INAUGURAL AOL CONFERENCE ON DIFC LAW

Wednesday, 7 December 2016
Hudaiba Awards Building
Based on
the topics of
the DIFC
commentary
book
INAUGURAL AOL CONFERENCE ON DIFC LAW
in collaboration with LexisNexis and The Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department
6 Exciting topics to choose from:
Arbitration Law, Damages Law, Employment Law, Companies Law, Law of Obligations and Court Law.
Expert speakers
Our knowledgeable speakers have wide-ranging experience in commercial dispute resolution and
are on hand to provide practical advice.
Earn CLPD points for 2017.

I would like to attend
Choose from the following two options:
option 1:
ExampLE
fULL Day coUrsE
AED 3500
sELEctED sEssions
AED 1250
I want to attend the full day including a
copy of the commentary book, coffee
breaks and lunch break.
option 2:
I only want to attend one or two courses.
sEssions
09:00 - 11:00 The DIFC
Companies
Law – Key
Themes and
Governance
11:30 - 13:30 Liquidated
damages and
penalty clauses
14:30 - 16:30 Interim
remedies
Core principles
of the DIFC Law
of Obligations
(Part 1)
The DIFC
Companies Law
– Relevance for
Finance
Overview of
DIFC tort law
Remember, these are the new “DIFC Courts Mandatory
Course” for 2017. Attendance at any of the eighteen 2-hour
sessions counts towards DIFC Courts registered lawyers’
“DIFC Courts Mandatory Course” requirement.

programme
Choose to attend an entire stream or select from individual topics within streams.
Wednesday 7 December 2016
Stream 1 Stream 2 Stream 3 Stream 4 Stream 5 Stream 6
Time
Arbitration Law
by Clyde & Co.
Damages Law
by Clyde & Co.
Employment Law
by Stephenson
Harwood
Companies Law
by Jones Day
Law of
Obligations
by Clifford Chance
Court Law
by Sanad
International Law
Group and Ayesha
Karim Legal
Consultancy FZE
08:00 - 08:30 Arrival and registration
08:30 - 09:00 Keynote address: Mark Beer OBE – CEO and Registrar, Academy of Law
09:00 - 11:00 The supervision
of arbitration and
the boundaries of
the DIFC Courts'
intervention
Key differences
in principles of
damages between
contractual and
non-contractual
obligations
What is
"reasonable"?
A closer look at
the application
of Article 59A
(termination for
cause)
The DIFC
Companies Law -
Key Themes and
Governance
Core principles
of the DIFC Law
of Obligations
(Part 1)
Arguments raised
in DIFC Courts
cases, pertaining
to jurisdiction and
their respective
outcomes
11:00 - 11:30 Break
11:30 - 13:30 The DIFC Courts'
approach to
determining
the validity
of arbitration
agreements
Liquidated
damages and
penalty clauses
"You're fired"
… but have you
followed the
proper disciplinary
process?
The DIFC
Companies Law
- Relevance for
Finance
Core principles of
the DIFC Law of
Obligations (Part
2)
Enforcement
of Judgements,
orders and awards
issued or ratified
by the DIFC
Courts, within and
outside the DIFC -
Article 42
13:30 - 14:30 Lunch
14:30 - 16:30 The recognition
and enforcement
of arbitral awards
in the DIFC
Courts, including
as a conduit
jurisdiction
Interim remedies
Drafting contracts
of employment
– what you need
to know and
what should they
contain?
The DIFC
Companies Law -
In the Courts
Overview of DIFC
tort law
Application of
DIFC Law - Article
30 Governing law
16:30 – 17:30 Plenary session

