Praised for its ‘cross-border collaboration and access to international expertise’, Simmons & Simmons Middle East LLP is knowledgeable of regulatory employment matters. David McDonald oversees the team and is highly proficient in workplace investigations and disciplinary mandates. Ruth Stephen handles a breadth of contentious employment matters, while India Dawson is informed in employment contracts.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: NPS ®
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The employment team at Simmons & Simmons is unique in the market for its sector-specific insight, particularly for the financial services / regulatory industry, and its comprehensive expertise throughout mainland UAE as well as its free zones, with a particular focus on the DIFC and ADGM, and throughout the wider Middle East, most notably through the establishment of the Simmons Saudi office.'
- 'The Middle East employment team is fully embedded within the wider Simmons global network, enabling seamless cross-border collaboration and access to international expertise. The use of AI has been important in the delivery of service to clients, with the team accessing the firm's AI / legal tech specialists where relevant / efficient.'
- ‘David McDonald is a leading expert in the region for all employment-related matters, from contentious to non-contentious matters. His extensive expertise, strategic insight, and collaborative approach has consistently added value to our engagements. He is able to navigate complex employment issues, particularly in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, demonstrating both technical excellence but also a nuanced understanding of the regional legal landscape and challenges, giving practical advice and a risk-based approach to employment matters. From a relationship perspective, he is approachable, responsive, and is able to distill advice clearly and without legal jargon. Importantly, he supports and encourages working women, promoting a flexible working environment.’
- ‘David McDonald is an exceptional employment lawyer with extensive experience across the Middle East. What sets him apart is his pragmatic and balanced approach — he provides clear, commercially sensible advice and is always focused on finding practical solutions. He is easy to deal with, highly responsive, and his deep knowledge of regional employment laws, combined with a strong understanding of how businesses operate in this market, makes him a trusted adviser and a pleasure to work with.’
Work highlights
Advised on the employment aspects of a complex merger between two major financial institutions, focusing on the large-scale transfer of employees to the parent bank.
Represented a global financial institution in enforcing restrictive covenants against a former senior employee who, despite receiving non-compete payments, sought to commence employment with a direct competitor before the expiration of his non-compete period.
Advised on numerous employee transfers across various jurisdictions in the Middle East, reflecting the region's dynamic business landscape and our clients' strategic expansion plans.
Practice head
David McDonald
Other key lawyers
Ruth Stephen; India Dawson