Dispute Resolution

Dispute Resolution

Hadef & Partners has a large and market-leading dispute resolution practice. We have extensive experience of UAE, regional and multi-jurisdictional litigation and arbitration, as well as other forms of alternative dispute resolution and associated work such as investigation and evidence collection.

Our team of Arab and Western lawyers is headed by senior litigators with judicial and commercial backgrounds, and is well known for adopting a practical and commercially-aware approach to disputes.

To the extent that a negotiated outcome cannot be achieved, our experienced litigators are able to represent clients in the appropriate forums outlined below:

UAE litigation
Our court advocates have extensive experience in UAE litigation. Our advocates have full rights of audience before the various UAE courts and tribunals.

DIFC Courts
Our registered DIFC practitioners are well-versed in the rules and regulations of the DIFC courts. The firm is a member of the DIFC Court Users Committee.

Arbitration
Our lawyers have extensive experience in domestic and international arbitration. We represent a broad range of clients in various UAE court appointed, ad hoc, DIAC, Dubai Municipality, ADCCI, DIFC-LCIA, LMAA, ICC, UNCITRAL, GAFTA and FOSFA arbitrations.

We have worked on many of the most significant and high-profile commercial litigation cases heard before the UAE and DIFC courts, and we act on complex, high value arbitrations. Our experience spans all industry sectors.

Locally and internationally, our services include:

  • representation in all UAE Federal and local courts and tribunals
  • representation before the DIFC Courts
  • representation in national and international arbitration
  • representation in alternative dispute resolution including mediation, conciliation and expert determination
  • providing advice on expert evidence for foreign court/arbitration proceedings where UAE law is relevant
  • cross-border commercial fraud, including evidence gathering and asset tracing
  • investigative work and preparation of witness statements
  • preparing dispute resolution clauses and arbitration agreements
  • advice on international treaties and trade agreements.

  • “An excellent choice for disputes, with both an international and domestic element. They are reasonably priced and highly competent.”

    Legal 500, 2023

  • “Personal attention, responsive, and pragmatic team.”

    Legal 500, 2023

  • “Hadef has one of the best company cultures I have seen in the legal profession. All partners are leaders and experts in their own fields and work seamlessly together to give a clear and concise route forward.”

    Chambers Global, 2023

  • “They have an extremely strong and well-rounded approach to dealing with complex situations.”

    Chambers Global, 2023

  • “Hadef & Partners' lawyers are responsive, provide clear advice on the law and are always willing to get us more reference points if required. They are proactive and understand business needs.”

    Chambers Global, 2023

  • “The team has an excellent track record of acting as co-counsel on international disputes.”

    Chambers Global, 2023

  • “The lawyers we worked with on our case were very diligent and extremely professional. They were very easy to work with, prompt and generous with their time.”

    Legal 500, 2022

  • “Hadef & Partners have a strong team which communicate openly with each other and agree on and set team goals based on outcomes and results, rather than just on the amount of work being done.”

    Legal 500, 2022

  • “They are able to tackle issues with a wide perspective and formulate effective problem resolution options.”

    Legal 500, 2022

  • “They are always available, pro-active and dedicated. The team is very knowledgeable, professional, honest and trustworthy.”

    Legal 500, 2022

  • “They are very good lawyers, especially on matters relating to local UAE issues. I rate them very highly.”

    Chambers Global, 2022

  • “They provide a good service, good advice and they are very responsive.”

    Chambers Global, 2022

  • Clients praise Hadef & Partners' “extremely wide-ranging and extensive knowledge in the international field,” pointing to the firm as a “stellar leader in the legal field in the UAE.”

    Chambers Global, 2022

  • Highly developed dispute resolution team that is well respected by clients and peers for work undertaken in local courts. Also has a wealth of arbitration experience in the region, and benefits from a diverse team of Emirati and international lawyers.

    Chambers Global, 2021

  • Sources highlight the team’s “incredible knowledge of local laws and cost-consciousness,” further appreciating that its “turnaround time is great.”

    Chambers Global, 2021

  • Another interviewee heaped praise on the team, saying: “They are always professional, always thorough, always client-friendly and always available.”

    Chambers Global, 2021

  • One source endorses the firm for its "strength and depth in understanding the complex and untested areas of UAE law when taking projects into a space where, if it is the first of its kind, issues arise." The same interviewee adds: "They have access to people that most firms don't necessarily have."

    Chambers Global, 2021

  • Abdulrahman Juma is “excellent knowledge of local laws”, “exceptional in handling shareholder and employment disputes” and “he is one of the finest lawyers in the country, an excellent draftsman and a brilliant litigator.”

    Chambers Global, 2021

  • “A client thought: “One of the best things about Hadef is their team members have qualifications from different countries and belong to different cultures. They are well placed to understand any issues at hand and are able to provide realistic solutions.”

