Dee Popat

Dee Popat is Partner and Head of the Family Law Department at James Berry & Associates, one of Dubai’s longest-established legal consultancies. Admitted as a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England & Wales in 2003 and licensed by the Legal Affairs Department of Dubai in 2014, Dee brings over two decades of dual-jurisdictional legal expertise to complex, high-stakes private client matters.

Dee is recognized across the Middle East and UK as a leading authority in cross-border matrimonial law, specializing in multi-jurisdictional financial disputes, international child relocation, and complex asset structuring for High-Net-Worth (HNW) and Ultra-High-Net-Worth (UHNW) individuals.

With a deep understanding of the delicate balance between UAE Personal Status Laws and English Common Law, Dee provides bespoke legal strategies for Dubai’s diverse expatriate and high-net-worth community. Known for her analytical rigor and compassionate approach, she regularly contributes legal analysis to UAE national publications and legal forums, cementing her reputation as one of Dubai's preeminent family law practitioners.

Jurisdictional & Professional Credentials

• Admitted as Solicitor: Senior Courts of England & Wales (2003) | SRA ID: 326653

• Legal Consultant: Legal Affairs Department of Dubai (2014)

• Education: LL.B. (Hons), London Guildhall University;

Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (LPC), Thames Valley University

• Languages: English (Native), Gujarati (Fluent), Hindi (Fluent)

• Affiliations & Social Impact: Member of the International Business Women’s Group (Dubai); active supporter of the Dubai Foundation for Women & Children; Founder of the firm’s fortnightly Matrimonial Clinic.

Key Areas of Expertise

• Cross-Border Matrimonial & HNW Financial Disputes: Complex asset division, trust structures, jurisdiction disputes between the UK and UAE, and securing freezing injunctions for overseas assets.

• International Family & Child Law: Hague Convention matters, international relocation, custody disputes, and statutory declarations for cross-border adoption.

• Wealth Protection & Marital Agreements: Strategic drafting and enforcement of pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, Islamic marriage contracts, and wealth preservation mechanisms across dual jurisdictions.

• Private Client & Cross-Border Advisory: Expert advisory on UK immigration pathways, independent legal advice for UK mortgages and loans, and Commissioner for Oaths services.