banks to investors, on banking litigation and enforcement matters in the UAE.

Intellectual Property 
Our team understand the importance of protecting our clients’ intellectual property rights in the UAE.  We have considerable experience in enforcement proceedings in the UAE Courts and have successfully prosecuted cases involving disputes relating to a wide range of IP issues from patents and trademarks to infringement and copyright issues.

Administrative
Our extensive litigation experience in all Courts of the UAE also extends to the Administrative Courts. We act for clients in relation to disputes arising from all types of administrative contracts, from agency agreements to service contracts, to which governmental bodies are a party to.     

Real Estate
Our lawyers have in-depth knowledge of the federal and local laws, regulations and practices relating to real estate matters in the UAE.  We have extensive experience in real estate and property litigation and advise developers, owners, buyers and real estate companies on a broad range of disputes from the sale and acquisition of real estate to disputes between joint venture partners.
Our team also advise on landlord and tenant disputes and are supported by our specialist rent committee advisors.  We advise on lease renewals, terminations, tenancy disputes and rent reviews for commercial, retail and residential property. 

Corporate & Commercial
Working with our specialist Corporate & Commercial team, we are able to provide clients with a comprehensive service.  We advise on disputes arising from all types of commercial agreements, including:
•    Joint ventures
•    Franchising agreements
•    Distribution agreements
•    Agency agreements
•    Terms and conditions of sale of goods and service