Global Advocacy and Legal Counsel

Global Advocacy and Legal Counsel is a leading Middle Eastern law firm.Established in 2002, we have offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Muscat and Amman, providing local, regional, and international clients with a full business law service.

Internationally licensed, experienced, and educated, our diverse team combine a wealth of knowledge from around the globe, including the UAE, Oman, US, UK, Australia, Germany, Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan.We are permitted to practice local law in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate, and our teams of highly skilled and experienced advocates and legal consultants have rights of audience before the local courts, including the Dubai International Financial Center and Abu Dhabi Global Market Courts in the UAE.

Our clients depend on our comprehensive understanding of local law and in-depth knowledge of the region’s legal systems.They are assured of consistently receiving the very highest quality service. Most importantly, they trust that we will always provide tailored advice to meet their business goals and find the most commercial legal solutions to the challenges they face.

Main Areas of Practice:

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 representing our client in court. We are permitted to practice law in each of the jurisdictions we operate, this includes onshore courts as well as certain ‘offshore’ free zone courts, as found in the Dubai International Financial Centre and the Abu Dhabi Global Market. Our teams of highly skilled and experienced advocates and legal consultants also have rights of audience before the various local courts, for instance in the UAE, this includes all onshore courts as well as the UAE Federal Supreme Court.

Our litigation department is divided into teams, with cases distributed amongst members depending on the particular practice areas or relevant areas of expertise and experience. Each team has its own Team Leader (a partner or senior associate), and consists of a case manager, associates, and paralegals. Roles are delegated to each team member according to the case facts and legal issues involved with appropriate levels of work distributed appropriately in order to ensure efficient and cost-effective management of the case. Team members coordinate with each other in fact finding and legal analysis, presenting their work for review by a team leader.Regular reports are sent to the client so that the client is kept informed of the case status and is made aware as and when any new developments occur.

Internationally licensed, experienced and educated - our diverse teams 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 GCC and have recognized expertise in the areas listed below.

Construction
We offer our construction clients a comprehensive advice 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 combined with our ability to navigate the local judicial systems means we are ideally placed to support the needs of contractors, developers, consultants, and financers.

Labor
We advise clients, employers, and employees on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious labor issues, in relation to both local and multinational employment contracts. 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 labor-related disputes.

Property
Our lawyers have in-depth knowledge of the federal and local laws, regulations and practices relating to real estate matters. 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.

Intellectual Property
Our team understand the importance of protecting our clients’ intellectual property rights. We have considerable experience in enforcement proceedings in the local 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.

Healthcare
We act for a range of healthcare clients, including physicians, pharmacies, health insurers, hospitals and other medical establishments and provide advice on risk management and dispute avoidance. When disputes do arise, we are able to represent our clients on matters from medical malpractice claims to complaints filed before the Ministry of Health.

Administrative
Our extensive litigation experience 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.

Common Law
Global Advocacy and Legal Counsel’s specialized Common Law disputes department provides clients with litigation and advisory services in relation to the conduct of business in the Courts at the Dubai International Financial Centre (the “ DIFC ”) and Abu Dhabi Global Market (the “ ADGM ”), including:

-Litigation before the DIFC and ADGM courts.
-Employment law advice.
-Corporate and commercial advice; and
-Regulatory advice

Global has a number of practitioners licensed to practice before the DIFC and ADGM Courts with our teams combining both DIFC/ADGM court expertise together with extensive UAE, English and common law based legal knowledge. Our lawyers regularly conduct DIFC/ADGM court litigation at both the Court of First Instance and Court of Appeal levels, as well as advise clients on the conduct and strategy of Small Claims Tribunal cases.

Whilst dispute resolution is our core strength, the team is dedicated to assisting its clients in growing and maximizing business opportunities, while at the same time minimizing risk exposure, in particular by focusing on drafting appropriate commercial contracts and dispute resolution provisions, both for DIFC and ADGM entities and those wishing to opt into the jurisdiction of the DIFC or ADGM courts.

Uniquely, by combining our extensive UAE, English and common law experience, we are able to offer clients a distinct advantage in obtaining advice on English and common law matters in the context of a sound understanding of the wider UAE legal framework and UAE court procedures.

