How To Incorporate Legal Consultancy Firm in Dubai

There are times when you are drawn into numerous challenges, milestones, and even setbacks and when you face those events, Legal Advisor plays an important role. They apply their knowledge on relevant laws in helping to resolve the issues. While it’s often believed that lawyers are overly expensive but the truth is that a qualified legal consultant can help you sort out the situation in less time and money.

UAE is widely recognized as one of the favorite places to work, live and to do business. During the course of executing the business, it becomes difficult for an entrepreneur to determine the challenges and benefits of certain laws in the UAE, legal advisory can turn up as great relief as they simplify the process and also will guide well throughout the situation.
If you are a qualified legal advisor and looking to expand your professional platform in Dubai, here are the few key factors and detailed activity description that you should consider.

Legal Consultants
Activity Code: 6910002
Activity Group: Legal services
License Type: Professional
Activity Description: Includes offices and firms which offer consultancies and prepare legal studies of the lawsuits and the legal questions submitted thereto. However, they are not entitled to assume the defense before courts in this regard.

This License can be setup under two onshore structures as below:

• Mainland Entity
• Freezone Entity

This activity license is subject to the approval of Dubai Legal Affairs Department

Legal System Structure in UAE

There are two dual court systems in UAE i.e civil courts and Sharia courts. Each Emirate of UAE is governed and guided by separate federal court.

Regulations

A lawyer can either be an advocate or a legal consultant. As per the federal law an advocates cannot practice unless he is registered on the Ministry of Justice’s however if the lawyer is to practice law in the other Emirates, he must be licensed by the Emiri Diwan.

Regulatory Compliance

This license is subject to the approval from the Department of Legal Affairs. This step is necessary for them in order to provide legal services outside the court. The authority is fully responsible for licensing law firms who fulfill the Criteria established by the Department of Economic Development.

On the other hand In case of law firm based out in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the firm must acquire a commercial license registered and governed by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) as an Ancillary Service Provider and the Ruler’s court must approve this establishment.

Similarly all other Emirates of the UAE have different licensing and regulatory requirements in order to legally practice law in those jurisdictions.

Further Restrictions to Consider

It is allowed to foreign lawyer to practice the local law. However, only UAE Nationals are permitted to appear to the local court and in that too only registered advocates are allowed to appear before the Federal Supreme Court and take part in litigation.

Process to Get Professional License for Legal Activity in Dubai Mainland

(Activity No. 6910002 – Legal Consultants) is professional and can be set up as a Branch, Sole Establishment and as Civil Company. There is no need to have a local partner but you need to appoint a local service agent. The required documents are as follows:

For initial approval:

• Registration and licensing application form
• Reserve trade name
• Photocopy of applicant’s passport (together with visit/residency permit) along with a non-objection letter from the current sponsor if applicant is on a residence visa
• Passport copy of the local service agent and naturalization identifications
• External approval from H.H. the Ruler’s Court – Legal Affairs

After getting the initial approval:

• Initial approval receipt
• All documents mentioned above
• Tenancy contract registration certificate certified by RERA
• Electronic Appointment contract of local service agent, issued by DED

Upon completion of process, the client visits the respective department to:

• Submit original documents
• Take the oath (applicable to those who want to represent cases in local court)
• Receive the card

Process to Setup in DIFC as Legal Consultant

In order to setup in DIFC, the applicant must ensure following:

• They must carry at least five (5) years post-qualification experience immediately preceding the date of application as an advocate in courts, arbitrations or tribunals; OR
• They have two (2) years post-qualification experience immediately preceding the date of application as an advocate in courts, arbitrations or tribunals along with an attached schedule of their oral advocacy experience

Documents required for setting up Legal Consultancy Firm in Dubai

• Copy of current Practicing Certificate or letter of good standing from their bar association or law society to at least three (3) months from the date of application
• Copy of Passport
• Passport size photo
• Copy of visa page (for UAE Residents)
• Copy of the Legal Affairs Department Card (if practicing in Dubai)
• Copy of a valid indemnity insurance policy (practitioners outside Dubai)
• Schedule of oral advocacy experience in either courts, arbitration and tribunals. The schedule should highlight the lawyer’s experiences in oral advocacy and outline the current practice of the practitioners and a lists of (representative) cases and interlocutory motions and descriptions of the of the practitioners involvement in each. This will serve as a basis for the interview.

If you got the skills and are armed with professional knowledge in legal field, don’t wait and start expanding your professional advisory in the emirate. We at Flying Colour will help you to route through the entire process of setup seamlessly.

This blog is written by Ms. Shweta Bhalla, Director – Business Advisory at Flyingcolour Business Setup, Accounting & VAT Services, Dubai. If you are interested in setting up a legal consultancy firm in Dubai or anywhere across UAE then get in touch with our experts to learn more about the process. We, at Flyingcolour, provide business setup services, visa, IP, PRO, licensing and office space to entrepreneurs looking to establish themselves in UAE. You can send your inquiry to info[at]flyingcolour[dot]com or call +971 4 4542366.