Outer Temple in Dubai for Cirque du Loi

Members of Outer Temple Chambers and the director, Steve Graham, are in Dubai this week for the major legal social event of the year. The quaintly named “Cirque du Loi”, the annual legal gala dinner now in its third year, is “an all in celebration of the Dubai Legal Community for the benefit of the DIFC Courts Pro Bono programme”.

Heads of Chambers, Andrew Spink QC and Michael Bowes QC are joined by Keith Bryant QC, Michael Patchett-Joyce, Benjimin Burgher, Ali Almihdar, David Russell QC, and Samir Salloum.

Ali Almihdar is also head of Almihdar Law Firm in Jeddah and he holds the unique status of being the first Saudi Arabian lawyer qualified as a member of the English Bar. Maitre Samir Salloum, a professional associate of Outer Temple, heads Salloum & Co based in Abu Dhabi.

Guests of Outer Temple include: Ian Johnston, chief executive of the DFSA; Michael Ridgeway of the DFSA; Sandy Shipton, who until recently was head of the Private Client Department of the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and Stephen Cutts who has taken over from him; Dr Adnan Abrahim in-house counsel to ADIB; lawyers from Hadef & Partners, Hussain Lootah & Associates, and Al Tamini & Co; and Elias Bou Khalil from Arago, legal consultants with offices in Dubai, Beirut and Paris.

On 8th October, Members hosted a smaller group of guests at a private dinner at the Capital Club. Some of the above guests attended plus representatives of Eversheds, Weil Gotshal, the Enshaa Group and Dutco.

The Outer Temple visit seeks to build up new contacts, reconnect with existing relationships, and promote an exchange of information and ideas. Several meetings have taken place with local firms and businesses. On 8th October Benjimin Burgher addressed the Dubai Employment Lawyers group at the offices of Hadef & Partners. His presentation was on the current legislative position in DIFC employment law and he illustrated how it applies to specific circumstances.

In May this year three Chambers directors and fifteen Outer Temple barristers, including six QCs, were in Dubai to strengthen and reaffirm our commitment to working in the region. This included introducing new recruit, David Russell QC, who has significant experience and contacts in the region and who has relocated his principal base to Dubai.

News 9 Oct, 2014