SPEAKERS
Keith Hutchison +971 4 384 4676
Partner, Clyde & Co
Keith.Hutchison@clydeco.ae
Having advised in the Middle East for nearly 10 years, Keith has acted in many of the landmark reported cases in the
DIFC Courts, in particular in relation to the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitration awards
and related execution procedures.
Keith is a solicitor qualified in England & Wales, and in March 2016 he earned his advocacy practitioner rights with
the DIFC Courts (Part II registration), which means he is now qualified to appear as counsel in hearings before judges
of the DIFC Courts. He is the principal author of two forthcoming DIFC legislation commentaries in a series to be
published by the Academy of Law, as well as being a regular Course Tutor on the Academy of Law's 'Introduction to
DIFC Courts' Procedures Certificate' course. Keith has also been involved in the DIFC Court Users' Committee and is
active in consultations with the DIFC Courts Registry and other practitioner groups over the development of the DIFC
Courts' procedural rules.
He is also active in the growing area of third party litigation funding – a topic on which he has published several articles
with a focus on developments in the DIFC Courts and funding - and he acted on the first case before the DIFC Courts
where litigation funding was in issue.
In October 2016, Keith won the 'Lawyer's Lawyer of the Year' Award at the recent DIFC Courts Academy of Law 2016
Legal Gala held in Dubai.
Nicholas Braganza +971 4 384 4275
Senior Associate, Clyde & Co
Nicholas.Braganza@clydeco.ae
Nicholas is a dispute resolution and regulatory lawyer based in Dubai, with a wide range of experience in advising on
internal and regulatory investigations, and also conducting litigation in court and arbitration proceedings in the Middle
East, with specific experience in the DIFC Courts.
Nicholas joined the Dubai Office of Clyde & Co in 2012, and has a broad range of experience in both commercial
litigation and international arbitration in the UAE and elsewhere, advising local and multinational companies (as well as
individuals) on a diverse range of complex disputes including real estate litigation, shareholder and JV disputes, and
white collar matters.
Nicholas has developed a specific practice in regulatory and investigations work in recent years, and advised clients
and conducted investigations on a range of topics including cases of pure theft and fraud, but also bribery and
corruption, defrauding government authorities, antitrust infringements, sanctions breaches, and money laundering.
Nicholas has also expertise in the enforcement of foreign court judgments and arbitration awards in jurisdictions in
the Middle East, especially in the developing jurisdiction of the DIFC.
Rhys Monahan +971 4 384 4284
Associate, Clyde & Co
Rhys.Monahan@clydeco.ae
Rhys Monahan is an Associate in Clyde & Co's dispute resolution team. Based in Dubai since 2012, Rhys acts for a
broad range of international and domestic clients across the commercial, distribution, energy, aviation and insurance
sectors.
Rhys has significant experience advising on commercial litigation and arbitration in the UAE and throughout the GCC,
as well as actions in Korea, the USA and the UK. Rhys' arbitration practice includes advising on arbitrations under the
rules of several institutions including DIAC, the ICC, and DIFC-LCIA. Rhys' insurance practice includes advising on
subrogated recovery actions in the GCC.
Rhys is a leading individual in litigation and arbitration 'offshore' in the DIFC in respect of enforcement actions and the
development of the DIFC Courts as a conduit jurisdiction. Rhys also assisted the DIFC Legal Commentaries project
and he was short-listed for the DIFC Court's Young Lawyer of the Year 2016.

