‘Accessibility and level of thorough support.’

‘Samir Kantaria is approachable and responds quickly to ensure that his clients are supported timely and in the best way possible, particularly when urgent matters come up which require immediate attention.’

‘Sabrina Saxena ensures that the legal matters she is supporting her clients with are managed timely, thoroughly, and in as cost-efficient a way as possible without compromising quality.’

‘They are highly responsive and pragmatic. Clients value concise, actionable advice rather than lengthy memos. The team understands this and delivers clear guidance efficiently, with a strong grasp of both legal and commercial realities.’

‘Sara Khoja stands out for her deep expertise, responsiveness, and practical approach. She consistently delivers sound advice that is easy to act on, without unnecessary complexity. She is accessible, commercially minded, and focused on helping clients move forward quickly and confidently.’

‘Extremely capable in all employment matters across the region.’

‘What makes the team unique is its ability to combine technical legal excellence with a proactive, solutions-driven approach that aligns perfectly with clients’ strategic and operational priorities. The team’s strengths lie in its cross-border coordination, responsiveness, and ability to deliver complex, high-value mandates efficiently across multiple jurisdictions. We value their accessibility, clear communication, and unwavering commitment to achieving business-focused outcome.’

‘The individuals I have worked with at Pinsent Masons stand out for their exceptional professionalism, technical depth, and genuine commitment to collaboration. Among the standout individuals, Luke Tapp has demonstrated outstanding leadership and strategic foresight.’

‘Their commercial judgment has been particularly impressive. They combine strong legal acumen with a pragmatic approach, ensuring that advice is not only technically sound but also operationally viable and aligned with client objectives. Lujain Assaf’s responsiveness, diligence, and clarity of communication consistently add real value to each engagement. Their meticulous attention to detail, proactive follow-up, and ability to coordinate effectively across teams and jurisdictions distinguish them from peers in other firms.’

‘Quite simply I find that Kiersten Lucas, Emily Aryeetey, and the Stephenson Harwood DIFC Team go over and above for their clients. They have displayed genuine support, delivering outstanding professional outcomes for our growing business. They have applied pragmatic billing practices.’

‘Kiersten Lucas and Emily Aryeetey are wonderful authentic and trustworthy human beings. The entire Stephenson Harwood team make my colleagues, and I feel genuinely welcome and the events they lay on for the benefit of the wider community are great.’

‘Our experience of work with Stephenson Harwood Middle East LLP has been extremely positive. The team are very knowledgeable in local labour law and provide prompt advice when required. ’

‘Wide geographical coverage and experience of dealing with global clients.’

‘Shiraz Sethi is very approachable and practical.’

‘The team demonstrated a deep understanding of the case, showcasing thorough preparation and strategic insight throughout the process. Their grasp of the industry-specific nuances and local regulatory landscape was particularly impressive, allowing for well-informed guidance and timely interventions. This level of expertise not only instilled confidence but also ensured that all legal considerations were addressed with precision and foresight.’

‘Lisa Bryson and her team are a safe pair of hands in a difficult and complex region.’

‘The team is very responsive; they communicate very professionally.’

‘I mainly work with Lisa Bryson and I think she is exceptional. She has an extensive knowledge of the law, local practice, and court precedence. Her advice is always actionable and this is key for us.’

‘The team understands urgency and is flexible.’

‘Suzanne Gingles has been a pleasure to work with. Thorough and accommodating to meet our needs.’

‘We had a particularly tricky problem for a client which the team helped us solve. We were especially impressed by Suzanne Gingles.’

‘We use them as an extension of our own team – they bring to the table a combination of excellent knowledge of the law, great understanding of how laws should be applied to the realities of the commercial world, and they do their job efficiently. We’ve always been very pleased with the level of service we get from this team.’

‘Sarah Lawrence continues to be reliable, efficient, technically excellent, and fully client service oriented.’

