What do you see as the main points that differentiate Essa Al Sulaiti Law Firm from your competitors?

Essa Al Sulaiti Law Firm carefully selects its core values and follows them better than anyone. We put our clients first, always. For our team and myself, this means not limiting ourselves to the generic standard legal procedure implemented by most firms. It means using the most effective methods of communication and making our clients feel more at ease, whilst allowing our legal team to obtain the best possible outcomes in all matters. When our clients choose us and give us the opportunity to provide them with any sort of legal assistance, they know they are receiving the best possible care.

While it has been a priority of mine to ensure the diversity of ESLF’s team, we do have a specialty. Our clients value the fact that we are specialized in the Corporate, Commercial & Construction sectors, and frequently turn to us for services in these areas.

ESLF continues to innovate and pursue greater lengths to provide clients with the best possible outcomes. We are never passive in our approach to the law, and ensure that we consistently predict and prepare for potential changes and evolutions therein. The particular skill and experience of our legal team allows us to do so ahead of our competitors, and to grow and refine our services in alignment with the requirements of the developing market.

Lastly, it has long been a priority of mine to ensure that patience is a pillar of my legal practice. I believe that working too fast would put our clients at risk and would hinder our provision of the highest quality individualized representation that each client deserves. We maintain and value the integrity of each client and each matter, and in return, we receive their trust and unyielding loyalty.

Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that?

I believe the main area of practice that will grow over the next 12 months will be technology, due to the expansion of the Qatar Science & Technology Park, which was created to support international technology companies in Qatar, and acts as an incubator for new tech start-ups. In addition, the impact of COVID-19 has accelerated the use of technology in Qatar in order for businesses to continue their activities.

The next practice that will grow is Maritime Shipping, due to developments at Hamad Port, which happens to be Qatar's main seaport, located south of Doha in the Umm Al-Houl area. It is capable of handling up to 7.8 million tonnes of product annually and as Qatar’s economic sector continues to experience exponential growth, this port will inevitably see increased traffic.

Lastly, due to the upcoming World Cup 2022 in Qatar, a rise in hospitality, commercial properties, and hotel establishment is well underway. This event will bring huge influxes of people to the country wanting to come and watch the games live in Qatar and will naturally continue to bring huge amounts of business. Fortunately, ESLF specializes in these types of endeavours, and we anticipate the opportunity to continue providing our services to all individuals and companies who require such support.

What's the main change you've made in the firm that will benefit clients?

A significant new implementation that our firm has made is our certification of ISO 9001 for Quality Management System as well as ISO / IEC 27001. This will help maintain my clients’ confidence in our ability to provide top-tier services. I have also invested in a diverse legal team, from all cultural and professional backgrounds. We currently have Spanish, Portuguese, French, Greek, Italian, Urdu, Arabic, English native speakers, which allows us to accommodate and benefit all international and local clients.

Further, I have invested time in building collaborative relationships with property developers, financial auditors, construction and engineering experts, and third-party funders. Third-party funders support our clients who may be experiencing financial difficulties to help them fund their litigation or arbitration process. Construction experts issue technical reports to support our clients with their ongoing cases/disputes and the financial auditors contribute to the resolution of any financial disputes the firm may be handling. Property developers assist our clients in their investment endeavors and ensure they see the highest value for their money. The firm has also had the opportunity to collaborate with a number of project developers who give our clients real-time advice on the newest and most popular pieces of real estate in Doha, whether they are currently on the market or will soon become available.

Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients and the services you can provide them?

Naturally, since the COVID-19 Pandemic hit, we have been using a variety of technological equipment in order to communicate with clients and potential clients.

Firstly, we use a variety of technological portals, which allow us to liaise with our clients via telecommunication. These portals include but are not limited to Microsoft Teams, WebEx, Skype, and Our Client Portal, which eases access for clients and in turn facilitates document sharing, meeting scheduling, and efficient communication. This has also supported our collaborations with other law firms across the globe and with international clients. Our firm’s developments in these areas can be largely attributed to our new client portal system, which implements next-generation technology.

We have hosted several interactive Webinars during which my employees conducted presentations on pertinent topics such as the Labour Law of Qatar. The audience had the opportunity to engage in live Q&A sessions and receive on-the-spot answers to their questions from our talented legal team. Furthermore, we frequently receive & conduct meetings via zoom and teleconference, so it is safe to say that we can be available to our clients without them ever having to set foot in the office if that is what they wish. However, it is my personal view that it is best to meet at least once in person because emotional and human connections can speak a lot louder than electronic words. Nevertheless, this is just my humble opinion.

Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business?

We have a variety of practical examples we can use, but perhaps most notable is a case in which ESLF managed to obtain 100% ownership of a company in favour of our client under the Foreign Investment Law. ESLF’s handling of this case and its intricacies.

ESLF also performs meticulous legal audits for high-profile companies, analysing the risks of each deal and transaction. This service includes providing legal solutions and guidance, which reduce these risks and potential losses and in turn supports company growth and longevity.

Lastly, we have managed to secure certain projects for our clients which have ended up yielding a tremendous amount of profit. We are proud to be able to support our clients’ business and to have the opportunity to build strong and profitable relationships.

Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms - where do you see the firm in three years’ time?

In my opinion, yes, they are indeed looking for stability and strategic direction. They come to us because they are confident in our ability to provide the best possible solutions to their problems, or they seek professional input on how to grow their business in a legal manner. Our expertise is not limited to litigation and court cases, ESLF is much more than that. We aim to not only resolve our clients’ legal issues, but also to support the expansion of their businesses and horizons and see them prosper. My dream is for my clients to have unrelenting trust in ESLF and in turn for ESLF to provide impeccable and unrivalled services. While this is an optimistic goal,, I have learned that by working hard and being honest, no goal is unachievable, professionally speaking. It is also important to note that international legal experts often refer to us for support and advice because they value our opinion and expertise.

In 3 years, I would like to think that we will have accelerated our digitization by implementing new technology and further pursued our goal of becoming a fully digitized law firm. The COVID-19 pandemic has created a solid foundation of adaptability and flexibility that we will continue to use as the basis of our expansion in this regard. We will also have continued to improve our customer relationships and services and fostered an ever-stronger trust with our clientele. In order to support these developments, I would also like to have seen an increased workload and to have welcomed new employees to the team.