Seats are limited! Please RSVP [email protected]
REGISTRATION AND NETWORKING (8.30am to 9am)
Introduction to injunctions in the DIFC: Key Strategies and Tactics (9am to 10.30am)
•Basic legal framework
•Practical client care issues
•Pre-application tactics
•Making the application
•Resisting the application
•Preparing for a speedy trial
•Settlement
Recent Developments in Restrictive Covenants (10.30am-12pm)
•The Court’s approach to enforcing covenants
•Garden leave injunctions
•Injunction orders in practice
•Damages claims after Morris-Garner v One Step (Supreme Court)
NETWORKING LUNCH - 12pm to 1pm
Conducting Commercial Confidentiality Claims in the DIFC (1pm – 2.30pm)
•Legal framework underpinning confidentiality litigation
•Tactics adopted by claimants
•Practical steps to be taken by defendants
•Confidentiality claims against third parties
•Responding to letters of claim and pre-litigation tactics
•Resisting confidentiality injunctions
•Protecting confidentiality of disclosable documents
•Remedies in confidentiality claims
Team Moves in the DIFC – Threats, Opportunities and Pitfalls (2.30pm-4pm)
•Legal framework behind team move litigation
•Practical steps for gamekeepers when facing a raid
•Tactics adopted by team movers/poachers/financial backers/headhunters
•Financial services industry: pitfalls for parties and witnesses
•Legal representation issues including conflicts of interest
POST-EVENT NETWORKING RECEPTION (6pm-8pm)
Speakers:
Mohinderpal Sethi
Barrister and Head of Employment, Littleton Chambers
His expertise spans the full range of com¬mercial and employment disputes in the DIFC Court of First Instance and Court of Appeal. He appeared in the first ever DIFC injunction application. He has considerable experience of injunctions and speedy trials to enforce directors' and fiduciaries' duties, restrictive covenants, trade secrets and confidentiality, database rights, garden leave and economic torts (often involving team moves).
His clients include investment banks, private equity firms, hedge funds, inter-dealer brokers, insurance brokers, senior executives and equity partners. He “frequently acts for some of the biggest clients in the financial services industry. He specialises in complex international business protection litigation in the context of restraint of trade and team moves. Very impressive, he is highly intelligent, quick, commercially astute and responsive to clients. He is very comfortable in dealing with clients and impresses them.” (Chambers & Partners 2017).
He is appointed by the UK Attorney-General as Counsel to the Crown (A Panel). He has represented a number of Middle East states (including the UAE government) under international law. "He is singled out for his high-profile work on state and diplomatic immunity and is widely viewed as an expert on cases involving these issues” (Chambers & Partners 2015).
Shiraz Sethi
Regional Managing Partner and Head of Employment, DWF (Middle East) LLP
Shiraz's practice covers both contentious and non-contentious employment matters. From a non-contentious perspective, he regularly advises on offer letters, employment, consultancy and secondment contracts; provides advice on immigration and visa requirements; medicals and certification of documents; and frequently reviews employee handbooks and company policies to ensure they are updated and in accordance with the local legislation.
He also has extensive experience advising on terminations and the visa cancellation process, and specialises in running complex disciplinary procedures from commencement through to completion.
He also works closely with local counsel filing claims with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation and is a frequent user of the DIFC Courts Small Claims Tribunal and the DIFC Court of First Instance.
James Fox
Head of Dispute Resolution, DWF (Middle East) LLP
James' expertise includes very high value local property disputes, hotel management disputes, agency disputes, defence contract issues, joint venture disputes, corporate disputes and assisting foreign companies with criminal charges.
James has extensive experience resolving complex, business critical disputes including under the rules of the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), the Abu Dhabi Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration Centre (ADCCAC), the ICC Court of Arbitration, the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the DIFC-LCIA, and before the UAE and English Courts.
He also advise defence and security companies in the region on most areas of their business, including their contracts with GHQ, the Presidential Guard, Tawazun Economic Council, issues with local agents and offset obligations.
For further information or to request for an assistance, please contact [email protected] or call 04-4273390
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