Ahmed Al Kotby

Unique and innovative, ADG Legal is a full-service UAE law firm. Headquartered in Dubai, we provide an unparalleled legal service, connecting international clients and partners seamlessly with the UAE, and promoting a better understanding of the Middle East internationally.

Established following the 2017 merger of Mohammed Al Dahbashi Advocated and Kingsgrove Partners, the firm is proud of its experienced and diverse team (including Emirati, British, Egyptian, Australian, Sudanese and Kazakhstan members).

With offices also in Egypt and London (the latter being a representative office), more international offices in the pipeline and a bespoke network of leading firms and individuals across the globe, our clients enjoy a truly international service. We believe that ADG is the only UAE firm to have a dedicated London representative office. Our regional office teams provide access to UAE expertise within their own respective time zones and working week, whilst also facilitating the provision of international advice to our UAE clients. For example, our dedicated London representative office provides immediate access to experts based in London and the rest of the UK and Europe, whilst also serving international practitioners in London who require assistance in UAE local disputes. As a result, we have a unique offering - a seamless legal service, from a local UAE firm, regardless of jurisdiction.

Our team of high-calibre and dynamic lawyers, from international and local backgrounds, delivers expert advice and comprehensive legal and professional services. Our clients have uncompromising high standards, and so do we. Combined with a responsive and friendly attitude, we work hard to generate premium outcomes.

Practice Areas:

ADG offers clients the full spectrum of corporate services and commercial advice, for on-shore and off-shore companies, partnerships, sole traders and free zones.

The firm’s Dispute Resolution Team is committed to resolving disputes (regional and international) in the most responsive, efficient and practical manner. Comprising of Emirati and international lawyers, the team offers a full dispute resolution service, whether it be through litigation, arbitration or other forms of alternative dispute resolution. The firm’s advocates have full rights of audience before all UAE courts (including the DIFC Court), free zone authorities and tribunals and are experienced at conducting arbitrations in the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) and the DIFC-LCIA Arbitration Centre. Many of the firm’s lawyers have vast experience in dispute resolution beyond the UAE. The firm has also built up a network of leading firms and individuals in numerous other jurisdictions, enabling ADG to provide a seamless dispute resolution service for all clients, regardless of jurisdiction. We offer clients advice on all types of disputes including civil, commercial, real estate, employment, financial, intellectual property, product liability and criminal disputes.

In the area of financial crime, ADG has the capability to effectively assist with internal, forensic and criminal investigations. The firm has particular expertise in obtaining and defending applications for freezing orders in local and foreign jurisdictions. We have in-depth understanding of the regulatory environment and of regulatory bodies in the UAE and MENA.

ADG also provides strategic advice and consultancy services to a wide range of clients, including governments. By way of example, ADG advised the Puntland State of Somalia in negotiations with P&O Ports for the $400m Bosaso Port Project.

ADG’s lawyers have vast experience relating to construction and infrastructure projects across multiple jurisdictions, including the UAE, DIFC, MENA region, Europe and East Africa. Experience ranges from acting for a high-net-worth individual in a dispute with a co-investor in an Abu Dhabi property project to advising a Bahraini bank in litigation concerning a $150m real estate development contract in Dubai. ADG has extensive experience in defending criminal charges in the UAE. Whether a UAE or foreign national, the firm seeks to protect clients’ interests and rights, and guide them through understandably difficult times with compassion, understanding and sensitivity.

For clients with family-related matters, ADG is able to provide expert advice and guidance. From wealth management and succession planning to inheritance disputes, divorce and custody matters, ADG provides responsive and clear advice.

“Our aim is to help the client achieve their goals or resolve their disputes. For many MENA based clients, the best way to do that is by creating a bespoke team, often of lawyers and other professionals from different firms, to cover all the bases. Although many promise it, few firms can really offer a one-stop shop with the very best professionals in every major jurisdiction.” - Peter Gray 

“Born and raised in this market, we are certain we know our way around it. But we wanted more for our clients and we established ADG to provide an unparalleled international legal service from a local Dubai law firm.” - Mohammed Al Dahbashi, Co-Managing Partner

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Having worked in-house and for local, regional, and international law firms in Egypt and the UAE for over 12 years, Ahmed has enviable experience in relation to both contentious (civil and criminal) and non-contentious work. A notable comment from a client was that Ahmed is “knowledgeable, experienced, compassionate and down-to-earth. He is one of the market known lawyers, providing excellent quality of legal advice and responsiveness.”

Ahmed studied law at Alexandria University, Egypt and was admitted to the Egyptian Bar Association in 2010. In 2014, he was admitted as a Practitioner Part II in the DIFC Courts.

His broad experience allows Ahmed to provide our clients with responsive, up-to-date legal advice that takes into consideration their practical and commercial needs without compromising compliance. He manages and develops litigation strategies, but also develops policies so as to minimize risk of litigation for clients.

Ahmed competently handles complex dispute resolution cases, often involving conflict of jurisdictions and of laws. He has been involved in matters relating to the banking, insurance, construction and hotel sectors, as well as acting for individuals. Ahmed is qualified to represent clients before the DIFC Courts, and such work has included the liquidation of a Dubai bank.

Working with our commercial and corporate team, Ahmed advises on multi-national acquisitions, corporate governance modules/policies, and corporate restructures. He negotiates and drafts all types of commercial agreements (including master service agreements, non- disclosure agreements, non-circumvention agreements, letters of intent, memoranda of understanding, sponsorship agreements, loan and facility agreements) as well as all corporate documents (including memoranda of association, joint venture agreements, shareholder agreements and board resolutions). Ahmed is well-versed in relation to the legal aspects of Islamic finance.

In Egypt, Ahmed worked in criminal law and defended clients before criminal and military courts, and attended public prosecutors’ investigations, and police procedures. In the post revolution period, Ahmed successfully dismissed military court charges against number of defendants who were accused of arson attacks on police stations.

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