    Chambers Global, 2020

  • “The attention to detail and preparation for hearings is magnificently impressive.” Sources added: “Their Arabic-speaking lawyers are quite invaluable when issues of UAE law come up.”

    Chambers Global, 2019

  • “Top-tier lawyers with in-depth knowledge of UAE law.”

    Chambers Global, 2019

  • “Clients find the firm to have ‘the experience and case management skills to handle the significant disputes’. They further observe that ‘the service is of international quality’.”

    Chambers Global, 2018

  • “One peer who worked with the firm as co-counsel noted that it was ‘consistent across the board for quality’.”

    Chambers Global, 2018

  • “They have been very helpful and professional; they provide regular updates, they're attentive to detail and they provide legal advice and support.”

    Chambers Global, 2017

  • “Clients say: ‘They have given me the best service that I could expect’.”

    Chambers Global, 2017

  • “Very strong Arabic skills, well-staffed with DIFC lawyers with excellent knowledge and experience.”

    Asian-MENA Counsel – In-House Community Survey 2016

  • “Regarded by some as ‘the best UAE firm for disputes that require both local court and Western experience’.”

    Legal 500, 2016

  • A local disputes powerhouse, excelling in local and DIFC court litigation. Also very active in arbitration and the enforcement of arbitral awards. Offers considerable expertise in construction, shipping and general commercial disputes.

    Chambers Global 2015

  • "We were impressed by the very quick action they took in protecting our interests, and by their full understanding of our business."

    Chambers Global 2015

  • "Hadef & Partners has a good blend of international experience and Arabic capabilities."

    Chambers Global 2015

  • A well-rounded offering with an emphasis on the hospitality sector, encompassing acquisition, development, licensing and operational matters. A noteworthy real estate dispute resolution practice staffed by English and Arabic-speaking lawyers.

    Chambers Global 2015

  • "A top choice for local counsel - they have an excellent knowledge of the way the UAE works."

    Chambers Global 2015

  • Advises media and technology companies on marketing, licensing and franchising agreements. Huge manpower and experience in contentious matters make the firm a strong choice for the enforcement of intellectual property rights, as well as the collection of related royalties.

    Chambers Global 2015

  • Clients say "The partners' depth of insight into the law as applicable to court disputes was without comparison in the region." "They managed to establish a good relationship with us as the senior managers and have an excellent command of client relations."

    Chambers Global 2014

  • A go-to-team on transactional matters, particularly advising lenders on shipping finance deals. Recognised depth and breadth of experience in dispute resolution, including trade and sanctions disputes, admiralty claims and insurance.

    Chambers Global 2014

  • An "established domestic practice offering the full range of IP services, from trademarks and copyrights to domain names. Advises high-profile clients on local and regional IP strategies. Extensive experience in IP related disputes before the relevant authorities as well as UAE civil and criminal courts."

    Chambers Global 2014

  • The firm's highly regarded dispute resolution team often represents clients before local courts in trade mark infringement disputes.

    Chambers Global 2013

  • Hadef & Partners is a vital part of the fabric of the UAE disputes scene.

    Chambers Global 2013

  • Hadef & Partners' local law capability means it can combine an ability to appear before UAE courts with the expertise and experience needed to represent clients in international arbitrations, DIFC court disputes and special tribunals.

    Chambers Global 2013

  • Hadef & Partners is ‘an invaluable resource when dealing with UAE court matters or with the UAE judicial authorities’, and fields an ‘extraordinarily receptive and immensely capable’ litigation team that is ‘among the best in the UAE’.

    Legal 500 2013

  • Sources say: "We are very happy with the quality of service and intelligence of the team." "Head and shoulders above the other local firms in arbitration." "They keep us on our toes."

