Join Outer Temple and DIFC at the Thought Leaders 4 FIRE Summit, Middle East 2023

Outer Temple Chambers is delighted to be partnering with the DIFC for a talk on DIFC legislative reform at the Thought Leaders 4 FIRE Summit on Tuesday 14th November 2023 at the Shangri-la Hotel Dubai.

Join Outer Temple’s David Russell KC, Andrew Spink KC, Nicolas Stallworthy KC and Justina Stewart in their discussion with Jacques Visser and Katherine Nixon of the Dubai International Financial Centre on the topic of ‘Understanding Major Legislative Reform in Dubai of Digital Assets, Smart Contracts and Secured Transactions’ at the Shangri-la Hotel in Dubai between 3:40pm – 4:20pm.

The talk will highlight the groundbreaking DIFC legal reforms on digital assets, smart contracts and secured transactions.

Book your place

Perfectly timed with Dubai Arbitration Week and conveniently located near the DIFC, join TL4 FIRE 2023 in Dubai for the 3rd year of their regional event. We are pleased to be able to share our ‘speaker discount code’ which will entitle you to 10% off your ticket: FIREMESPK23

Speaker Bios

Nicolas Stallworthy KC, Barrister, Outer Temple Chambers

Nicolas Stallworthy KC’s practice involves the interaction of commercial trusts, contract law, insolvency and professional negligence at very high levels of complexity and value.

He undertakes cases concerning the interpretation of trusts, contracts, financial instruments & legislation; and the application of trust principles in the broader commercial context. His professional negligence practice focuses on solicitors, insurance companies, benefits consultants, professional trustees, actuaries & investment advisers.

David Russell KC, Barrister, Outer Temple Chambers

David Russell KC commenced legal practice in 1974. He is admitted to practise in Australia, England and Wales (Lincoln’s Inn), the Courts of the Dubai International Financial Centre, New York (as a Legal Consultant), New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

He currently practises in Dubai, London, and Abu Dhabi (Outer Temple Chambers), Sydney (Ground Floor Wentworth Chambers) and Brisbane (Sir Harry Gibbs Chambers). He has acted for Commonwealth and State Governments as well as individuals and corporations. David was President of the Taxation Institute of Australia from 1993 to 1995, and of the Asia Oceania Tax Consultants’ Association from 1996 to 2000.

Andrew Spink KC, Barrister, Outer Temple Chambers

Andrew Spink KC is a highly respected advocate with 38 years’ experience at the Bar, of which 20 years have been as a successful KC.

Andrew has a broad-based business law practice, specialising particularly in disputes relating to the interpretation or breach of most types of commercial contract and trust deed, claims for breach of fiduciary duty, freezing injunctions and asset recovery, cross-jurisdictional issues, CPR Part 8 claims as well as hostile CPR Part 7 claims for damages and other relief in the context of pensions and other commercial trusts, banking and financial services, a wide range of other commercial contracts and contractual issues (including cases of force majeure and frustration arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic and cases involving crypto-assets and associated worldwide freezing orders), professional negligence claims (acting for both claimants and defendants) and company law and insolvency issues.

Justina Stewart, Barrister, Outer Temple Chambers

Justina Stewart’s practice encompasses the full range of commercial litigation, with a particular emphasis on banking and financial services, civil fraud, fintech and digital assets, insolvency and international arbitration.

She is ranked in the key legal directories as a Leading Junior in several areas: Commercial Litigation/Commercial Dispute Resolution, Banking and Finance, Fintech and digital assets, Financial Services Regulation; and Insolvency.

Justina is ranked as a Leading Junior in Chambers UK Bar, Chambers Global, Legal 500 and Legal 500 Middle East.

Jacques Visser, Chief Legal Officer, DIFC Authority

Jacques Visser heads the Legal, Registrars and Regulatory Compliance departments of DIFC Authority and its wholly-owned subsidiary, DIFC Investments Ltd.

In his service to DIFC, Mr. Visser is also entrusted with the following appointments – Supervisory Board Member of the DIFC Employee Workplace Savings (DEWS) Plan; Board Member and Chairman of the Investment Committee of the DIFC FinTech Fund; Board Member and Member of the Investment Committee of the Dubai Future District Fund; Board Member of xCube LLC; DIFC Commissioner of Data Protection; DIFC Security Registrar; Secretary to the DIFC Higher Board, the DIFC Authority Board and the DIFC Investments Ltd Board; and Editor-in-Chief of, “The Laws of the DIFC” publication.

Prior to joining DIFC, Mr. Visser practiced as a Financial Services Lawyer for more than 20 years, primarily focusing on multi-jurisdictional investment structures, funds, asset management and regulatory matters in emerging markets.

Katherine Nixon, Senior Vice President-Legal, DIFC Law

Katherine is the Regional Head of Knowledge & Information in the Middle East. She has been based in the UAE for seven years and joined Clifford Chance in June 2015. Before joining Clifford Chance, she trained and worked as a corporate transactional lawyer in London and Dubai. Katherine has substantial local law experience in UAE corporate and commercial matters. She has also worked closely with the Dubai Legal Affairs Department in delivering CLPD training on a range of local law topics.

Events 8 Nov, 2023