Most corporate legal problems in Dubai start the same way: a company signs something, sets something up or brings someone in without checking the terms first. A corporate lawyer's job is to catch that early, and to deal with it properly when it wasn't caught.
BR Law Firm ( Office of Hassan Tamim Advocates & Legal Consultants ) advises companies, founders and investors on setting up in Dubai, running the business day to day, and the disputes that come up along the way. The firm has more than 38 years of practice in the UAE.
What corporate lawyers in Dubai handle
The work tends to follow a company's life, so it's easiest to see it that way:
| Stage | What we do |
|---|---|
| Setting up | Business formation, choosing the structure and jurisdiction, founding and governance documents |
| Running the business | Contract drafting and review, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, company secretarial matters, advice on UAE taxation |
| Growing or changing | Mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, privatisations, bringing in investors or partners |
| When things go wrong | Dispute resolution, commercial litigation and arbitration |
If you're starting out, our page on legal help for starting a business in Dubai covers formation in more detail. For deals, see mergers and acquisitions in the UAE.
Mainland or free zone: why it matters
Where your company is registered changes more than the licence. Mainland companies and free zone entities follow different rules, and some free zones have their own courts. The financial free zones, DIFC and ADGM, are the best-known examples.
That affects which rules apply to your contracts, and where a dispute would be heard if one arises. It's worth deciding with that in mind at the start, rather than finding out when something goes wrong.
Contracts: where most disputes begin
The same few gaps cause most of the trouble:
- Vague payment terms. When, how much and on what condition should be written down, not assumed.
- No clear way out. Termination rights and notice periods get skipped because nobody expects to use them.
- A dispute clause nobody read. It decides which court or tribunal hears the case and under which law.
Choosing a governing law is common, but the courts here won't always apply it exactly as written. Reviewing an agreement before signing takes hours. Unwinding one that was signed without review usually takes far longer.
When to bring in a lawyer
Before signing, not after a dispute. In practice that means:
- forming a company or changing its structure
- signing a significant supply, distribution, agency or service agreement
- bringing in an investor or partner, where an investor agreement sets the terms
- buying or selling a business, or part of one
- the first sign of a disagreement with a partner, supplier or customer. See partnership disputes
If a dispute is already under way, our commercial litigation and arbitration teams take it from there.
What it costs
Consultation fee: AED 1,050 to AED 5,250, depending on the nature and complexity of the consultation.
Work beyond the consultation is quoted separately, according to the nature, complexity and scope of the matter. Court and registration fees are separate from legal fees. You'll have the figures before you commit.
To talk it through, call +971 54 454 3909 or email info@brlawfirm.ae.
Reviewed by the corporate team at BR Law Firm ( Office of Hassan Tamim Advocates & Legal Consultants ). Last updated September 2026.
