Our Services
We provide a wide range of services in several jurisdictions and financial hubs around the world
Regulatory and Legal Authorisation Services for Businesses
Obtaining regulatory authorisations and approvals.
Business licence applications.
Regulatory risk assessment.
Regulatory body liaison and representation.
Compliance risk assessments and design of compliance controls.
Training on compliance and regulation.
Regulatory investigations including investigations on behalf of regulator and representing businesses under investigation.
Cross-border regulatory matters.
Legal Representation in UAE Free Zones governed by English Law e.g. DIFC & ADGM
Our UK and US-qualified lawyers can independently represent you, to the extent permissible, in English law governed UAE Free Zones such as DIFC and ADGM. Other services include the following:
Advice on multi-jurisdictional disputes.
Representation in other jurisdictions including the UK and the US.
Dispute resolution including support, guidance and strategy for arbitration and mediation for any disputes subject to English Law or in DIFC or ADGM.
Negotiating to resolve international commercial disputes out of court.
Legal Documentation and Certification
Certification of documentation (including certifying true copies and identities) in jurisdictions and Free Zones subject to English Law and Common Law (including but not limited to DIFC, ADGM, the UK, US and others) for international use.
Attestations in jurisdictions and Free Zones subject to English Law and Common Law (including but not limited to DIFC, ADGM, the UK, US and others) for international use.
Negotiating and drafting corporate and commercial documentation and international legal agreements.
Business and Personal Banking Set Up
We have deep working relationships with domestic and international banks and this allows us to provide fast and effective banking set up services.
Guidance on business banks in the UAE and assessment to select the most suitable business banking services.
Guidance on personal banks in the UAE and assessment to select most suitable personal banking services.
Guidance on banking products and services.
Guidance on investment banking services.
Financial transaction optimisation.
Banking relationship management including holding authorised delegate / signatory status and banking dispute resolution.
Tax
Tax compliance guidance and tax regulation interpretation.
Guidance on interpretation and implementation of UAE Corporate Tax regime.
Guidance on small business tax relief and exemptions.
Guidance for qualifying Free Zone persons under UAE tax regimes.
Corporate tax assessments and filings.
Preparation and submission of tax returns.
Tax reviews and reporting oversight.
Liaison with governmental tax authorities and regulators.
Internal tax compliance framework review and recommendations.
Guidance on record-keeping processes.
Company Incorporation, Set Up and Expansion
Guidance on selecting between Free Zones and UAE Mainland.
Business activity selection and code mapping.
Company incorporation in both UAE Mainland and in various Free Zones.
Company registration and trade licence support.
Assistance with drafting company documents including Articles of Association, Memorandums of Association and board resolutions.
Guidance on office lease agreements and registered addresses.
Support with initial corporate compliance and regulatory filings.
Visas and immigration - advice and arrangements.
Company seal creation.
Corporate Governance and Structuring
Corporate governance risk assessments.
Due diligence.
Board executive appointments.
Guidance on fiduciary duties for company executives.
Guidance on understanding directorial duties and liabilities.
Guidance on appointing Non-Executive Directors.
Executive role creation and oversight.
Company strategy and business planning.
Organisational structure optimisation and redesign.
Corporate secretarial services.
Corporate Strategy
Company strategy and business planning.
Corporate strategy development and execution.
Commercial and operational risk assessment.
Design and implementation of risk mitigation frameworks.
Corporate governance and compliance guidance.
Financial decision-making support.
Corporate remediation and business continuity planning.
Stakeholder engagement and communications advisory.
Digital content management.
Research and Analytics
Market and competitor research.
Competitor benchmarking and comparative business analysis.
Industry landscape reviews and market positioning assessments.
Investment round preparation and investor-ready reporting.
Market sizing and growth opportunity analysis.
Pricing, product and service benchmarking.
SWOT, PESTEL and strategic positioning analysis.
Customer sentiment, reputation and brand perception analysis.
Preparation of executive reports, strategic summaries and intelligence briefings.
Data analysis, dashboard reporting and business intelligence support.
Risk Management Services and Project Management Services
Risk assessments.
Risk mitigation guidance and strategy.
Risk management framework design and implementation.
Horizon scanning.
Design and implementation of risk mitigation controls and frameworks.
Resource planning, organisation and control assistance.
Project timeline and schedule establishment.
Project monitoring and execution.
Project budgetary controls development and financial oversight.
Defamation Response and Reputation Management
Our experts have helped major businesses and individuals to combat libel and respond to defamatory statements / reputational harm across digital, print and broadcast media. We successfully secured retractions, corrections and editorial clarification statements. Services include the following:
Removal of defamatory or harmful content.
Prevention of further dissemination or publication.
Claimant compensation for loss of reputation.
Publication of editorial statements countering defamatory allegations.
Strategic advice on reputational risk and media response.
Liaison with publishers, platforms and legal representatives.
Crisis Management and Financial Scandal Response
Our experts have supported leading global investment banks and multinational corporates to respond to major headline-hitting scandals. We help clients in managing sensitive situations which attract significant media, regulatory and stakeholder scrutiny. Services include the following:
Strategic crisis response planning and execution.
