Alsuwaidi & Company

Managing Partner Mohammed R. Alsuwaidi discusses how Alsuwaidi & Company supports clients navigating complex disputes, regulatory developments, and commercial challenges in the UAE.   What do you see as the main points that differentiate Alsuwaidi & Company from your competitors?  Alsuwaidi & Company combines deep knowledge of the UAE legal system with an international outlook. Our lawyers have significant experience advising both regional and international clients across a wide range of sectors, particularly in complex dispute resolution and high-value commercial matters. Clients value our practical and commercially focused advice. We aim to understand the wider business context in which legal issues arise and provide solutions that are both legally sound and aligned with our clients’ strategic objectives. Another key strength is the breadth of our practice. Our ability to support clients across litigation, arbitration, corporate, and regulatory matters allows us to provide integrated advice where disputes, transactions, and regulatory considerations intersect.   Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that? We expect continued growth in dispute resolution, particularly in commercial litigation and arbitration, as businesses increasingly seek effective mechanisms to resolve complex disputes. We are also placing particular focus on expanding our arbitration practice and team, as arbitration continues to play a significant role in resolving cross-border and commercial disputes in the region. In addition, our maritime practice remains an important area of growth. Given the UAE’s position as a regional hub for shipping and trade, we continue to see steady demand for legal support in maritime disputes, shipping matters, and related commercial issues.   What's the main change you've made in the firm that will benefit clients?  One of our key priorities has been strengthening collaboration across our practice areas. Many client matters involve both contentious and non-contentious elements, and by working closely across teams we are able to provide more holistic and strategic advice. We have also focused on further developing our team and refining internal processes to ensure responsiveness, efficiency, and consistent service delivery.   Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them? Technology has certainly improved the way we communicate and collaborate with clients. Digital platforms allow for more efficient document sharing, case management, and communication, ensuring that clients remain fully informed as matters progress. At Alsuwaidi & Company, we have also developed and implemented Law 8, an in-house practice management system designed to support the firm’s case management processes and allow lawyers to record their time sheets efficiently. The system enhances internal coordination and oversight of matters, which ultimately helps us deliver more organised and responsive service to our clients. At the same time, legal advice ultimately depends on experience, judgment, and strategic thinking. Technology supports our work, but the real value we provide lies in our ability to analyse complex legal issues and guide clients through challenging situations.   Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business? In many situations, our role is to help clients resolve issues before they develop into formal disputes or court proceedings. We work closely with clients to assess the commercial context of a matter and advise on the most practical way forward, rather than immediately pursuing litigation. For example, we advised a client involved in a commercial disagreement relating to a tobacco brand. Instead of allowing the matter to escalate into a court dispute, we guided the client to address the issue at an early stage and consider the broader commercial implications, including the impact on the brand and the long-term value of the business relationship. By taking this approach, we were able to help the client avoid unnecessary litigation and focus their resources on strengthening and promoting their brand. In many cases, this type of early strategic advice provides greater value than pursuing legal proceedings.   Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms - where do you see the firm in three years’ time? Clients increasingly expect their legal advisers to provide both technical expertise and strategic insight. Our focus is to continue strengthening our role as a trusted adviser to businesses operating in the UAE and the wider region. Over the next three years, we aim to further develop our core practices, continue investing in our team, and expand our ability to support clients across complex disputes, transactions, and regulatory matters.

What do you see as the main points that differentiate Alsuwadi & Company from your competitors? We are a major litigation firm with lawyers who have full rights of audience before all Courts of the United Arab Emirates, Dubai International Financial Centre Courts and arbitration tribunals. We have an in-depth knowledge of the application of laws in courts. Our day-to-day dealing with the judiciary has given us a unique understanding of the UAE Court System. Coupled with quality training as well as close government relationships, our drive to succeed and knowledge of the region, have earned our firm the reputation of delivering consistent results. Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that? The slow economy has affected the cash flow of entities and we have witnessed an increase in disputes. This leads to growth in litigation and arbitration practice. Another area of practice which is growing is employment law. When companies are downsizing, there are termination disputes and companies are more vigilant in examining their employment contracts and processes. Tax practice is also growing with the introduction of VAT in certain GCC countries, including the UAE. We are adopting tested processes to the domestic environment and learning from experiences of foreign jurisdictions. Our taxation team is undertaking continuous training in anticipation of an increase demand for legal services in the taxation field. What's the main change you've made in the firm that will benefit clients? Al Suwaidi & Company has recently joined the MULTILAW Network, through which it is associated with firms from 100 countries with a workforce of 9,000+ lawyers. As UAE’s only member of MULTILAW, Al Suwaidi & Company can provide worldwide legal access to clients by connecting them with multi-jurisdictional expertise to facilitate cross-border transactions and disputes. In addition, we have created a Client Relations Department in our office that aims to cater to clients’ needs and ensure client satisfaction during and after the completion of legal services. Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them? Yes, technology is aiding us to streamline processes in the firm. We are currently testing a new case management application to replace what we currently have, and this will hopefully increase efficiency. When lawyers spend less time in administrative work, they will have more time to focus on the legal work. One of the features in this application is automatic invoice generation. Aside from improving the accounting processes of the firm, it will be a tool in the future to analyze trends in the fields of practices in our firm. Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business? A practical example is in relation to employment. We helped clients safeguard their interests with our value-added service of prosecuting former employees who put client’s business at risk by divulging trade secrets. We have recent criminal proceedings against two former employees who, after leaving the company, set up a business in direct competition with the client’s business. We were able to have their business closed and prosecute them. clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms - where do you see the firm in three years’ time? We are a 21-year old firm and we have been growing steadily with a low lawyer turnover rate. In our experience, clients expect a certain stability. We have a number of lawyers who have been with us for more than 10 years, some even for more than 17 years. It is important for clients that there is a consistent presence and certain familiarity with someone in the team. For us, it is always a partnership. We make sure that we are available and competent to help and add value to our clients’ businesses, and we want them to feel that someone they know in the firm understands, supports, and progresses towards their goals and in alignment with their values. We are still growing and adding human assets to increase our workforce for continuous responsiveness to the developments and challenges that clients are facing.