Middle East - United Arab Emirates
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Dispute resolution: local litigation

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Hadef & Partners

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With rights of audience in all UAE courts sitting alongside its extensive expertise in arbitration and DIFC proceedings, Hadef & Partners handles a wide spectrum of disputes, including complex fraud, asset recovery, and multi-jurisdictional litigation, supported by specialist sector knowledge in employment, construction, and maritime. Team head Abdulrahman Juma is consistently sought out by corporates, financial institutions, and government bodies to act on a wide array of commercial cases. Co-head Walid Azzam  is noted for his skill in financial crime matters, and co-head Salih Ahnish handles all forms of litigation. Ghalib Mahmoud is valued by clients for his experience and understanding of the local courts and is particularly strong in white-collar crime and shareholder disputes.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Solid knowledge in local laws. Mixture of local lawyers and international lawyers who together provide strategic advice and strong support on the ground.’

  • ‘Walid Azzam is our relationship partner. He is very knowledgeable and experienced. He advises on complex legal issues but also understand the commercial aspects and practical needs of our business. He provides strategic advice and well-planned strategies to get the best outcome whether through litigation o out of court settlements.’

  • ‘The Hadef disputes team is by far the most competent and well versed firm I have worked for on local litigation. They treat every matter in the most unique way. They know their way the local courts like no other firm I have seen and in my experience their expectations on a matter is usually spot on and they will always provide the most honest and practical legal opinions to ensure strategy is careful throughout prior to taking any action.’

  • ‘My primary contact is Ghalib Mahmoud, a partner in the disputes team. He is well versed in both Arabic and English and has a way of adopting strategy that has never been tested in the UAE courts. He knows his away around courts of all the Emirates and the DIFC and ADGM and knows how to work between all courts in an amazing fashion. He bring strategy from his past experience in the US and from every matter he has dealt with for the past several years.'

Key clients

  • KBBO
  • Drake & Scull International PJSC

Work highlights

  • Represent KBBO and SMB in several matters brought before the Dubai and Abu Dhabi Public Prosecutor by several banks alleging fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation and breach of trust relating to facilities ranging from about AED200m to $1bn.
  • Successfully advised and represented Drake & Scull International PJSC in a first of its kind restructuring under the Emergency Restructuring Procedures introduced in the wake of financial instability caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lawyers

Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Walid Azzam
Hadef & Partners LLC

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Abdulrahman Juma, Walid Azzam, Salih Ahnish

Other key lawyers

Ghalib Mahmoud