Ben Brown joins Addleshaw Goddard from Clyde & Co

Addleshaw Goddard is adding to its full-service capability in the GCC with the appointment of a new Employment partner. Dubai-based Ben Brown specialises in all aspects of contentious and non-contentious employment law and joins from Clyde and Co; he follows the recent hire of John Podgore, former GC at the MENA Energy Group and a recognised expert in international oil & gas transactions and energy-focused projects.

Brown’s practice spans the GCC, including the onshore UAE, Dubai International Financial Centre, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Africa. He is UK-qualified, but has operated in the UAE since 2014, and according to Chambers UK, is known for his ability to “understand Middle Eastern culture and the sensitivities involved in dealing with employees in the region.”

For the last 10 years, Brown has advised on recruitment and immigration issues, performance and remuneration issues, employee transfers, manpower supply arrangements, data protection and issues arising on the termination of employment.

He brings extensive experience advising on employment issues arising from corporate restructurings, outsourcings and multi-jurisdictional M&A as well as complex internal investigations in relation to both financial wrongdoing and complaints of inappropriate workplace behaviour, including harassment.

Brown’s contentious work takes him to the DIFC courts and local labour courts in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. In 2019, Ben advised the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Authority on the drafting of the new DIFC Employment Law.