Job purpose

As part of its tier one dispute resolution practice in the MEA region, Clyde & Co is seeking to hire a barrister or specialist advocate to join its Clyde Counsel team based in Dubai.

The Clyde Counsel initiative is a first to market in its dedicated function. It is made up of barristers and specialist advocates whose role is to lead and conduct advocacy before international commercial courts and arbitral tribunals in the MEA region and wider afield.

Since its establishment in 2022 the unit has conducted hearings before the DIFC Court, the ADGM Court, the Qatar Financial Court, the BCDR Court (Bahrain), the English Commercial Court, and before international arbitral tribunals seated in Dubai and elsewhere in the MEA region.

Most of the cases are commercially and legally significant, and our disputes resolution practice has a high profile within the local and international market.

Job requirements

The main responsibilities of the role are:

Technical Excellence

• Advocacy and drafting experience commensurate with the role
• Excellent knowledge of dispute resolution, commercial litigation and international arbitration
• Effectively applies legal principles to a range of complex problems
• Drafts structurally consistent and clear pleadings, opinions and legal documents
• Actively develops sector legal knowledge
• Identifies opportunities for knowledge sharing
• Drafts articles and publications
• Organised and structured approach to tasks to ensure matters are progressed

People and Team

• Proactively and willingly supports team members
• Responds positively to changing working environments
• Awareness of own development needs and seeks solutions
• Effectively manages paralegal and secretarial resource

Finance and Practice Management

• Effectively prioritises tasks and competing demands
• Ability to understand and work to fixed fee arrangements

Personal Effectiveness

• Ability to manage own case load
• Track record of business development
• Excellent client facing and meeting skills
• Confidence and enthusiasm in interactions through a range of communication methods.
• Use of influence and persuasion positively
• Effective decision making and sound problem-solving skills

Candidate requirements

The ideal candidate will have gained:

• 5 to 10 years post qualification experience as a practising barrister or specialist advocate, some or all of which may have been within a reputable commercial litigation and international arbitration practice
• a university degree
• excellent communication skills, possess a willingness to fully participate in business development and have an overall 'can do' attitude.
• A genuine interest in building a career within the UAE
• Knowledge of international commercial court practice (including DIFC or ADGM) procedures is advantageous

Description of the work group

Our Middle East regional office has developed a market-leading reputation for dispute resolution. We handle disputes in the Middle East, Gulf States, Indian subcontinent and beyond and are "first choice" for multi-jurisdictional matters. Our regional commercial arbitration practice is equally strong.

We pride ourselves on resolving disputes at the earliest stage where possible, including when proceedings have been commenced. When litigation or arbitration is necessary and proceeds, we conduct proceedings both locally and internationally drawing upon the expertise of Clyde & Co's global network of offices.

The team handles the full range of commercial disputes including:

• Commercial contract disputes
• Corporate/shareholder disputes
• Insurance disputes
• Injunctions, freezing orders and related asset enforcement actions
• Civil fraud and breach of trust matters
• Shipping and energy, marine and natural resources disputes
• Banking, financial services and commodities disputes
• Media and technology disputes
• Property disputes

Our industry knowledge and experience in core areas such as shipping and transport, aviation, international trade and commodities, oil and gas, energy and insurance is "unparalleled in the Middle East". Telecoms disputes are also a growing source of work.

Clyde & Co, Middle East & Africa

With over 30 years' experience in the region and the largest presence of any international law firm, we pride ourselves on being able to help clients recognise and overcome the challenges of doing business in the Middle East and Africa.

In terms of our Middle East foot print, our more than 40 partners and 150 legal professionals work from four offices located in the region's major commercial hubs, enabling us to support our clients across the full spectrum of their corporate and commercial needs throughout the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) and wider Levant.

In Africa, Clyde & Co is one of the largest international law firms operating on the continent, with over 120 lawyers helping clients to enter and operate in Africa.

We have been active in the region for over 20 years, advising on complex multi-jurisdictional transactions that include some of the continent's largest infrastructure and energy projects.

About the Firm

Clyde & Co is a leading global law firm, with 480 partners, 2400 lawyers, 3200 legal professionals and 5000 people in over 60 offices and associated offices worldwide.

We specialise in the sectors that underpin global trade and commercial activity, namely: energy, marine, insurance, transport, construction, trade and commodities. We are globally integrated, offering a comprehensive range of contentious and non-contentious legal services and commercially minded legal advice to businesses operating across the world.

We are committed to operating in a responsible way. This means progressing towards a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the diversity of our communities and clients, using our legal skills to support our communities through pro bono work, volunteering and charitable partnerships, and minimising the impact we have on the environment.

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