Interview with: Mr. Hamdan Alshamsi, Senior partner & Founder

What do you see as the main points that differentiate Hamdan AlShamsi Lawyers from your competitors?

We are relying on the best forms of management and data to ensure that the quality we are providing to the client is better than the competitor. To put more emphasis on what team we bring forward to assist the client, we find that assigning the right person to that particular client is essential as apposed to an allocation of work based on capacity.

Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that?

We see that acquisitions of medium and small companies will see an increase as well as the setup of companies that rely far less on the traditional brick and mortar model. More companies are being setup to make life, as we currently live it, easier in terms of delivering services to your doorstep which are bespoke and tailored to each individual.

What’s the main change you’ve made in the firm that will benefit clients?

Simply put, we have become a data driven firm in that we collect more data points from our clients and colleagues on the work being done and the legal field than most other firms. We have developed our own task and document management system to ensure work is delivered on time and can be accessed remotely from any location. Tasks are recorded on the system, reminders are sent and matters are followed up on.

Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them?

The ease of which we can meet our clients these days through various video conferencing solutions has lead to much more efficient use of our time and our clients. The need for physical meetings and time spent to and from such meetings has dwindled and virtual meetings have become the norm. I refer back to our own task and management systems which have allowed us to conduct our whole operation paperless has been a game changer. Creation, revisions and amendments to all deliverables are conducted through our own systems through a hierarchy of approvers and decision makers. Paperless operations are the future and the technology we have in our hands allows for such transformation.

Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business?

A practical and pragmatic approach to their legal issues is the key to the work we provide to all our clients. For example, we have methods, through the application of the laws of the UAE, to assist clients with collection of their debts from their client or customers that is both cost effective and has a high rate of