We are recognised for our commercial, practical and workable advice in respect of all commercial aspects of the employer/employee relationship.
Our partners are well versed in all aspects of UAE and DIFC employment matters and work with local and international companies to ensure compliance with UAE and DIFC labour and immigration laws. We assist clients in reviewing existing and drafting new employment contracts for all levels of staff, senior management and directors. We also assist clients in the review and drafting of employee handbooks, advise them on compensation and incentive schemes, as well as enforcement of non-compete clauses.
We have extensive experience in negotiating settlements and coordinate closely with our Dispute Resolution team should a matter proceed to court or arbitration.
Representing a leading international brokerage house with a presence in the DIFC in highly contested proceedings against another global brokerage company in relation to breach of restrictive covenants and breach of confidence by an employee. Afridi & Angell successfully defended an anti-suit injunction, an application to exclude evidence and obtained a document production order, all of which set important precedents for litigation in the DIFC Court. This was the first “springboard injunction” proceedings before the DIFC Court.
Successfully negotiating the exit of a CEO of an offshore oil and gas company and managed tense negotiations in a manner that avoided what was at the time imminent litigation.
Regularly structuring and drafting international employment contracts for executives who are transferred to the UAE but wish to maintain their home country employment contracts, benefits and obligations with their employer outside the UAE.
Advising an architecture and engineering firm on a wide variety of personnel issues, including the recruitment and hiring of personnel for its offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and the deployment of personnel between the two offices.
Representing a leading energy conglomerate, in the successful defense of an employee claim that had delayed the company’s restructuring of its corporate presence in Dubai.
Providing ongoing advice to a number of clients on how to avoid the “double dip” of foreign benefits plus local end-of-service gratuity. This involves clients that are UAE subsidiaries of international companies and employees who were transferred to the UAE from other international offices and continue to be included in the benefit and pension schemes of the international jurisdiction while being employed in the UAE.
