A ‘very cohesive and responsive team’, Stephenson Harwood Middle East LLP collaborates with the firm’s international network on cross-border business restructurings, incentives arrangements, and employment litigation. Kiersten Lucas is particularly skilled at internal investigations, restrictive covenants, as well as the employment aspects of international data protection and privacy. Emily Aryeetey advises DFSA-regulated employers on financial services regulations, Laura Anderson is well versed in immigration matters. Since publication, Youssab Rafla left the firm.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘As in prior years, this continues to be a strongly cohesive and professional team which works in total and complete collaboration with each other – this being a key ingredient to ensure our company (as clients) get the most integrated outcome possible.’
  • ‘The employment team at SH is a very cohesive and responsive.’
  • ‘Kiersten Lucas and her team are highly competent, experts in their field, professional, and they have the unique ability to ensure there is a practical and reasonable approach to the work they do.’
  • ‘Kiersten Lucas stands out due to her tailored approach. In our case, she not only focused and delivered on the scope of work as requested but also proactively proposed long-term practical solutions and considerations to our HR team. This wholesome approach is very much appreciated from an in-house perspective.’

Key clients

  • A. T. Kearney
  • VEOLIA Water Technologies and Solutions
  • Western Bulk Middle East DMCC
  • Access Hire
  • Accord Healthcare MENA DMCC
  • Adenza Group Inc
  • ADNOC Group
  • AES International
  • Al Tayer Group
  • Amplify Marketing Agency DMCC
  • Arcus Infrastructure Partners
  • Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP.
  • Atlas Mara Banking Group
  • Bank of China
  • Cleartrip Inc
  • Edenhurst Capital Limited
  • Fun Fashion FZCO
  • Galderma International SAS / Galderma Middle East FZ LLC
  • Hamburg Sud
  • Hanover Communications Middle East
  • Inspired Education Group
  • Interoperability Middle East Technology LLC
  • Kaya Skin Clinic
  • LGT Group
  • Loro Piana SpA
  • M&C Saatchi
  • Maviga DMCC (part of ED&F Man Group)
  • Mizuho Group
  • National Oilwell Varco
  • Peacock Group Holdings
  • Robert Walters
  • Sentinel Commodities DMCC
  • Shalina Resources
  • Simcorp Limited
  • TMF Group
  • Trident Trust (I.O.M) Limited
  • TSA Group
  • Uberbinder, Inc / Uberbinder Limited
  • United Insurance Brokers (UIB) (DIFC) Ltd

Work highlights

  • Advising Al Tayer Group on Middle East employment law and litigation.
  • Advised VEOLIA Water Technologies and Solutions on UAE employment matters.
  • Advised SimCorp on employment and employment-linked matters arising in the UAE and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

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.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Kiersten Lucas, Emily Aryeetey

Other key lawyers

Laura Anderson