SPEAKERS
Alexandra Lester +971 4 384 4356
Associate, Clyde & Co
Alexandra.Lester@clydeco.ae
Alex is an Associate within the Clyde & Co LLP international dispute resolution team based in the firm's Dubai office.
She gained five years' experience of advising on complex commercial disputes in the UK offices of another major
international firm, before joining Clyde & Co's Dubai office in 2015.
Alex assists clients to resolve complex commercial disputes arising from commercial activities in the UAE, the wider
GCC and across the globe, including the UK and USA. Alex advises on case strategy, jurisdiction and merits, as well as
representing clients at every stage of dispute resolution proceedings particularly in relation to proceedings before
the DIFC Courts, Dubai Courts and English Courts, and in international arbitration. Alex also advises on commercial
and contractual issues arising in day-to-day business operations, such as managing project delay, late payment, and
issues arising in the negotiation of contracts.
Prior to becoming a lawyer, Alex worked at IBM UK Limited for five years as a Commercial Manager, and so has firsthand
experience of contract negotiation and dispute resolution from a client perspective. She has also undertaken
secondments to the legal departments of retail and banking clients.
Robert Avis +44 (0)20 7691 2424
Barrister, XXIV Old Buildings
Robert.Avis@xxiv.co.uk
Robert Avis joined XXIV Old Buildings in 2014. He is regularly instructed in commercial disputes and insolvency matters
in the English courts, and has experience of litigation in the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Jersey and
the DIFC.
Robert was instructed as junior counsel in the Libyan Investment Authority v Goldman Sachs case, the trial of which
took place this summer. He has appeared as sole counsel in a claim for enforcement of a Turkish judgment in England
at first instance and on appeal.
He has also worked, as part of a team, in relation to an application to discharge an English freezing order obtained by
the Russian state liquidator, and the insolvency of a Madoff feeder fund in the Cayman Islands.
Harry Sharpe +44 (0)20 7691 2424
Barrister, XXIV Old Buildings
Harry.Sharpe@xxiv.co.uk
Harry has a wide-ranging commercial chancery practice, including contractual disputes, company law and insolvency,
civil fraud, property and trusts.
He has a particular interest in banking and financial services disputes, having graduated in Maths and spent three
years as a management consultant in the financial services sector before coming to the Bar. In 2013 he worked at the
Financial Conduct Authority where he was a key member of the team that investigated and fined one of the major
global banks for manipulation of the LIBOR rate. He is currently instructed in regulatory proceedings before the Dubai
Financial Services Authority. Aviation is also a focus of Harry’s practice and he has appeared as a junior in several large
aviation trials in the English Commercial Court.
He has experience of the variety of interim remedies employed by litigants in commercial disputes. In 2016 he was
instructed as sole counsel in the defence of an application for a worldwide freezing injunction in the English High
Court, and is currently representing the same party in the subsequent arbitration.

spEakErs
annE pritam
partner, Stephenson Harwood
Anne assists her clients with challenging and high risk employment, immigration and partnership issues, as well
as “business as usual” concerns. Her advice is analytical, carefully crafted and refl ects the priorities, commercial
concerns and workplace culture of her clients. She is a seasoned, robust litigator and co-heads the fi rm’s UK-inbound
Immigration business advisory team.
Anne has extensive experience in a wide range of sectors including fi n ancial s ervices a nd p rofessional s ervices,
pharmaceutical, manufacturing and energy. She advises listed boards, private companies, family businesses,
domestic households and individuals and has been the trusted adviser to many clients for over 10 years.
She is sought out (by fi rms and partners) as a leading partnership and LLP practitioner with a track record for providing
strong legal support in controversial areas such as expulsion, de-equitisation, discrimination, remuneration, and
business protection/restrictions.
A sought-after speaker/trainer, she is a regular presenter for White Paper Conferences (the leading HR/legal training
provider), and the national Employment Lawyers’ Association, giving insightful and entertaining in-house training
sessions.
Anne divides her time between the London offi ce and the Middle E
ast offi ce in D ubai.
kiErstEn LUcas
partner, Stephenson Harwood
Kiersten has extensive experience advising on all aspects of the employment lifecycle with particular expertise
in: high-value litigation cases; remuneration arrangements; restrictive covenants/protection of confidential
information; and advising clients on the employment aspects of financial services regulatory breaches (working
closely with our regulatory litigation team).
Kiersten's work regularly involves matters spanning multiple jurisdictions, including parallel litigation or investigations
outside the UK, advising on complex employment/severance arrangements for senior executives whose activities
span domestic and foreign regulatory jurisdictions and cross-border business sales and restructurings. Her
clients span a range of sectors, including financial services, shipping, technology, media, sport, travel and
recruitment.
Clients, colleagues and counsel alike value Kiersten's ability and willingness to give clear strategic advice from
the outset, and the energy and commitment she devotes to delivering commercial, pragmatic solutions tailored to
their needs.
Kiersten's bespoke client briefi ngs and training sessions (including those she co-authors and presents with our other
practice areas and international offi ces) are very well received.
Kiersten divides her time between the London offi ce and the Middle East offi ce in Dubai.

