Ranked in 1 Practice Areas
2

Band 2

Family/Matrimonial: High Net Worth

United Arab Emirates

3 Years Ranked

About

Provided by Diana Hamade

High Net Worth

Expert in these Jurisdictions

Diana’s jurisdiction of expertise is the United Arab Emirates. However, she is well versed on the laws of the GCC region and the United Kingdom. She has experience dealing with the laws of Australia, Canada, England, France, Switzerland, the United States of America, and New Zealand.

Within the UAE, she has appeared across all seven emirates with a right to audience before all UAE Courts including Dubai Courts & DIFC Courts. Her portfolio in the UAE law expert area has been enhanced with practice and experience in both Sharia law and civil laws, and she speaks about UAE family law in the UAE at specialized forums.

Additionally, she has appeared before foreign courts to provide expert evidence in oral testimonies on Family Law cases in Canada (Ontario and Ottowa), the Isle of Man, The High Court of Justice in England, and the United States

Practice Areas

Diana Hamade is a highly esteemed legal practitioner renowned for her expertise in various areas of law. As a prominent figure who has the right of audience before all UAE Courts including Dubai Courts & DIFC Courts she has built an excellent reputation for advising high net-worth clients on family law issues. Additionally, she has distinguished herself with a diverse practice that spans multiple domains including inheritance and succession planning, employment law, private client practice, dispute resolution, corporate & commercial law, as well as rental & real estate. Diana Hamade is distinguished in providing expert evidence and opinion on UAE law and has provided expert opinions and evidence to several jurisdictions including the UK, Australia, Canada, and the USA. The expert evidence topics and legal opinions on Family Law matters Diana provides include child custody, child relocation/abduction, divorce, enforcement of foreign court judgments, maintenance, and prenuptial/postnuptial agreements.

Career

Diana is one of life’s do-ers. A mother of three, a wife, a philanthropist, a businesswoman, and a successful lawyer - she is the founder of Diana Hamade Attorneys at Law in Dubai, a boutique law firm based in Dubai.

She is UAE licensed lawyer with the right of audience before all UAE Courts, she is licensed by the Ministry of Justice, the Dubai Legal Affairs Department, the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, and a registered practitioner of DIFC Courts. Further, she is also a registered Wills draftsman with the DIFC Wills Service Centre.

Beyond her legal endeavors, Diana has extended her influence by featuring on Dubai One to discuss family law and divorce. Additionally, she provides valuable advice tailored to women through her magazine column with Villa 88, touching upon subjects such as the Act of Marriage, Invasive Beauty Treatments, and Shopping Online and Offline amongst others to empower her readers.

Professional Memberships

Diana Hamade is an esteemed legal practitioner with an impressive track record, and her dedication to excellence is further underscored by her active participation in numerous prestigious legal professional memberships. As a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL), Diana showcases her exceptional expertise in family law matters, particularly in the complex area of child custody. Her commitment to international legal issues is evidenced by her membership in the International Bar Association (IBA), where she actively engages as a member and presently serves as the Vice Chair for the IBA Arab Regional Forum. Moreover, Diana's commitment to professional development is apparent through her membership in various esteemed organizations. As a member of the UAE Lawyer Association, she stays connected to the legal community in the United Arab Emirates, advocating for the rights and interests of her clients. Her specialization in estate planning and trust matters is demonstrated through her membership in the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). Diana's dedication to promoting diversity and inclusivity in the legal profession is reflected in her membership with Arbitral Women, an organization that promotes women's involvement in alternative dispute resolution. Additionally, her affiliation with the Law Society further emphasizes her commitment to upholding the highest professional standards. Notably, Diana's contribution to the legal community extends to her membership in the Academy of Law (AoL) DIFC, where she shares her knowledge and expertise, enriching the legal landscape in the Dubai International Financial Centre.

Through her active participation in these esteemed legal professional memberships, Diana Hamade continues to strengthen her legal acumen, foster meaningful connections, and contribute significantly to the advancement of the legal profession. Her dedication to excellence and her commitment to staying at the forefront of legal development make her a highly regarded and respected figure in the legal community.