Commercial Arbitration
Global Advocacy and Legal Counsel’s commercial arbitration team has extensive experience in both domestic and international arbitration.We represent a broad range of clients in both ad hoc and institutional arbitration, including key leading international arbitration institutes such as the International Chamber of Commerce (the “ ICC ”), the London Court of International Arbitration (the “ LCIA ”) and the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (“ SIAC ”) as well as closer to home before the newly restructured Dubai International Arbitration Centre (“ DIAC ”) and the Abu Dhabi Global Market Arbitration Centre (the “ ADGM Arbitration Centre ”).

With offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Jordan, and Oman, we are also regularly appointed to represent clients regionally in domestic arbitration proceedings before DIAC and the ADGM Arbitration Centre but also before the Abu Dhabi Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration Centre (“ ADCCAC ”), the ICC-UAE, the Sharjah International Commercial Arbitration Centre (“ Tahkeem ”) and the International Islamic Centre for Reconciliation and Arbitration (“ IICRA ”).We also cover other key jurisdictions, including Ras Al Khaimah, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain.

Our team members are multilingual and can conduct complex arbitrations in English and Arabic, are admitted to practice in a wide range of jurisdictions and sit on the arbitrator panels for several international arbitral institutes including the ICC, DIAC, the Saudi Centre for Commercial Arbitration (the “ SCCA ”), Tahkeem, the Japan Commercial Arbitration Association (“ JCAA ”) as well as the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (“ SCIA ”) and Qingdao Arbitration Commission (“ QDAC ”) in China.Our practice leader is also a member of the European Commission’s EU Trade Disputes panel.

We advise on all stages of arbitration proceedings and advocate on our clients’ behalf in arbitration hearings. With support from our top-ranked litigation team, we also assist with ratification and enforcement of domestic and international arbitral awards and where necessary, resisting the recognition of foreign awards. We have acted on some of the most complex, high value arbitrations in the Middle East.The expertise of our arbitration lawyers has seen our team members appointed as local legal experts on many international and domestic cases.

Our experience spans all industry sectors including:
-Construction 
-Oil & gas
-Corporate & commercial
-Real estate
-Mergers & acquisitions
-International Trade, Shipping, and Insurance

Banking & Finance
Global Advocacy and Legal Counsel’s Banking & Finance team has recognized 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 and regulated modern banking system.

From acquisition finance to securitization, 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.

Corporate & Commercial
Global Advocacy and Legal Counsel’s Corporate and 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 reorganization, 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 drafting, reviewing and advising 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 free zones and we are a registered agent for offshore companies in the UAE’s Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA). We also provide advice on the establishment of branch and representative offices and all related agreements.

Corporate Governance Advice
We advise clients on governance issues including best practices, conflicts of interests, risk management, reviewing bylaws and guidelines, committee charters, codes of ethics and other governance-related materials designed to comply with legal and regulatory requirements and best practices.

We also advise on and assist our clients in managing the board of directors and shareholders matters, including relevant authorities and separation of powers, assisting in preparing meetings invites, agenda and proxies along with advising on the minimum notice periods and regulatory requirements to abide by.

Our team of lawyers values the fundamental principles of good practice and applies such principles to their work methodology. Our lawyers are praised for being highly responsible and knowledgeable in their areas of expertise and always abide by a professional code of conduct.

Corporate, Capital Markets, Corporate Structuring, and Legal Advice
Our team of corporate lawyers are experienced in liaising on behalf of clients in relation to licensing and regulatory matters for businesses in various sectors including healthcare, education, construction, tourism, telecommunications as well as the financial sector.

We regularly deal with the Departments of Economic Development across the Emirates in the UAE, the Securities and Commodities Authority, Ministry of Economy, Dubai Municipality, Knowledge and Human Development Authority, and the Department of Tourism and Economy in Dubai.

We also advise on the extensive licensing and regulatory requirements and have experience incorporating and assisting with applications in relation to brokerage firms, schools, healthcare services providers as well as various other businesses.

Furthermore, our team is experienced in advising clients on the regulatory requirements for maintaining the relevant commercial and professional licenses.

In this context, we provide high level and detailed Legal Advice and studies in matters referred by our clients, such as: investment options, business incorporation, legal compliance, employment and labor matters, leasing and tenancy laws, local licensing regulations, acquisitions, corporate structuring and restructuring, security, interpretations of applicable laws.

Corporate (Re)Structuring and Mergers & Acquisitions
We also advise clients on all legal aspects in the M&A process, including deal negotiation and transaction documents, due diligence and disclosure letters, pre-closing and post-closing actions, regulatory approvals, and deal closings for both share and asset transactions. Our M&A team advise clients on acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, mergers and share swaps.

