Damian Wright

Damian Wright is a Senior Counsel in the Dispute Resolution team in Dubai.

He advises corporations, financial institutions, regulated entities, and boards on complex regulatory, investigations, and dispute resolution matters across the UAE, including the DIFC and ADGM, as well as the wider Middle East.

His practice spans three core areas: regulatory advisory and enforcement, including AML, sanctions, and compliance; white-collar and corporate investigations, including financial crime, internal investigations, and crisis response; and corporate and commercial dispute resolution.

Damian also advises on AI governance and AI risk in regulated sectors, where emerging technology creates new regulatory, enforcement, and business risk. He works closely with boards and senior management on high-stakes matters involving legal, regulatory, and reputational risk.

Prior to joining Hadef & Partners, Damian held senior roles at leading international and regional law firms in South Africa, the UK, and the UAE, including partnership at a top-tier South African firm. He is recognised by The Legal 500 for Dispute Resolution: Compliance and Investigations in the UAE and by Best Lawyers in South Africa.

Advised financial institutions and DNFBPs on non-compliance issues raised by regulators across the Middle East, including onshore UAE, DIFC, ADGM, and Saudi Arabia, and on jurisdiction-specific remediation strategies.
Advised a DIFC-licensed financial services firm in a DFSA enforcement investigation concerning third-party arrangements, implementing a strategic remediation process that concluded without enforcement action.
Designed and implemented compliance programmes for multinational businesses, addressing local regulatory requirements, international standards, and ongoing monitoring obligations.
Defended a DIFC-based international law firm in a UAE AML prosecution involving a multi-million dollar disputed transaction, coordinating the strategic defence with local counsel, management, insurers, and crisis communications advisers through to acquittal.
Acted as part of a global team advising on a cross-border regulatory investigation into fraud, bribery, and market conduct issues arising from structured bond trades executed in the DIFC, including regulatory reporting considerations under French AMF and DFSA rules.
Acted as lead counsel in a multi-jurisdictional CMA investigation in Saudi Arabia involving the former chief executive of a listed retail group, managing the review of over three million documents and engagement with multiple authorities.
Led an investigation into whistleblower allegations of procurement fraud and ethical breaches involving senior executives, identifying governance failures and supporting organisational reform.
Represented a multibillion-dollar investment fund in enforcement proceedings under finance documents, including challenging winding-up proceedings brought to undermine secured creditors’ rights.
Obtained worldwide freezing orders in matters involving assets in DIFC, onshore UAE, and other jurisdictions.
Represented a global asset management company in arbitration proceedings valued at over USD 1 billion arising from the alleged unlawful termination of a fund administration agreement.

Damian Wright is a Senior Counsel in the Dispute Resolution team in Dubai.

Advised financial institutions and DNFBPs on non-compliance issues raised by regulators across the Middle East, including onshore UAE, DIFC, ADGM, and Saudi Arabia, and on jurisdiction-specific remediation strategies.
Advised a DIFC-licensed financial services firm in a DFSA enforcement investigation concerning third-party arrangements, implementing a strategic remediation process that concluded without enforcement action.
Designed and implemented compliance programmes for multinational businesses, addressing local regulatory requirements, international standards, and ongoing monitoring obligations.
Defended a DIFC-based international law firm in a UAE AML prosecution involving a multi-million dollar disputed transaction, coordinating the strategic defence with local counsel, management, insurers, and crisis communications advisers through to acquittal.
Acted as part of a global team advising on a cross-border regulatory investigation into fraud, bribery, and market conduct issues arising from structured bond trades executed in the DIFC, including regulatory reporting considerations under French AMF and DFSA rules.
Acted as lead counsel in a multi-jurisdictional CMA investigation in Saudi Arabia involving the former chief executive of a listed retail group, managing the review of over three million documents and engagement with multiple authorities.
Led an investigation into whistleblower allegations of procurement fraud and ethical breaches involving senior executives, identifying governance failures and supporting organisational reform.
Represented a multibillion-dollar investment fund in enforcement proceedings under finance documents, including challenging winding-up proceedings brought to undermine secured creditors’ rights.
Obtained worldwide freezing orders in matters involving assets in DIFC, onshore UAE, and other jurisdictions.
Represented a global asset management company in arbitration proceedings valued at over USD 1 billion arising from the alleged unlawful termination of a fund administration agreement.

Damian Wright

Biography

Experience