Awale Ali Deria

Awale is an Associate in our Employment team in Dubai. Awale specialises in employment law, offering practical legal advice and representation to clients across a wide range of workplace matters. He has over four years of post-qualification experience, having been admitted to the Ontario Bar as a barrister and solicitor in 2021.

Awale has experience defending a wide variety of employment claims including wrongful dismissal and discrimination claims, advising on termination clauses, drafting employment agreements and policies, and supporting multinational clients in various sectors such as luxury design, e-commerce, engineering, and IT with day-to-day employment matters. Additionally, Awale provides guidance on employment-related aspects of corporate transactions ensuring a full service provision to his clients.

Prior to joining Hadef, Awale practiced as an employment lawyer at an international law firm in Toronto, Canada, working with both national and international clients.

• Advised a multinational engineering and IT company on day-to-day employment issues, focusing on termination clauses and termination procedures.
• Represented and successfully defended a multinational e-commerce technology company against multiple wrongful dismissal claims by former employees.
• Represented and successfully defended a major regional funeral services provider in Ontario against a wrongful dismissal claim related to termination for non-compliance with COVID-19 vaccination policy.
• Advising upon and drafting key employment documentation, such as contracts of employment, employee handbooks and termination documents, including settlement agreements, termination letters and end of service payments.
• Providing advice to multinational clients on the enforceability of restrictive covenants and litigation risks arising.
• Employment and transactional support for a global brand acquiring a UAE business and entering the UAE market for the first time.