    Chambers Global 2013

  • Finalist for UAE Arbitration Team of the Year 2022

    Finalist for UAE Arbitration Team of the Year 2022

    By : The Middle East Legal Awards

  • Finalist for UAE Litigation Team of the Year 2022

    Finalist for UAE Litigation Team of the Year 2022

    By : The Middle East Legal Awards

  • Finalist for Regional Law Firm of the Year 2022

    Finalist for Regional Law Firm of the Year 2022

    By : The Middle East Legal Awards

  • Shortlisted for UAE Domestic Litigation Law Firm of the Year 2022

    Shortlisted for UAE Domestic Litigation Law Firm of the Year 2022

    By : Chambers Middle East Awards

  • Shortlisted for UAE Arbitration Team of the Year 2021

    By : The Middle East Legal Awards

  • Winner - UAE Dispute Resolution Domestic Law Firm of the Year 2021

    By : Chambers Middle East Awards

  • Winner for Managing Partner of the Year

    Winner - Managing Partner of the Year 2020

    By : IFLR Middle East Awards

    Lawyer : Dr. Faraj Ahnish

  • Honourable mention for Regional Law Firm of the Year 2019

    Honourable mention for Regional Law Firm of the Year 2019

    By : The Oath Middle East Legal Awards

  • Winner - UAE Dispute Resolution Law Firm of the Year 2019

    Winner - UAE Dispute Resolution Law Firm of the Year 2019

    By : Chambers Middle East Awards

  • Winner for Arbitration Team of the Year 2019

    Winner for Arbitration Team of the Year 2019

    By : The Middle East Legal Awards

  • Highly regarded for Regional Law Firm of the Year 2019

    Highly regarded for Regional Law Firm of the Year 2019

    By : The Middle East Legal Awards

  • Shortlisted for Regulatory and Investigations Team of the Year 2019

    Shortlisted for Regulatory and Investigations Team of the Year 2019

    By : The Middle East Legal Awards

  • GAR100 Selected Firm 2019

    GAR100 Selected Firm 2019

    By : Global Arbitration Review – GAR

  • Shortlisted for Regional Law Firm of the Year 2018

    Shortlisted for Regional Law Firm of the Year 2018

    By : The Oath Middle East Legal Awards

  • Shortlisted for Litigation & Dispute Resolution Team of the Year 2018

    Shortlisted for Litigation & Dispute Resolution Team of the Year 2018

    By : The Oath Middle East Legal Awards

  • Shortlisted for Regional Law Firm of the Year – Large Practice 2018

    Shortlisted for Regional Law Firm of the Year – Large Practice 2018

    By : The Middle East Legal Awards

  • Shortlisted for Litigation Team of the Year 2018

    Shortlisted for Litigation Team of the Year 2018

    By : The Middle East Legal Awards

  • GAR100 Selected Firm 2018

    GAR100 Selected Firm 2018

    By : Global Arbitration Review – GAR

  • International Arbitration Firm of the Year 2017

    International Arbitration Firm of the Year 2017

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-House Survey

  • Litigation and Dispute Resolution Firm of the Year 2017

    Litigation and Dispute Resolution Firm of the Year 2017

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-House Survey

  • Most Responsive Domestic Firm of the Year 2017

    Most Responsive Domestic Firm of the Year 2017

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-House Survey

  • GAR100 Selected Firm 2017

    GAR100 Selected Firm 2017

    By : Global Arbitration Review – GAR

  • Shortlisted for Regional Law Firm of the Year 2016

    Shortlisted for Regional Law Firm of the Year 2016

    By : The Oath Middle East Legal Awards

  • Most Responsive Domestic Firm in the UAE 2016

    Most Responsive Domestic Firm in the UAE 2016

    By : Asian-MENA Counsel – In-House Community Survey

  • Litigation & Dispute Resolution Firm of the Year 2016

    Litigation & Dispute Resolution Firm of the Year 2016

    By : Asian-MENA Counsel – In-House Community Survey

  • Honourable Mention for International Arbitration Firm of the Year 2016

    Honourable Mention for International Arbitration Firm of the Year 2016

    By : Asian-MENA Counsel – In-House Community Survey

  • Middle East Law Firm of the Year 2016

    Middle East Law Firm of the Year 2016

    By : Corporate Counsel Middle East Awards

  • GAR100 Selected Firm 2016

    GAR100 Selected Firm 2016

    By : Global Arbitration Review - GAR

  • Shortlisted as Regional Law Firm of the Year 2015

    Shortlisted as Regional Law Firm of the Year 2015

    By : The Oath Middle East Legal Awards

  • Shortlisted for Litigation & Dispute Resolution Team of the Year 2015

    Shortlisted for Litigation & Dispute Resolution Team of the Year 2015

    By : The Oath Middle East Legal Awards

  • Most Responsive Domestic Firm in the UAE 2015

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-house Survey

  • Litigation & Dispute Resolution Team of the Year 2015

    By : Corporate Counsel Middle East Awards

  • Highly Commended for Middle East Law firm of the Year 2015

    By : Corporate Counsel Middle East Awards

  • Young Lawyer of the Year 2014

    Young Lawyer of the Year

    By : DIFC Court Users Committee Awards 2014

    Lawyer : Omar Al Heloo

  • Litigation & Dispute Resolution Firm of the Year 2014

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-house Survey

  • Shortlisted for Litigation and Dispute Resolution Team of the Year 2014

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-house Survey

  • Litigation and Dispute Resolution Firm of the Year 2013

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-house Survey

  • Litigation & Dispute Resolution Firm of the Year 2012

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-house Survey

  • Best Dispute Resolution Firm UAE 2012

    By : World Finance