Dubai Lawyers..Anyone know one?

[Chilli]

Gents,

I'm after the services of a lawyer that will be able to look after me with a land lease/business partnership contract. Does anyone know a good English & Arabic speaker, who won't lose anything in the translation?!

Many thanks.

[Asterix]

Yup - also he's a horsey person.

Egytian guy, has his own practice. Educated in Paris & LA. Specialises in commercial stuff.

My phone has gone walkies so I can't text it to you - here's his details.

Ashraf El Motei
Motei & Associates

050 657 7647

Say James from BNI gave you the details.

Interestingly, I had a beer with him a couple of days ago and mentioned your predicament, in very vague terms, and he was interested.

Best of luck.

[Chilli]

Asterix said:

Yup - also he's a horsey person.

Egytian guy, has his own practice. Educated in Paris & LA. Specialises in commercial stuff.

My phone has gone walkies so I can't text it to you - here's his details.

Ashraf El Motei
Motei & Associates

050 657 7647

Say James from BNI gave you the details.

Interestingly, I had a beer with him a couple of days ago and mentioned your predicament, in very vague terms, and he was interested.

Best of luck.

Great stuff, thanks James.
Fingers crossed.

[Asterix]

Always welcome mate - hope it works out.

I've also emailed him your details.

[dictys]

If you have any problems Chilli, with who ever you choose, just pm me and I put you intouch with one of our experts on that side.

[Chilli]

Thanks gents, tis appreciated.

[Chilli]

Gents,

I've decided I need a "Local" lawyer! I've got a funny feeling my "partner/client" will sign a 7 year land lease, then change his mind after 2 years. To make sure I have adequate clout in a courtroom, don't you think it would be prudent to have a local batting for me? I'll insist on specific reference to this problem within the contract and add penalty clauses.

We've been told by an English lawyer here that a contrat can mean squat when the other party is an influential local, so really need to protect myself as much as poss!

Any thoughts/recommendations?

[shirt]

changed your name to habtoor and lay off the factor 50

my good friend here in dub is a property lawyer with a background in commercial law. from what i understand his firm often battles the likes of emaar/nakheel for being less than on the level. i get the impression being connected can only help if the legal argument is there as well. if you need it, i can ask him to give you a ring.

[Asterix]

If the requirement is to have a correctly worded/translated contract now, I'm sure anyone reputable will do as good a job as the next guy.

However, should you need to go to court in 2 years time, your lawyer then might help being local. Doesn't have to be the same guy that drafted the contract in the first place.

Best thing to do is to assume you're going to get shafted regardless of who you use. As with anything here, you have some rights on paper, but don't ever think that they'll be afforded to you should something happen. Never, ever believe they will. I've seen people be screwed by their local 'partner' when a dispute has arisen and they've been accused of XXX. They've had the plod arrest them, chuck them in a cell until they can prove otherwise - months later in one case.

Plan for the worst, hope for the best etc...

Have a great day!

[shirt]

the default position here does seem to be 'if in doubt, stick em in a cell'

[Chilli]

Bl**dy hell...It's a daunting enough project without that possibility! I guess we can only make the contract as detailed as we can and hope for the best. The guy is a well-known local and has plenty of contacts, and money. I'm not nieve enough to think he'll be the best business partner in the world, but there's a risk involved obviously, and it's a case of minimising that risk, I suppose!

[dudleybloke]

the bloke you want is mustaffa lawdegree.

[dictys]

Chilli, PM sent.