Ince Al Jallaf & Co officially launches in Dubai

This move reflects the growing opportunities in Dubai for the legal community and the potential of Dubai as the Middle East's centre for dispute resolution.

At yesterday's official launch of Ince Al Jallaf & Co, which was held under the patronage of HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, Wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai Al Jallaf said: "Firstly I would like to thank HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, for her kind recognition of this initiative. Without her support and encouragement of women in business, I may not be where I am today - a proud partner of the global Ince & Co network."

"Ince Al Jallaf & Co is the first true merger between a UAE law firm and an international law firm. We are uniquely placed to handle matters both on the ground and overseas, as well as the challenges posed by Dubai's rapidly growing economy and industries. In addition, the merger with a local law firm gives Ince & Co a right of audience with the local courts, a unique advantage that sets us apart from other law firms,"

Al Jallaf continued.

As one of the few Emirati women to practise law in the UAE, and the region's leading aviation lawyer, Al Jallaf sees a synergy between Dubai's fastest growing business sectors and Ince Al Jallaf's six strands of practice - aviation, business & finance, energy, shipping & trade, insurance & reinsurance, and dispute resolution.

"Dubai's rapidly expanding industries not only require capital and investment, but also the development and growth of local professional experience and expertise which Ince Al Jallaf & Co can now deliver," commented Al Jallaf.

"A key strength of Ince & Co is our knowledge of the industries and markets in which our clients operate," said Bob Deering, managing partner of Ince Al Jallaf & Co. "Our merger with a leading prominent law firm in Dubai specialising in our six strands of practice shows our commitment to understanding the local market, building upon existing knowledge and making sure that this knowledge is retained within the region."

Dubai as the region's centre for dispute resolution

Al Jallaf believes that Dubai has the potential to become the region's centre for dispute resolution, principally in relation to the aviation industry.

"As Dubai strives to be the aviation capital of the world, particularly with the creation of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, we must ensure that companies that are doing business in Dubai are able to both finance their transactions but also deal with any of their legal disputes in this jurisdiction," said Al Jallaf. "Firms such as Ince Al Jallaf & Co are working closely with Dubai's Lawyers' Association to ensure that the legal framework here is evolving to an international standard."