Chris Bailey-Gibbs

Chris is Head of Employment for Hadef & Partners. He has 15 years’ experience advising clients in all aspects of contentious and non-contentious employment law matters. He has expertise in resolving matters of strategic importance and supporting clients through every step, building lasting relationships. 
 
Chris has broad experience in many sectors including transport, retail, private equity, construction, manufacturing, food, energy and finance. His practice also covers HR advice, on shore and free zone labour disputes, work-place investigations, business protection and restrictive covenants, restructuring programs and M&A.
 
Prior to joining Hadef & Partners, Chris worked at an international law firm in the UK, working with a range of national and international clients. His practice often involves partnering with other disciplines, such as disputes, commercial, real estate, corporate, tax and regulatory.

• Provided employment law support to The TJX Companies, Inc., in its acquisition of a significant holding (35%) in Brands for Less, an international retailer. This high-value cross-border deal involved the jurisdictions of UAE, KSA, and USA.
• Advised a leading regional telecoms operator in respect of a complex employment and criminal investigation concerning fraudulent activity amounting to millions of Dirhams of client monies being misappropriated.
• Advised a regional broadcasting network on wide-ranging restructuring changes due to US Government budgetary cuts.
• Acted in conjunction with the international law firm, Simpson Thacher Bartlett (NY office), in assisting a global accountancy firm with its proposed acquisition of its  business and operations in the UAE.
• Advising and representing our client regarding both employment and civil law claims concerning the instigation of an investigation following receipt of an email from a whistleblower. Advising the client in respect of the execution of the Judgment against the whistleblower.
• Advising upon the process and options around termination of employment and various company officer roles, advised upon business protection and restrictive covenants, confidentiality, and garden leave.
• Advising our client regarding the liability on the end of service gratuity, the interest on the loan repayments and sums owed, as well as representing the client in the litigation, and before the Court expert. We also represented the client at the appeal hearing.
• Advised a government owned clean energy developer and operator regarding how they are regulated and which employment laws apply to them. We also provided a review of their employment documents, including a review of their existing contract of employment, secondment agreements, employee handbook and a review of their employment policies.
• Advised a global commercial solutions provider regarding a whistleblowing complaint regarding financial transactions concerning multiple jurisdictions.
• Represented a DIFC employer in enforcing restrictive covenants and securing an urgent interim injunction enabling the client to protect its business interests.