We review, negotiate and draft the terms and conditions in contracts and provide practical advice to ensure that the business has internal controls in place to comply with the terms, as well as document and agree on any changes or amendments that may arise during implementation or execution.

We review and/or re-draft the compliance framework, charters, policies and procedures and provide a detailed insight on the impact of the current framework. This assessment will be based on the laws and regulations applicable to the business including but not limited to the Iranian Sanctions, Anti Money Laundering legislation, Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), UN Financial Sanctions List and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

We identify new relevant legislation and carry out a commercial assessment of the impact on the operations of the business and assist with rolling out new processes / policies.

Prior to a scheduled audit we can carry out a pre legal audit to assist with getting the business into shape to reduce any exposure. We ensure that the businesses’ goals, structure and ongoing operations are consistent with the latest developments in business and corporate law. We can work as the intermediary between the external auditors and the business . We work with the business to respond to enquiries, provide the relevant documentation / information and implement any recommendations made by auditors in a timely manner.

Our other audit services include the review and/or amendment of:

Existing key contracts and commercial documentation/clauses to provide a report on the legal areas of concern for a business and suggest required internal controls to reduce any contractual risk going forward.

Employment policies including HR policies, employee handbooks, code of conduct and ethics, fraud policies and whistle blowing procedures and governance of the same. Key employee contracts and appropriate clauses and schemes.

Intellectual property (IP) assets/web assets processes to determine if the IP is optimally supporting the client’s goals and to ensure that the client has adequate legal title to their IP.

Data Protection and Data Sharing/Privacy Policies to ensure compliance with local laws, practice and any relevant free zone authority regulations. This may take into account the use of databases such as the Al Etihad Credit Bureau and the requirements set by this Authority.

Litigation policy on matters such as, reporting, the process and procedure to file cases that can include an evaluation of any litigation plans / strategy and the evaluation of use of outside counsel and the management of legal costs.

We carry out corporate governance health checks to assess compliance against a client’s relevant regulatory or internal policy obligations. We identify where improvements can be made, make recommendations for change and draft and implement policies and procedures. This would include the preparation of the procedures and documentation for making decisions in corporate affairs such as the delegation of authority matrix and required notarized powers of attorney.

We can assist with the entire process of application and /or extension of existing licenses or approvals including the drafting of the necessary procedures and the preparation of forms and documentation to maintain contacts with regulators.

We can offer company secretarial services such as organising and attending regular board/ committee / AGM and EGM meetings, maintain and manage statutory registers and minutes, updating records with the relevant authorities, managing and storing company records and taking initiative on governance. This would include ensuring compliance with internal policies by the preparation of Board Resolutions taking into account Board Charters, Matters Reserved for the Board and Terms of Reference for Committees.

We provide ad-hoc employment advice, draft standard employment contracts in line with prescribed form government contracts and the draft of settlements / compromise agreements.

Prior to taking on any matter our team of UAE national and experienced litigation experts can provide a strategy to include a cost-benefit analysis. We can assist with letters before action, filing of police cases and the negotiation, restructuring and settlement of high profile / value debts. Our team have strong regional alliances with external providers to manage debt collection matters from A to Z to achieve the best result for our clients.

This service offers support when required to ensure that there is no gap in coverage and gives our client peace of mind.