Hadef & Partners’ extensive experience in, and knowledge of, UAE litigation practice and procedure, combined with our breadth of experience across different areas of intellectual property for clients across multiple sectors, means we are uniquely placed to be able to advise on a commercially focused strategy for dispute resolution and with the ability to escalate the matter contentiously should the circumstances require.
With very limited exceptions, the rights of audience as advocates before the UAE courts are limited to Emirati nationals. Hadef & Partners is one of the few firms in the UAE that have advocates as part of our leading Dispute Resolution practice. As a result, we are able to act on contentious intellectual property matters at all levels of UAE courts and tribunals, up to and including the Court of Cassation, without the need to instruct a separate firm of advocates. Having this ‘full service’ capability within our firm enables matters to be run more efficiently, from a time and cost perspective, without unnecessary additional layers.
In all cases, we look to achieve an optimal outcome for our clients which is focused on their needs, budget, and goals. If a matter cannot be resolved through legal notices (sometimes called ‘cease and desist’ letters in other jurisdictions) and subsequent negotiation, then we utilise both civil remedies (and criminal remedies where required) on a ‘step by step’ basis and providing exit points along the contentious pathway to allow the adverse party to comply with our client’s demands or for a settlement to be reached. In this way, the costs of contentious proceedings can be controlled and it is only as a last resort, or where the circumstances require, that the full array of litigation actions needs to be relied upon.