Clyde & Co expands MEA employment group

Clyde & Co has today announced the appointment of partner Ben Brown to its global employment group. Ben joins from Addleshaw Goddard, together with senior associate David True and both will be based in the Dubai office. Ben re-joins the firm after four years.

Ben’s practice covers all aspects of contentious and non-contentious employment law in the UAE, and across the GCC. He is recognised as a leading lawyer for complex and high value employment disputes, with a particular focus on high-stakes employment litigation in the DIFC and ADGM Courts. Ben has acted in some of the most important employment cases in recent years, including one of the first discrimination cases to go to trial under DIFC Law No.2 of 2019, as amended, and the landmark DIFC Court of Appeal case of The Industrial Group Ltd v El Fadil.

David advises clients on all contentious and non-contentious employment matters in the UAE and its free zones (including the DIFC and the ADGM), and across the GCC. David has been involved in a number of high-profile employment disputes in the DIFC Courts and ADGM Courts and has a particular focus on undertaking sensitive workplace investigations.

Sara Khoja, Partner, Head of MEA Employment group, and MEA Chair, Clyde & Co, says: "We are delighted to welcome Ben and David to the team. Our employment group strategy focuses on aligning with market opportunities and our clients’ priorities ensuring that we are best placed to support them. As the region continues to grow through increased investment and employment regulatory reforms, we are also seeing an uptick in employment disputes and investigations. Having worked with Ben for a long time, I know his unique and extensive experience in complex and high value employment disputes will enable us to continue to align with needs of our clients, and market trends.”

Ben adds: "Returning to Clyde & Co is a fantastic opportunity as the firm continues to expand its Middle East offering. The firm is highly regarded and well established in the region, giving me and David an excellent platform to continue our success in advising the world’s highest profile companies on their employment matters, with a particular focus on complex and high-value employment disputes.”

Clyde & Co has a dedicated award-winning MEA team of specialist employment lawyers advising businesses across the region. Named Employment Team of the Year at the Oath Middle East Awards 2023, and highly ranked in Chambers Global and Legal 500, its employment specialists assist regional and multinational clients with the full range of issues which arise in the workplace on a day-to-day basis, including: workforce and regulatory investigations; disputes and labour court litigation; employment issues arising out of corporate restructurings, outsourcings and mergers and acquisitions; recruitment issues and complying with workforce nationalisation requirements; immigration requirements; employment documentation; entitlements under local labour laws; training on applicable local labour laws; employee relations issues; termination of employment and handling disciplinary issues; and post-termination issues such as enforcing restrictive covenants and protecting confidential information and employment litigation.

The MEA employment team strive to empower employers with tools for managing employment law intricacies: Law at Work is an innovative electronic platform which provides comprehensive insights, analyses, and resources to allow employers and legal professionals to navigate the intricate landscape of employment law in the UAE, KSA and Qatar.   

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