Practice areas
Employment
UAE and DIFC employment law for employers only: contracts and policies, restructures, difficult exits and defending labour claims.
What we do
-
Labour claims
Defending claims for unfair dismissal, unpaid wages, gratuity and discrimination, from Ministry mediation to the Labour Court or the DIFC Courts.
-
Restructures and redundancy
Planning role cuts, notice and end-of-service payments, and staff transfers on a business sale, so they stand up later.
-
Contracts and handbooks
Contracts, policies and non-compete clauses that reflect how your business really works, on the mainland, in a free zone or in the DIFC.
-
Disciplinary and grievance
Step-by-step support for managers through investigations, hearings and appeals.
-
HR advice line
Unlimited phone and email advice for a fixed monthly fee, answered by a lawyer the same day.
How we work
Nadia Hussain leads a team of four employment lawyers who act only for employers, from 15-person family firms to manufacturers with 600 staff. We would rather help you handle a problem properly at the start than defend it in court, so most of our work is a call before a difficult meeting.
When a claim does arrive, you get a written assessment of its strength and likely cost within a week, and we tell you honestly whether settling makes more commercial sense than fighting.
Defending a labour claim: the key stages
-
Ministry mediation
The employee complains to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, which tries to settle it first. DIFC employers go to the DIFC Courts instead.
-
Your defence
If it doesn’t settle, the claim goes to court. We prepare your defence with you, in Arabic for the Labour Court.
-
Preparation
Documents, certified translations and witness evidence, typically over two to four months.
-
Hearing
We prepare you and your witnesses. Onshore, an Emirati advocate we work with appears alongside us; in the DIFC Courts we can appear ourselves.
Fees
Published so you can compare. Your quote confirms the exact figure in writing.
Fixed fees for employers
- Employment contract templateReviewed and tailored to your business
- AED 2,500
- Staff handbookUp to 25 policies, mainland or DIFC
- AED 9,500
- Settlement agreementDrafting and negotiation for the employer
- AED 3,500
- HR advice lineUnlimited advice, per month
- AED 1,500
Defending a labour claim
Advice, Ministry mediation, the defence, documents and translations, witness evidence and preparing for and attending court.
- Simple claimOne claimant, few witnesses, one or two hearings
- AED 25,000–45,000
- Medium claimSome legal complexity, or an appeal
- AED 45,000–85,000
- Complex claimDiscrimination or senior-executive claims, several hearings
- AED 85,000–160,000
All fees are plus 5% VAT. Court fees, legal translation and, for onshore hearings, the advocate’s fee are extra and listed in your quote. Most claims settle earlier, and you pay only for the work done. Claims usually take three to nine months to reach judgment.
Ask for a quoteA dismissal went wrong on the shop floor on a Friday. Nadia called me back within the hour, and the complaint was settled at the Ministry three weeks later.
Questions about employment
Do you act for employees?
No. We act only for employers, so there is never a conflict with advice we have given to a business. We can suggest firms that act for employees.
Who will handle our claim?
Nadia Hussain or a senior associate, with a trainee helping on documents and translations. You’ll know who from the first call.
What does the HR advice line cover?
Unlimited calls and emails about any staff issue, template letters, and a 10% discount on other employment work. Cancel with one month’s notice.
Talk to Nadia Hussain
A free 20-minute call with Nadia or a member of the team, usually within one working day.
Direct line +971 4 555 0387