‘Habib Saeed’s command of the data protection laws alongside his knowledge of labour and employment issues really complements the expertise within the team.’

‘Bushra Ahmad is highly professional, knows her job, and is experienced.’

‘The team is highly experienced and knows the fine nuances of the law that are important to swing the case in the client’s favour.’

‘Good knowledge of relevant law.’

‘AG’s employment practice is unique in its ability to combine deep knowledge of UAE labour law with strong expertise in ADGM and DIFC frameworks, which is rare in the market.’

‘Rachel Hill is known for her strategic oversight and practical approach to sensitive senior exits.’

‘Rachel Hill is very good at being pragmatic and commercial while also clarifying the nuances of UAE law.’

‘Responsive, partner-led, and good knowledge of local market and requirements/laws.’

‘Surabhi Singhi is excellent and our go-to person.’

‘Aqsa Khan-Sadiq and Joanna Matthews-Taylor are excellent partners for our company. They stand out for their availability and responsiveness. They are consistently professional, kind, and solution-oriented, which makes working with them both efficient and pleasant.’

‘Joanna Matthews-Taylor is our go-to lawyer for complex employment matters in the GCC region. She is an excellent lawyer who takes the time to understand our business, making her advice particularly valuable.’

‘Joanna Matthews-Taylor strives to provide all relevant information, helping us make properly informed decisions rather than simply answering the immediate question.’

‘The team is highly experienced, effective, and responsive, which makes them stand out from their competition.’

‘The Galadari team provides reliable local legal support with a solid understanding of UAE laws and regulatory frameworks. They are familiar with procedural aspects before the UAE courts and have been able to handle matters efficiently within the local context.’

‘The individuals we have worked with are professional and courteous, demonstrating good knowledge of local court practice and documentation requirements.’

‘International focus means they know local standards as well as international norms.’

‘Great legal knowledge, relevant input and v quick to respond.’

‘Straight and to the point, with a good view of the situation. Understands quickly what the client needs and delivers quickly.’

‘Morgan Lewis has supported us across a range of matters, including DIFC employment advice and the structuring and documentation of a Sharia-compliant debt fund. The firm has demonstrated technical capability in these areas, and their team has been accessible and responsive, particularly around administrative follow-ups and billing coordination as well as practical advice.’

‘Working with Rebecca Ford at Morgan Lewis has been a consistently positive experience. Rebecca brings a calm, measured, and solutions-focused approach to every matter, whether it involves employment law, regulatory compliance, or sensitive internal issues. Her ability to navigate complex legal frameworks, particularly in the DIFC context, is matched by her responsiveness and clarity in communication.’

‘Rebecca Ford has been instrumental in supporting us on a range of employment-related matters, including separation agreements, always demonstrating discretion and professionalism. Rebecca is also highly collaborative, ensuring that internal processes and billing requirements are respected and handled efficiently.’

‘The employment team at Simmons & Simmons is unique in the market for its sector-specific insight, particularly for the financial services / regulatory industry, and its comprehensive expertise throughout mainland UAE as well as its free zones, with a particular focus on the DIFC and ADGM, and throughout the wider Middle East, most notably through the establishment of the Simmons Saudi office.’

‘The Middle East employment team is fully embedded within the wider Simmons global network, enabling seamless cross-border collaboration and access to international expertise. The use of AI has been important in the delivery of service to clients, with the team accessing the firm’s AI / legal tech specialists where relevant / efficient.’

‘David McDonald is a leading expert in the region for all employment-related matters, from contentious to non-contentious matters. His extensive expertise, strategic insight, and collaborative approach has consistently added value to our engagements. He is able to navigate complex employment issues, particularly in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, demonstrating both technical excellence but also a nuanced understanding of the regional legal landscape and challenges, giving practical advice and a risk-based approach to employment matters. From a relationship perspective, he is approachable, responsive, and is able to distill advice clearly and without legal jargon. Importantly, he supports and encourages working women, promoting a flexible working environment.’