Employment

Employment

Our dedicated Employment practice has gained a widespread reputation for providing practical, current advice and well-structured documentation.

We offer a range of legal services for international and regional employers in all sectors and for the entire life cycle of the employment relationship. We advise on immigration and residency rules; Ministry of Labour compliance; staff benefits and incentive schemes; redundancy and termination management; end of service gratuity settlements; drafting and remodelling of service contracts and all other kinds of employment contract documentation.

The team also works with our colleagues in our Corporate and M&A teams, on the employment aspects of business registrations, business transfers and restructuring. In addition, we provide support to our Dispute Resolution colleagues when employment matters become contentious.

Our client base includes both local and international companies in most sectors: banking and finance, insurance, building contracting, manufacturing, government procurement, information technology, real estate, leisure and tourism, and transportation. We are also the UAE law firm of choice for many leading law firms in the US, UK, Europe and the Asia Pacific region.

The importance of specialist employment advice
Our mission is to deliver a specialist legal service, tailored to clients' commercial objectives, HR strategies and culture.

Employees are a valuable asset of any business. Satisfied and productive employees are a key ingredient to business success. However effective HR management cannot be achieved without legal guidance. Not only must clients' business comply with existing employment law obligations, but they need to be aware of future legislation and its likely impact on the management of various aspects of their employment relationships.

Issues such as staff turnover, changes in remuneration and benefit structures, staff transfers in acquisition transactions and redundancies must be handled as effectively as possible from an HR perspective, and measures need to be taken to control the effects of any such developments.

Clients should balance the need to attract high quality applicants, against the reasonable expectations of existing staff. At the same time, we never forget that the objective of business activity is to make a profit. This means that the interests of company owners, as well as those on the payroll, are equally our concern.

Employer – employee relationship cycle
The relationship between employer and employee can be viewed as having a lifecycle, with a beginning, a middle and an end. It is helpful to view the employment relationship in this way, within the context of UAE immigration and employment law. Under existing rules, there are important formalities to be addressed, as well as statutory compliance and governmental policy constraints to be considered, throughout the employment period of every staff member. We assist clients at each stage of the employment lifecycle to ensure that they successfully navigate the UAE employment landscape.

The Employment team does not operate in isolation. Hadef is a full-service commercial law firm. Often our clients require us to work alongside other practice areas, for example our Banking, Corporate, Financial Services or Real Estate teams and, to the extent that a business faces legal challenges with an employee or a regulatory authority, we are there to assist in conjunction with our renowned Dispute Resolution practice.

Typically, we assist clients with:

  • Transactional advice – advising on employment aspects of commercial transactions, in particular, staff transfers in the course of corporate mergers and acquisitions
  • Immigration and Ministry of Labour regulation – advising on residency and employment status issues, employee registration formalities, short-term assignments and secondment arrangements, statutory end of service entitlements and termination considerations
  • Contractual documentation – preparation of offer letters, standard form employment contracts, bespoke service agreements for senior executives, employee handbooks and letters of termination
  • Benefit schemes and incentivisation – advising on the creation and management of all forms of staff benefit and incentivisation schemes, including employee share option plans
  • Contentious representation – giving guidance in contentious matters, in conjunction with our Dispute Resolution team.

  • “The Hadef team are always pleasant and informative, never steering their client in the wrong direction.”

    Legal 500, 2023

  • “Their advice is always spot on and they guide their clients on how to comply with local employment laws and regulations.”

    Legal 500, 2023

  • “Hadef has a good breadth in its team. The lawyers provide good commercial advice and offer good value for money.”

    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

  • “Hadef provides the Company with sound legal advice, they have always steered us in the right direction. Their highly experienced team are very cooperative and efficient, always ready to support when required.”

    Legal 500, 2022

  • “Their knowledge of the UAE judicial system is excellent. Our relationship spans many years and we have no complaints on the services that they have provided us thus far.”

    Legal 500, 2022

  • “Very approachable and straightforward with good commercial sense and a deep-rooted knowledge of the market and employment law. They are extremely responsive and provide advice in a structured, user-friendly way.”

    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

  • ‘We like the quick and short answers that focus on the essentials.’

    Legal 500, 2021

  • Sources enthuse that "they review the intricate details and steer you in the right direction."

    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

  • ‘Rachel is one of the best on labour employment issues in the UAE that I have worked with’

    Ramez T Shehadi, Managing Director Middle East North Africa of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp

  • Source recognise “they are undoubtedly a name in the market.”

    Chambers Global, 2020

  • “Commercially minded and responsive," as well as having a "strong knowledge of the law.” “They've been around a very long time and have an established reputation.”

    Chambers Global, 2019

  • “Clients are very satisfied with the level of service from Hadef & Partners LLC, which handles onshore and DIFC employment litigation, as well as high-stakes non-contentious work.”

    Legal 500, 2018

  • “One source praised the team and remarked that ‘they are responsive and give very sound advice’.”

    Chambers Global, 2018

  • “Hadef & Partners LLC is recommended for employment disputes.”

    Legal 500, 2017

  • “Clients say that ‘they're very well known in the region’ and ‘they have a strong local employment practice’.”

    Chambers Global, 2017

  • “Excellent and very professional. Quick to understand the issue and effective providing advice”.

    Chambers Global, 2016

  • Well-established firm with a strong reputation for handling employment litigation and representing clients before all levels of court in the UAE. Well placed to advise corporate executives on termination and remuneration issues. Also active on a range of advisory mandates, including DIFC law, pensions and employment contracts.

    Chambers Global 2015

  • "They know their stuff – they've obviously got experience in dealing with employment cases."

    Chambers Global 2015

  • Receives praise for its litigation expertise and for its representation of regional and and international businesses. Impresses sources with considerable experience handling terminations, immigration and employee benefits issues. Also advises on employment matters arising from mergers and acquisitions.

    Chambers Global 2014

  • They are invaluable: they are very client-focused.

    Chambers Global 2014

  • This group receives praise for its representation of international and local companies in employment matters in the UAE.

    Chambers Global 2013

  • Sources say: "I would recommend Hadef & Partners as a law firm that offers accurate, detailed information from professional and personable people."

    Chambers Global 2013

  • Winner for UAE Employment Law Firm of the Year 2022

    Winner for UAE Employment Law Firm of the Year 2022

    By : Chambers Middle East Awards

    Lawyer : Lucy MelvilleRachel HillSuzanne Gingles

  • Finalist for Regional Law Firm of the Year 2022

    Finalist for Regional Law Firm of the Year 2022

    By : The Middle East Legal Awards

  • Employment Team of the Year 2021

    Employment Team of the Year 2021

    By : The Oath Middle East Legal Awards

    Lawyer : Rachel Hill

  • 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

  • Shortlisted for UAE Employment Law Firm of the Year 2019

    Shortlisted for UAE Employment Law Firm of the Year 2019

    By : Chambers Middle East 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

  • 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 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

  • GAR100 Selected Firm 2018

    GAR100 Selected Firm 2018

    By : Global Arbitration Review – GAR

  • Employment Firm of the Year 2017

    Employment 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

  • Employment Firm of the Year 2016

    Employment 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

  • 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

  • Honourable Mention for Employment Firm of the Year 2015

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-house Survey

  • 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

  • Employment Firm of the Year 2014

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-house Survey

  • Honourable mention for Employment 2013

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-house Survey

  • Employment Firm of the Year 2012

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-house Survey