Legal events update

» ‘ DOING Business in Dubai’ was hosted by Shabib & Associates (BSA) LLP, supported by JAFZA, Emirates NBD, Arago Law Firm and JCB Attorney-at-law in Lausanne Switzerland. The seminar was attended by more than 50 leading private bankers and legal consultants who represented Swiss businesses, interested in expanding their footprint in emerging markets. The seminar succeeded in stimulating investor interest in the Middle East region. The topics covered in the seminar included Dubai as an ideal platform to explore the Middle East; an overview of the legal and economic environment in the UAE; the banking system in the UAE and the challenges faced; the double taxation treaty between Switzerland and the UAE; and setting up business in Dubai and Jebel Ali Free Zone. 

» THE Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), the world’s largest community of in-house counsel, with more than 30,000 members in over 75 countries held its annual meeting in Los Angeles, California from 27-30 October 2013. Approximately 2,000 participants were in attendance, including over 125 corporate counsel based outside the USA. Lawyers from around the world attend ACC’s Annual Meeting to stay current on the latest developments affecting the corporate counsel profession, pursue continuing legal education, meet and learn from other in-house counsel, and identify potential law firm and legal service partners. From UAE, Ghada Audi (Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, LLC) and Oswald Fernandez (Al Khaleej Sugar Co, LLC) attended the event. Next year’s conference will be held in New Orleans, Louisiana from 28-31 October 2014. 

» OFFSHORE Law Forum was organised by Dill & Pearman at the Ritz-Carlton in Dubai on October 29, 2013. Senior lawyers from the firm reviewed recent developments in offshore law international transparency and cooperation initiatives, proposed register of beneficial owners and regulatory response, developments in corporate governance and the Cayman Islands statement of guidance for regulated mutual funds, an update on AIFMD and FATCA, and FATCA related structures, updates on Mauritius global business companies and the tax treaty network and new funds products and an update on licensing regimes for asset managers. The speakers were Robert Briant (British Virgin Islands), Craig Fulton (Cayman Islands), Fawaz Elmalki (Dubai) and Stephen Scali (Mauritius). The seminar was moderated by Kerri Lefebvre (Dubai).