Advice on market abuse, market manipulation and trading-related allegations.
Support in responding to regulatory inquiries and investigations.
Coordination with legal, compliance and communications teams.
Media and stakeholder response during active crises.
Assessment and mitigation of reputational, regulatory and commercial risk.
Post-incident review and remediation planning.
Liaison with regulators, exchanges and relevant authorities.
Financial Crime
Financial crime risk assessments including anti-money laundering, anti-bribery, anti-corruption, terrorist financing detection, etc.
Financial crime controls - design and implementation.
Financial crime regulatory reporting and filings.
Financial crime policies and procedures - design and implementation.
Sanctions screening and monitoring.
Transaction monitoring and suspicious activity reporting.
Customer due diligence (CDD) and enhanced due diligence (EDD) guidance.
KYC and other checks.
Financial crime training by our international financial crime experts.
Islamic Finance
Shari’a compliance assessments.
Official verification of products as Shari'a compliant.
Guidance on structuring Shari’a-compliant financing solutions.
Guidance on Sukuks and other investments.
Guidance on Islamic investment products and portfolios.
Shari’a governance framework development and review.
Shari’a audit and compliance support.
Training and awareness programs on Islamic finance principles.
Guidance on Islamic insurance (Takaful) products.
Guidance on Riba and other Islamic finance principles.
Due diligence on Islamic financial institutions and partners.
Artificial Intelligence and Tech
Guidance on AI-related regulations and laws including interpretation and applicability.
Guidance on interpretation and applicability of the UAE Charter for the Development and Use of AI and National AI Ethics Guidelines.
AI-related compliance controls - design and implementation.
Tech stack and architecture reviews.
Engagement and representation with regulatory bodies, e.g., UAE AI Office (Ministry of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy & Remote Work Applications), UAE Council for Artificial Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence & Advanced Technology Council (AIATC).
Audit readiness, ISO certifications and gap analysis.
Development of scalable applications using Python, LAMP/LEMP/MERN stacks, Docker, PostgreSQL, MariaDB and AWS.
Blockchain and Web3
Applicability of blockchain related regulatory and legal requirements.
Development of blockchain and Web3 strategy for businesses.
Intellectual protection (IP) advice and registrations.
Smart contract structuring and regulatory review.
Security and risk assessment for blockchain deployments.
Interoperability and cross-chain solution guidance.
Sector specific blockchain and Web3 applicability and market trends.
Web3 architecture implementation advice.
Feasibility assessments for blockchain and Web3 projects.
Corporate Entity Structure and Business Model Optimisation
Business model assessment.
Advice on optimal corporate structure including structuring across jurisdictions, different corporate vehicles, parent / subsidiary structures, etc.
International business expansion plan assessment.
Corporate structure design including corporate entity structure across multiple jurisdictions.
Organisational structure and efficiency assessment.
Data Privacy and Data Protection
Applicability assessment of data protection related laws and regulations including both domestic and international laws and regulations, e.g. UAE Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) and GDPR (UK and EU).
Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs).
Data protection related policies, procedures, systems and controls - design and implementation.
Guidance on privacy and consent requirements.
Guidance on lawful data collection, storage, processing and retention practices.
Cross-border data transfer and international data sharing compliance guidance.
Engagement and representation with regulatory bodies, e.g. UAE Data Office.
Data protection investigations including investigations on behalf of data protection regulators and representing businesses facing data protection investigations.
Aviation, Commercial and Private Jets
Sale and purchase of aircraft and helicopters.
Aircraft financing, refinancing and leasing arrangements.
Structuring of ownership including corporate and multi-jurisdictional structures.
Aircraft registration and deregistration in relevant jurisdictions.
VAT, importation and customs structuring
Aircraft management agreements and operational arrangements.
Regulatory and compliance advice in relation to aircraft operations.
Cross-border aviation transactions and coordination.
Commercial agreements relating to aviation assets.
Maritime, Shipping and Super Yachts
Sale and purchase of yachts and superyachts.
New-build contracts, construction and refit agreements.
Yacht financing, refinancing and leasing structures.
Ownership structuring including multi-jurisdictional arrangements.
Flagging, registration and reflagging of vessels
VAT, importation and customs structuring.
Yacht management and operational agreements
Commercial maritime contracts and related advisory.
Regulatory and compliance advice in relation to yachts and maritime operations.
Structuring of helicopter operations from yachts.
Freight and Logistics
Commercial freight contracts, carrier and freight forwarding agreements.
Shipper, broker and third-party logistics (3PL) provider arrangements across multimodal networks.
Warehousing, handling and storage agreements.
Trade documentation including bills of lading and cargo insurance arrangements.
Import and export compliance and customs structuring.
Sanctions screening, export controls and trade restrictions advisory.
Incoterms advisory and cross-border freight transaction structuring.
Cargo claims, freight charge disputes and logistics dispute resolution.
Regulatory and compliance advice in relation to freight and logistics operations.
Operational facilitation and on-the-ground coordination across key corridors including the Oman and Strait of Hormuz.
