Interview with: Adv. Ali Al Zarooni, Chairman

What has been your greatest achievement, in a professional and personal capacity?

On a professional level, my greatest achievement has been the establishment and operation of a successful UAE multi-disciplinary law firm. The firm has grown exponentially since its inauguration and continues to thrive in this fiercely competitive legal market. Over the last 31 years, the firm has worked tirelessly to establish its unwavering reputation as a world-class leader in all areas of UAE Federal Laws as well as off-shore (free) zones. Furthermore, the relationships that we have established with other highly regarded law firms across the GCC, Middle East, Europe and other international regions reinforces the strength of our multi-jurisdictional firm.

On a personal level, I am most proud of my wife and the four wonderful children that we have raised. It can be difficult to maintain a work / life balance and we have learned how to work together to order to raise our children as best we can.

What do you do differently from your peers in the industry?

Horizons & Co. is a client-focused law firm committed to delivering exceptional legal services. Since the firm’s inception in 1999, we have sustained our commitment to bringing the highest possible standards of legal services in both the UAE and further afield. In order to act differently, one must think differently and this belief has cultivated a firm where lateral and medial thinking are equally regarded, meaning that solutions to client problems are often found through practical, clever and often unexpected ways. Our staff have been globally sourced and bring unrivalled experience in a plethora of jurisdictions which is a key factor for many clients given the UAE’s geographical centrality. Conclusively, we are a local firm that thinks internationally and this has proven to accelerate our success over and above our peers.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Don’t become a lawyer! No, I am joking! I have learned so much about myself through the establishment of Horizons & Co and I feel both humbled and proud of what I have achieved. If I were to have a conversation with my younger 25-year old self, I would advise that I invest in clever, committed and hard-working lawyers as their value cannot be underestimated. Although my younger self might wince at the cost of hiring top-tier lawyers, it is these people that you must ultimately put your trust in, in order to preserve and develop the reputation of the firm. Secondly, it is wise to consider installing high-quality IT systems as this is likely to ensure efficiency in the day-to-day running of the firm so do your research and find the most suitable system!

Can you give me a practical example of how you helped a client add value to the business?

Upon initially reading this question, I immediately thought of when I completely re-drafted an entire suite of contracts for a large-scale developer. The original contracts had a number of serious omissions and would have left the developer in a disadvantaged position should a dispute have been raised in the future. However, when I consider this question over my career to-date, I am struck by the number of situations in which I have helped clients to reach a settlement with the other side. Negotiations have often badly broken down and it would seem that settlement is impossible. Perhaps a tenacious litigator would strive for the ‘win’ but I believe that a greater victory can be achieved if both sides walk away feeling like they have won. It can be difficult to enable negotiations but by clearly defining the gains to both sides this often leads to an agreement which adds value to both businesses.

Within your sector, what do you think will be the biggest challenge for clients over the next 12 months?

Economic activity in the UAE has hastened in recent years, most notably the non-oil private sector which has shown slower progression despite the expansion of credit lending year-on-year. This has been attributed to softer economic conditions which have reduced clients’ spending power. Despite this, it is predicted that the construction sector in the UAE will continue to grow in 2020, ahead of the Expo. In light of this, the biggest challenge for clients doing business in construction and engineering companies is managing cash-flow. Projects need to be delivered on time and within budget or companies may face serious and costly legal challenges. Construction disputes continue to rise in the UAE and we are increasingly seeing clients that are unable to manage cash-flow in order to pay legal fees. In this current economic climate, Horizons & Co remain devoted to helping our clients identify successful solutions, reduce risk, and maximise opportunities.