Our lawyers have broad experience in M&A transactions, ranging from local to cross border transactions. Their skill and diligence in advising on deals have proven a great asset in helping clients mitigate risk and achieve their goals in industries including construction, hospitality, healthcare, education, and technology.

Our team has worked on the restructuring of one of the UAE’s largest private sector healthcare services providers (NMC Healthcare Group), including assisting in the re-domiciliation of several of its subsidiaries from the regulatory jurisdiction of the UAE onshore Departments of Economic Development to a freezone.

In this regard, we advise clients on all legal aspects of corporate and financial restructuring processes which includes:

·Debt refinancing write-offs and amalgamation.
·Company shares capital reorganization and division of share classes
·Share swaps and takeovers
·Management buyouts
·Strategic shareholder introduction and exit
·Asset and company spin off and carve out
·Post-acquisition or merger integration
·Third party contract revisions post acquisition or merger

Commercial Arrangements & Joint Venture Agreements
We assist our clients with the negotiation, drafting and reviewing of complex commercial arrangements, contractual obligations and negotiating on behalf of our clients with counterparties. We have successfully closed several joint venture deals, some of which included governmental entities as parties to the agreement.

We pride ourselves in the excellent negotiators we have among our team who always use their best efforts to solve any dispute amicably, if possible.Where an amicable solution cannot be found, we are able to call upon our colleagues in our top-tier ranked litigation department in working together to build a strong case and preserving our clients’ best interests.

General Corporate and Commercial advice (i.e., including distribution, franchise, outsourcing and IT agreements)

We assist our clients in the negotiation of complex commercial arrangements as well as draft, review and advise on all types of agreements offering creative commercial solutions tailored to each client’s specific business needs. We have previous experience in drafting, reviewing, and advising on:

·Memorandums of understanding with different entities, some of which were governmental institutions.
·Commercial agreements of any kind, such as: sale and purchase agreements, shareholders agreements, employment agreement, commercial real estate development agreements, joint Venture agreements, service agreements and residential lease agreements, loan agreements
·Financial agreements.
·Settlement agreements whether during tribunals or other.
·Internal labor policies, regulations and revising internal decisions from a legal perspective as well as corporate documents; resolutions, memorandums of association and any addenda.

We are also experienced in drafting and reviewing intellectual property related agreements including the following:

·Supply contracts, including the provision of services;
·Distribution agreements;
·Franchise agreements, including master franchise agreements;
·License agreements;
·Subscription agreements and relevant e-agreements such as privacy policies and Terms and conditions;
·Service level agreements; and
·Software services agreements.

Property and real estate law in the UAE (all Emirates)
We advise clients on all aspects of real estate transactions including residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments, land acquisitions and development.We also advise on hotel and resort development projects and real estate litigation.

Our lawyers have in-depth knowledge of the federal and local laws, regulations and practices relating to real estate matters.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.

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 specializes in white-collar criminal cases and advises on matters including:

-Corporate fraud.
-Embezzlement.
-Corruption and bribery.
-Anti-money laundering.
-Breach of trust; and
-Cybercrime.

We also advise on technological 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, representation before Public Prosecution and filing of criminal complaints. Our expert team includes former police officers and law.

Offices
Local Presence (United Arab Emirates):
Global was established in the United Arab Emirates with offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Dubai:
Established in 2002, having their official business address at: 21st Floor, Rolex Tower, PO Box 93443, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Primary Contact: Mr. Ali Al Hashimi
Email:[email protected]

Abu Dhabi:
Established in 2012, Floor 16, Blue Sky Tower, Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street, Capital Centre, PO Box 47167, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Primary Contact: Mr. Nasser Al Osaiba
Email:[email protected]

Regional Presence:
Global has partnership offices in the Sultanate of Oman and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, all of which are considered part of Global’ s group in the region.

Sultanate of Oman:
Established in 2017; having their official business address at: Floor 2, Horizon Building, Way No. 3036, Al Saruj Street, Shatti Al Qurum, P.O. Box 2292 PC133 Al Khuwair, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.

Primary Contact: Mr. Abdullah Al Owimari
Email: [email protected]

Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan:
Established in 2019; having their official business address at: Office 816, 8th Floor, 158 Al Hijaz Towers for Investment, Mekkah Road, Amman, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Primary Contact: Mr. Murad Abida
Email:[email protected]