Join the DIFC Academy and Pinsent Masons for a free event on 28 November 2023 entitled, Navigating Employment Law in DIFC: From Compliance to Defending Claims with Expertise
This session will provide in-house lawyers and HR specialists with an up-to-date overview of the key DIFC Employment Law topics to best navigate the employment lifecycle. A deep-dive into key legal themes accompanied by case examples will help give a better understanding of the legal and commercial risks affecting DIFC-based businesses and how best to manage those.
The session will discuss what employers should expect when defending employment law claims in the DIFC Court including: procedure and rules; representation; strategy; preparing defences and beyond. Edward Kemp from Matrix Chambers in London will join as a special guest to provide valuable and real-time top tips for employers when faced with an employment law claim in the DIFC Court.
In collaboration with:
Speakers
Ruth is a UK qualified lawyer who has been advising companies in the UAE (and the wider GCC) on their employment-related matters since 2016.
Ruth advises clients working across different sectors in the Middle East and has extensive experience of compliance with the UAE’s Federal Labour Law, as well as advising on regulations in the free zones. Ruth’s experience and profile in the market was most recently acknowledged by the UAE Employment East Chambers and Partners 2022 awards as an “Associate to Watch.”
Ruth has developed a particular specialism advising clients on the DIFC's separate common law employment regime. Ruth assists employers tackle the various matters that employers face throughout the employment life-cycle to best protect and promote business operations. Ruth has assisted numerous employers to successfully defend claims in the DIFC Courts including, for example, discrimination and harassment, penalty payment, restrictive covenants, breach of contract.
Ruth contributes to many legal and HR magazines and legal recourses and routinely presents external speaking and training sessions.
Michael is an UK qualified Associate in the team, working with clients in the UAE and across the Middle East region. Within the UAE he works regularly with DIFC based clients on a full range of employment law issues, including day-to-day advice (for example, employee relations, employment documentation, dismissals, breach of privacy/confidential information and restrictive covenants) and litigation in the DIFC courts.
Michael has developed a particular specialism regarding international project work. He regularly works as part of Pinsent Masons’ internal employment team that specialises in the co-ordination of international projects and developing an international network of ‘best friend’ firms.
Luke is a Partner for Pinsent Masons and leads the firm’s Middle East employment practice. Luke qualified in the UK as an employment law specialist in September 2007 and now advises clients based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Middle East region on all aspects of employment and labour law issues. Luke regularly presents to clients, HR networks and local business groups on a variety of employment law topics.
Luke primarily assists clients in relation to UAE, Qatar and KSA Labour Law and DIFC Employment Law matters. Luke regularly advises clients on contentious and non-contentious matters and represents clients in relation to a wide variety of onshore UAE Labour Law and DIFC Employment law litigation matters, covering all aspects of employment law claims.
Edward is a barrister at Matrix Chambers in London. He is recognised as one of the most experienced employment law advocates in the DIFC Courts. Over the last decade, Edward has appeared as counsel or adviser in a many of the leading employment cases in the DIFC both in the Court of First Instance and in the Court of Appeal.
Edward is ranked in tier 1 as a leading junior for commercial work in the Middle East by Legal 500 EMEA. He is also recognised in the Chambers Global Guide as a leading junior for employment in DIFC and ADGM litigation. Edward co-authored the commentary on the DIFC Employment Law published by LexisNexis Middle East published in March 2021.
