Foreign lawyer can go to court

Scottish legal firm, HBJ Gateley Wareing, has been granted a legal advocates license by the Dubai Government allowing, for the first time, a foreign firm to hire local advocates to directly represent the firm and its client in the Dubai Courts. The legal firm established a new office in Dubai in January this year.

It will act for leading national and international development companies, construction and engineering companies, international and local main contractors, subcontractors and professional consultants on construction and engineering projects in the UAE including reclaimed islands, multi and single tower blocks, infrastructure, process power facilities, hotels and resorts, residential and office developments.

The firm will trade in Dubai as HBJ Gateley Wareing Legal Consultants. Paul Taylor, head of Dubai construction at the firm, said: "The legal advocates licence now gives the firm the unique ability to act directly on contentious issues, and makes us a one-stop shop for construction clients across the UAE and the Middle East. Previously, only an Emirati lawyer could represent a client at the Dubai Courts, but by attaining this license we can now represent our clients directly.

"This is a very important step for legal firms operating in the country because the majority of construction companies here are from outside the UAE and have foreign legal firms as their advisors and advocates."

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