spEakErs
shiraz sEthi
senior associate, Stephenson Harwood
Shiraz is a dispute resolution lawyer with over fi v e years experience specialising primarily in employment matters
(contentious and non-contentious) within the DIFC and the UAE.
Shiraz’s non-contentious practice covers advice and subsequent drafting of employment contracts / service
agreements, preparation of policies and procedures including drafting of employee handbooks and drafting of
termination letters and settlement agreements.
Shiraz regularly advises on employment matters in the DIFC Courts (Small Claims Tribunal, Court of First Instance and
Court of Appeal). He also advises extensively on UAE Labour Law matters.
Shiraz acts for individuals, banks, multi-national corporations (including telecoms, oil and gas companies and hotel
chains), recruitment consultancies, corporate groups and other fi n ancial institutions on all employment related
matters. Shiraz also advises on shipping and maritime labour laws.
Shiraz has recently drafted the employment law commentary in conjunction with the Academy of Law and is currently
reviewing the proposed changes to the DIFC Employment Law in conjunction with DIFCA.
Shiraz is an active member of the DIFC Courts Pro Bono Programme and has lectured at the University of Dubai,
University of Middlesex and NYU on the topic of DIFC Employment Law.
EmiLy aryEEtEy
associate, Stephenson Harwood
Emily is an employment law specialist currently in Dubai on secondment from her base in Stephenson Harwood's
London offi ce.
Emily has over 7 years’ experience advising employers, directors and senior employees on both contentious and noncontentious
labour law matters as well as UK business immigration, which she continues to do now for clients with
operations onshore in the UAE, in its various free zones, and in the DIFC.
She is an experienced advisor on day-to-day HR issues spanning recruitment to termination, and on the employment
aspects of business acquisitions.
Emily's contentious experience includes tribunal claims of unfair dismissal, whistleblowing detriment, race, sex,
maternity and religious discrimination.
She has also assisted with litigation in the High Court of Justice in London to enforce post-termination restrictions and
protect employers’ business interests.
sara faryaDi
paralegal, Stephenson Harwood
Sara is a legal assistant who specialises in employment related matters both with a contentious and non-contentious
focus.
She has in-depth knowledge of both the UAE Labour Law and the DIFC Employment Law.
Her contentious experience includes assisting in a number of employment claims before the DIFC Courts.
Her experience includes:
• Assisting an international lubricants company with the jurisdictional transition of their employees from an onshore
entity to an offshore entity;
• Representing senior employees of an international investment bank in their claims against their employer;
• Drafting employment contracts, legal notices and internal company policies for a large multinational corporation;
and
• Providing employment law presentations to various clients.

REGISTRATION FORM I Earn CLPD points for 2017
INAUGURAL AOL CONFERENCE ON DIFC LAW
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Courts users offer: 20% discount
Early bird offer: 15% discount (registration before the 25 Nov)
Note: Registering for the full day course will entitle the attendee to the free copy
of the commentaries, the keynote address and the plenary session at the end.
The supervision
of arbitration and the
boundaries of the DIFC
Courts' intervention
The DIFC
Courts' approach
to determining the
validity of arbitration
agreements
The recognition and
enforcement of arbitral
awards in the DIFC
Courts, including as a
conduit jurisdiction
Key differences in
principles of damages
between contractual
and non-contractual
obligations
Liquidated damages
and penalty clauses
Interim remedies
What is
"reasonable"? A closer
look at the application
of Article 59A
(termination for cause)
"You're fired" … but
have you followed the
proper disciplinary
process?
Drafting contracts of
employment – what you
need to know and what
should they contain?
AED 1250
The DIFC Companies
Law – Key Themes and
Governance
The DIFC Companies
Law – Relevance for
Finance
The DIFC Companies
Law – In the Courts
selected sessions
Note: Registering for only one session will not entitle the attendee to the free copy
of the commentaries, the keynote address, or the plenary session at the end.
PLEASE INDICATE THE session(S) YOU WISH TO ENROL FOR WITH AN “X” IN THE APPROPRIATE BOX:
Core principles
of the DIFC Law of
Obligations (Part 1)
Core principles
of the DIFC Law of
Obligations (Part 2)
Overview of DIFC
tort law
Arguments raised
in DIFC Courts cases,
pertaining to jurisdiction
and their respective
outcomes
Enforcement of
Judgements, orders and
awards issued or ratified
by the DIFC Courts,
within and outside the
DIFC – Article 42
Application of
DIFC Law – Article 30
Governing law
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