Peter Gray

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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Peter is an experienced lawyer and adviser. With almost two decades’ experience in resolving complex disputes and advising on white-collar crime matters, Peter is also frequently asked to advise on non-contentious matters. Of particular note, Peter is currently involved in providing assistance for projects in a number of sectors across Africa.

Peter is highly recommended by clients for his commercial, efficient and friendly approach.

A Cambridge University graduate, Peter trained at the Bar before starting his practicing career at LeBoeuf Lamb (later Dewey & LeBoeuf) in the City of London. Having moved to Dubai in 2010, he set up Kingsgrove Partners in 2015. Seeking to combine deep regional knowledge with an international mindset, and provide clients with exceptional UAE legal services, he established ADG with Mohammed Al Dahbashi.

Published in leading journals, Peter is often a keynote speaker at international conferences, including the Cambridge Symposium and C5, and is a registered STEP Trust and Estate Practitioner.

Much of Peter’s career has been focussed on the Middle East and Africa. Recognising that most significant conversations and decisions depend upon personal relationships, Peter spends a great deal of time travelling throughout the Middle East and Africa to help clients achieve their goals. Always seeking innovative and proactive solutions for clients, Peter has a reputation for taking the time to understand his clients’ businesses and for being “commercially minded and cost sensitive”. One client noted that “Peter is the lawyer every good CEO would like to have, especially when facing difficult structuring decisions.”

PETER SPECIALISES IN:
• Strategic legal advice
• Managing legal development projects
• Advising on multi-jurisdictional litigation
• Advising governments on establishing and running Free Zones
• International arbitration (under all main institutions, particularly LCIA, ICC and DIFC-LCIA)
• Investigations
• Critical project recovery
• Regulatory advice
• Restructuring
• Contract negotiation

Peter has served on various committees, including the DIFC Courts Users Committee, Dubai Conservatives (Chairman), CIArb YMG Committee and the British-China Law Association. He is a long-standing committee member of the Oxford and Cambridge Society in the UAE. He has been published in leading journals and is often a keynote speaker at international conferences (including C5 and the Cambridge Symposium on Economic Crime).

In 2012, Peter helped found the HTC Advice Clinic in Dubai, a free service providing legal, careers and other advice. Together with Mohammed Al Dahbashi, he ensures that ADG remains committed to pro bono work.

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