News & Events
News & Events
Outer Temple’s David Russell KC has been appointed as Chair of DIFC’s Expert Advisory Council, commencing 16th February 2026. The Expert Advisory Council serves as a strategic pillar of the DIFC Family Wealth Centre, reinforcing its mission to support family businesses and ultra-high-net-worth individuals with world-class guidance and insights. Comprising leading experts across legal, financial, governance and regulatory fields, the Council helps shape the Centre’s long-term vision while ensuring it remains aligned with the evolving needs of families across generations. Through their expertise and collective experience, Council members play a vital role in enhancing the Centre’s robust ecosystem and advancing its commitment to building a sustainable, globally connected platform for family wealth. Many congratulations to David Russell KC on this…
News 17 Feb, 2026
Sean Yates will be joining an array of speakers for a panel session at The Mediation Summit 2026, taking place on Thursday 22nd January at Sofitel Downtown, Dubai. The Mediation Summit 2026 is organised by The Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), in collaboration with The Mediation Hub MENA. This landmark summit will bring together distinguished leaders from the fields of mediation, judiciary, and dispute resolution-both regionally and internationally-to exchange expertise and advance the practice of mediation across the Middle East and North Africa. The day’s event will take place from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Sean will be joining the third panel discussion of the day on ‘Sector-Specific Disputes Relevent to the Region.’ This panel session will be divided into three parts. Sean Yates, alongside Bruce Edwards,…
News 19 Jan, 2026
Lucian Ilie and Olivia Kaye will be providing ‘DIFC Professional Training in Investor-State Arbitration’ at DIFC Academy on Tuesday 9th December 2025 in Dubai. The course provides a practical overview of the key institutional rules governing ISDS proceedings, including ICSID, UNCITRAL, ICC, and SCC frameworks. This programme will also emphasise the strategic relevance of DIFC as a leading financial hub and legal jurisdiction in the Middle East. We will explore how the DIFC provides a sophisticated legal infrastructure and arbitration-friendly environment that attracts foreign investment and facilitates the resolution of investor-state disputes. By contextualising ISDS within the DIFC’s regulatory landscape, the course will enable attendees to understand the practical implications for investors, legal practitioners, and businesses operating within or through the DIFC framework.…
News 3 Dec, 2025
OTC’s Dubai based barristers David Russell KC, Philip Punwar and Sean Yates will be providing training at the DIFC Vol.2 Reissue Book Launch event on Tuesday 29th April at DIFC Academy in Dubai. The Book Launch event, hosted by LexisNexis Middle East and DIFC Academy will bring together leading legal minds to unpack the 2024 updates to DIFC Digital Asset Law and Contract Law. The in-person training sessions will take place from 10am to 12pm. Philip Punwar and Sean Yates will be presenting on DIFC Contract Law: Recent Amendments & Legal Developments. This course aims to: Apply legal principles from the DIFC Contract Law to effectively draft, review, and assess contracts, ensuring compliance with evolving regulations Explain the key provisions…
News 28 Apr, 2025
David Russell KC will be speaking at the ‘Building a Lasting Legacy – The Future of Family Businesses in Dubai’ event on Thursday 1st May 2025 taking place at Dubai Chambers. This event is organised by Dubai Chambers in collaboration with Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. The event will highlight the new UAE Family Business Law, which introduces a comprehensive legal framework designed to strengthen business continuity, governance, and succession planning for family-owned enterprises. David Russell KC will be part of a panel discussion alongside speakers from Hourani & Partners, PwC Middle East and Maha Bin Hendi Law Firm addressing ‘Building a Lasting Legacy: Structuring Family Businesses for Sustainable Growth and Wealth Transfer’. This discussion will take place from…
News 22 Apr, 2025
David Russell KC will be joining a panel discussion with Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and leading tax experts on ‘The Opportunities and Benefits for UK Residents in Dubai’ on Monday 24th March 2025 at Harbottle & Lewis, London. Join Outer Temple’s David Russell KC, alongside Ali Hassan of DIFC, Gary Ashford of Harbottle & Lewis and Jaffar Rakhimov of Belluzzo International Partners on Monday 24th March 2025 as they explore the attributes of DIFC as an emerging global hub for private wealth structures and succession planning. This event is aimed that individuals and professionals with an interest in the DIFC as a jurisdiction for holding assets and structuring wealth. The session will include insights on: Emergence of Dubai and…
News 13 Mar, 2025
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…
Events 8 Nov, 2023
Outer Temple’s David Russell KC will be speaking at the Private Client Informa Connect Conference on Cross-Border Planning: Wealth Management Solutions for the New Age Business Family between 25th and 26th October 2023, at the Sofitel Dubai Downtown. The Informa Connect Conference will focus on key issues facing the internationally mobile private client discussed by both local and international practitioners. Topics will include succession planning, immigration, family governance and family offices, and business law developments. The two-day event will start off with a pre-conference dinner on 25th October followed by a full-day conference on 26th October with various speakers. David Russell KC will act as moderator alongside speakers Yasmine Omari of EY and Cynthia Trench of Trench & Associates as…
Events 6 Sep, 2023
Philip Punwar and Sean Yates join Outer Temple Chambers. Both will remain in the Middle East and join existing Dubai based members David Russell KC and David Holloway, and other members who are regularly in the region instructed on international arbitration and commercial matters. Their arrival not only strengthens Chambers’ Middle East presence but also our international disputes offering. Outer Temple has an office in the DIFC and is the only set of chambers to have a physical office presence in the region. Philip Punwar and Sean Yates are both English qualified barristers with experience of common law and civil law disciplines, particularly important in local law matters in Dubai, they start on 17 October 2022 and 1 November 2022,…
News 17 Oct, 2022
In Godolphin Australia Pty Ltd v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue, David Russell QC acted successfully for the plaintiff, with the Australian court finding that the thoroughbred horse breeding properties were exempt from land tax. Factors included, the uneconomic nature of the racing operations viewed as a stand-alone operation, as important reasoning for finding the dominant use of the land was for the maintenance of animals to sell their bodily produce. The plaintiff, Godolphin Australia Pty Ltd, is part of the global thoroughbred breeding operation and horseracing team founded by the Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Represented by David Russell QC, it sought a review under s97(1) of the Taxation Administration Act 1996 (NSW) of an unfavourable…
News 3 May, 2022
