S&A LAWYERS LLP

We build strategies for our clients to resolve disputes and importantly to avoid them in the first place. Clients appreciate the precision and clarity of our advice and our emphasis on strong and close relationships.

We advise across a wide range of sectors, such as:

• Banking, insurance, and financial services
• Hospitality and real estate
• Communications and technology
• Infrastrcuture, development and construction
• Shipping and maritime
• Aviation

Our lawyers played pivotal role in drafting key legislation in the area. Our pro-bono service advises all major artist collectives in the Maldives. Our lawyers as patrons of art and hobbyist artists are deeply passionate about art. We also work closely with all major publication houses as well as production houses.   

We have unrivaled and unmatched experience and are the go-to firm for all global digital arts services for their local compliance and jurisdictional reviews. We do IP protection of all trademarks for resorts - 

Matters: 

• Acted for clients on domain name diputes _ WIPO domain name dispute resolution service

We resolve complex restructuring issues and problems arising out of the insolvency framework in Maldives. Our clients are provided with a full range of services including:

• Distressed company litigation
• Distressed mergers and acquisitions
• Board advisory services relating to its fiduciary and statutory duties
• Advice to creditors and investors of distressed companies
• Advice on cross-border restructuring matters
• Negotiating CVAs / Out-of-Court Settlements
• Advising administrators and liquidators

Our lawyers are involved in the inception and drafting of the current Employment Act. We represent clients at the Employment Tribunal, the High Court and the Supreme Court in employment matters and have successfully obtained landmark decisions where significant and important precedents have been established.

Our lawyers are engaged with parliamentary committees, statutory bodies, non-government organisation as well as other key stakeholders in discussing the implications of on-going changes to employment law. We work closely with clients to ensure that company policies and procedures are in compliance with the evolving employment law as well as informing our clients of proposed changes and new interpretations as decided by the courts in the Maldives.

Recent matters: 

• Acted as legal counsel in landmark high court decisions such as Thoriq Ali Luthufee v. Maldives Airports Company Limited and successfully established a separate test regarding the treatment of senior management employees by employers.
• Acted as legal counsels before the High Court of the Maldives for a resort client in connection with a wrongful dismissal claim where sexual harassment was alleged against the employee and successfully set a positive precedent which upheld the rights of the victim under the Act number 16/2014 (Anti Sexual Harassment Act).
• Acted as legal counsels before the Supreme Court of Maldives for a leading local bank in connection with a wrongful dismissal claim.
• Retained external lawyers for a government shareholding company with the highest recorded number of employees by advising and representing on various employment matters.
• Continues to represent and advise number of resort clients on various employment matters including reviewing employment policies and representing clients in out of court settlements.
• Acted as external lawyers for independent commissions in the Maldives before the High Court and Employment Tribunal.
• Managed a worldwide employment advisory retainer engagement for a tech client present in over 80 jurisdictions.