Publications

Diana Hamade's profound expertise in the legal field is complemented by an impressive collection of publications, reflecting her dedication to sharing her knowledge and insights with the legal community and beyond. Her book "Legally Stylish" published in 2022 is a standout publication, offering a compilation of 12 legal columns that empower women to take charge of their lives and make informed decisions. Demonstrating her commitment to staying up to date with legal developments, Diana has provided commentaries on significant legislation published by LexisNexis. In addition to these commentaries, Diana has contributed to various international legal guides, enhancing the understanding of legal practices in the MENA region. Notable among her contributions are the UAE chapter in the Chambers and Partners Private Wealth Guide 2022 and the MENA Overview Chapter in the International Comparative Legal Guide to International Arbitration 2022 and 2023. Furthermore, her valuable insights on UAE Family Law have been featured in the UAE Family Law Review 2020, published by LexisNexis. Her comprehensive knowledge of family law is further evident in her contributions to "The Family Law Book – Jurisdictional Comparisons," published by Thomson Reuters in 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2023.

Diana's commitment to informing the public extends to her role as a columnist in various esteemed publications, including the Villa88 magazine, where she authors the "Legally Stylish" column, as well as The National and the 'Brief,' where she shares her expertise on UAE legal affairs and litigation & dispute resolution topics. Her contributions to international legal publications are further exemplified in her authorship of the UAE Chapter on "International Fraud & Asset Tracing, Jurisdictional Comparisons," published by European Lawyer Reference.

As a passionate advocate for gender diversity and empowerment, Diana has also addressed crucial topics like "Women Empowerment in the Workplace" in CSR in DERC's Nov. & Dec. issues in 2004.

Experience

Diana’s career is marked by a wealth of experience earning her widespread recognition as a leading legal authority in the United Arab Emirates. She holds the distinguished position of a visiting professor at Sorbonne University, where she imparts her legal knowledge to future legal practitioners. Her prominence is further highlighted by her invitation to speak at prestigious events, such as the "Wills and Probate Seminar 2023" held in DIFC, where she shared her expertise on critical legal topics, and the Women in Law of the Arab World event, where she championed the empowerment of women in the legal profession.

Diana's passion for nurturing the next generation of lawyers is evident in her role as a mentor to aspiring legal professionals. This dedication is evident in the initiative, "Diana Hamade Thursday Space," where she addresses various legal topics every other Thursday. As one of the founding members of DIFC, she has played an instrumental role in establishing the financial center and shaping its legal framework. Notably, Diana has assisted the writing of legislation across the UAE, further solidifying her reputation as a prominent legal figure with a lasting impact on the country's legal landscape.

Diana Hamade's enduring dedication to the legal profession make her a formidable force in the UAE legal community, inspiring the future generations of lawyers.

Work Highlights

Diana Hamade, an accomplished lawyer, has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards throughout her illustrious career. In recognition of her impactful contributions to the legal industry, Diana received the prestigious "Arab Woman Legal Award" in 2016, celebrating her achievements and trailblazing efforts in promoting the role of women in the legal profession. Her dedication to providing legal insights through her publications earned her the "Author Excellence Award" from LexisNexis in 2019, as well as attaining the esteemed title of "Law Firm Leader of the Year" at the Women in Law Awards hosted by LexisNexis in 2021. Her influence and significant contributions to the legal field were further distinguished when she was granted the title of "Most Influential Female Lawyer in the UAE" by Thomson Reuters. Further, Diana was bestowed as the "Best Legal Writer" award by The National in 2013, showcasing her ability to articulate complex legal concepts with clarity and precision.

As a testament to her exemplary legal practice and exceptional boutique law firm, Diana Hamade Law Firm was honored with the "Boutique Law Firm Award of the Middle East" by LexisNexis Middle East in both 2019 and 2020. These awards further solidify Diana's position as a leading figure in the legal arena and highlight her commitment to delivering exceptional legal services to her clients.

Languages Spoken

Diana Hamade is fluent in English, Arabic, and French. She has studied law in both English and Arabic.

Education

University of Aberdeen, Scotland

LLM

United Arab Emirates University

Bachelors

Awards

Author Excellence Award

LexisNexis

2019

Law Firm Leader of the Year

LexisNexis

2021

Best Legal Writer

Thomas Reuters

2013

Boutique Law Firm Award of the Middle East

LexisNexis

2019

Boutique Law Firm Award of the Middle East

LexisNexis

2020

Arab Woman Legal Award

ITP

2016

Most Influential Female Lawyer in the UAE

Thomson Reuters

2009

Best Legal Writer

The National

2011

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