Employment | Global

Al Tamimi is a regional law firm that has one of the best employment practices in the UAE, with an impressive bench of vastly experienced lawyers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The firm is active on behalf of a diverse set of clients, including both public and private sector organisations. It further has the ability to represent clients in employment disputes at all levels of the local courts, as well as the courts of the DIFC and ADGM. The firm is recognised for its work on behalf of leading names from the IT, retail and financial services sectors and is additionally noteworthy for its expertise in employee benefits work.

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 on a wide range of matters, including executive recruitment, change management 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.

Hadef & Partners is a respected UAE law firm with a growing client base of major multinationals hailing from a range of sectors. The firm is adept at handling employment disputes in the local courts, as well as in the offshore courts of the DIFC and ADGM. Its lawyers regularly advise on HR policy matters and the drafting of employment contracts, in addition to providing support on issues arising from recruitment and performance management. The firm has notable expertise in employee benefits and executive compensation, and is also capable of assisting with dismissals and workplace investigations.

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 key market players in several sectors, including financial services, energy and education. It is adept at 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 market entry or corporate restructuring. In addition, it offers extensive knowledge regarding 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 advising on executive terminations and is also well versed in matters arising from claims of harassment and discriminatory conduct. On the non-contentious side, the employment team is frequently tasked with advising on the employment aspects of acquisitions and liquidations.

Baker McKenzie has a skilled group of lawyers in Dubai who provide a full-service offering within the employment sphere. The firm is able to give in-depth advice on a wide variety of employment matters, including those arising out of M&A transactions. It is mandated regularly on employee transfers, workplace investigations and immigration matters. The team also has considerable contentious expertise, often counselling clients on harassment cases.

The employment department at Dentons in Dubai comprises several highly experienced lawyers who are especially noted for their litigation expertise in the DIFC. Other areas of strength include advising on executive terminations and cross-border employee transfers, in addition to drafting employment contracts and advising on employment policies. The firm often acts as employment counsel for international clients newly entering the UAE market.

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.

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 at 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.