Employment | Global

Clyde & Co's Dubai office boasts a sizeable employment team featuring some of the foremost lawyers in the UAE. The firm offers extensive experience across a variety of sectors, including energy, technology, banking and education. Its work assisting clients with the employment aspects of corporate transactions is widely viewed as a particular strength. It is also well equipped to assist with employment litigation, leveraging the strengths of the firm's top-tier Middle East disputes practice. The team is often seen advising free-zone authorities, as well as other well-known governing bodies.

The employment department at Dentons in Dubai comprises several highly experienced lawyers who are especially noted for their litigation expertise in the DIFC. Other strengths include advising on executive terminations and cross-border employee transfers, in addition to drafting employment contracts and advising on employment policies.

DLA Piper's Dubai office fields a respected team of lawyers with particular expertise relating to employment issues in the pharma and life sciences, technology and financial services sectors, often representing big-name international players. The department is active in a wide range of matters, including executive recruitment and the employment issues arising from M&A and corporate restructurings. It further benefits from the firm's extensive global footprint and has considerable experience regarding workplace investigations into possible employee malfeasance.

Pinsent Masons has an impressive employment offering in Dubai covering matters as diverse as employee transfers and workplace investigations into alleged instances of harassment. The team acts for an impressive and growing list of important market players in several key economic sectors. It is adept in both contentious and non-contentious matters, with its lawyers regularly appearing before the DIFC courts in high-stakes employment disputes. The team is also very well versed in the provisions of the UAE's 2021 Labour Law and its amendments.

Stephenson Harwood has a substantial team of employment lawyers in Dubai. The department is best known for advising employers on non-contentious contractual mandates such as those arising from day-to-day operational issues, as well as market entry and corporate restructuring. In addition, it has extensive knowledge regarding the implementation of the UAE's recent labour law and the employment implications of the DIFC's data protection laws. The team is also capable of assisting with employment issues arising from M&A and is noted for its in-house Arabic-language capabilities.

The Dubai office of Addleshaw Goddard maintains a group of skilled employment lawyers whose work has a notable emphasis on employment litigation, particularly within the DIFC and ADGM. The department is experienced in advising on executive terminations and is also well versed in matters arising from claims of harassment and discriminatory conduct.

The UAE employment team at Eversheds stands out particularly for its strong understanding of immigration matters. It is often retained by prominent local organisations, as well as large multinational companies, to advise on cross-border mandates. In doing so, the team often co-ordinates with other offices across the Eversheds network, as well as with law firms located throughout the Middle East. The firm offers extensive sector expertise in finance, TMT and education. It has a wide-ranging offering, with the capacity to advise on both contentious and non-contentious employment matters onshore, as well as in the DIFC and ADGM.

Hadef & Partners is a respected UAE-based law firm with notable experience in handling employment disputes in the local courts, as well as the offshore courts of the DIFC and ADGM. Its lawyers are well versed in representing clients in contractual employment issues and executive dismissals.

Squire Patton Boggs fields a notable employment team in its Dubai office. The group represents major clients hailing from a diverse range of industries and is highly experienced regarding employment-related issues arising in the DIFC. The team is accomplished in developing and reviewing employment contracts as well as providing advice on immigration and employee benefits. It also offers considerable know-how in employer data protection obligations.

Afridi & Angell has a solid employment practice in Dubai that is instructed by a number of multinational organisations. The firm regularly represents clients in wrongful dismissal and executive termination disputes. On the employee benefits side, the team's lawyers have experience regarding the implementation of employee share plans. The firm is well accustomed to representing clients in the DIFC courts and is additionally notable for its significant arabophone capabilities.

Alsuwaidi & Company is a well-established Emirati law firm. It maintains a noteworthy employment practice whose lawyers are well equipped to assist with both contentious and advisory matters, including terminations and contract drafting. The team has full rights of audience before the Emirati courts and also has experience advising on the development of employment legislation.

Horizons & Co Law Firm is a prominent Emirati law firm with offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It is widely noted for its capabilities in dispute resolution, with the ability to represent clients in the "onshore" UAE courts as well as in arbitration. In addition, it assists with a range of non-contentious employment matters, including the drafting of employment contracts and policies.

KBH is an established Dubai-based law firm with a strong focus on dispute resolution, including in the realm of employment matters. Its compact employment group regularly acts for individual executives in disputes against former employers, with considerable experience in discrimination claims. KBH is also highly capable when it comes to representing employers, including professional services firms.