Corporate Support

Our Employment practice offers invaluable support to businesses navigating complex corporate transactions and restructurings in the UAE. The team's expertise is crucial in managing the employment aspects of business transfers, acquisitions, mergers, and share purchases, ensuring smooth transitions and compliance with local labour laws. They provide strategic advice on employee transfers, harmonisation of employment terms, and the preservation of employee rights during ownership changes. In cases of internal restructuring or mass redundancies, our employment specialists guide clients through the intricate legal requirements, helping to minimise risks and potential disputes. As part of our wider transactional support, the employment team prepare and advise upon employment contracts for senior executives, including sellers, and advise upon settlement agreements.

Our comprehensive approach covers due diligence on employment matters, drafting of transitional service agreements, and negotiation of executive employment arrangements. This specialised knowledge in corporate support allows Hadef & Partners to play a pivotal role in facilitating major business transformations in accordance with UAE regulations.

• Advising upon and drafting the full suite of employment documentation including employee handbooks and employment contracts for a large public joint stock insurance company.
• Providing due diligence in relation to employment aspects of the sale of a leading independent oil storage company.
• Advising on the joint venture between a prominent UAE government entity and global services company as to the continuity of the local standard employment contracts required by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation and the legal alternatives to retaining the residency visas of the employees with the joint venture following their termination. We also advised the client on the conformity of the proposed alternatives to the Wage Protection System.
• Working with a multi-party legal team providing employment support and due diligence regarding the acquisition of a substantial shareholding in a household name UAE, and international retailer.
• Advising a large publicly listed company, headquartered in Singapore on corporate restructuring terminations.
• Carrying out a global restructuring project involving a largescale redundancy exercise over a number of jurisdictions for a discount voucher brand.
• Advised a French wine and spirits seller comprehensively on employment and immigration matters, facilitating employee transfers to their new DIFC entity and negotiating secondment arrangements from Hong Kong.