Addleshaw Goddard is adding to its full-service capability in the GCC with the appointment of a new Employment partner.

Dubai-based Ben Brown specialises in all aspects of contentious and non-contentious employment law and joins from Clyde and Co; he follows the recent hire of John Podgore, former GC at the MENA Energy Group and a recognised expert in international oil & gas transactions and energy-focused projects.

Ben's practice spans the GCC, including the onshore UAE, Dubai International Financial Centre, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Africa. He is UK-qualified, but has operated in the UAE since 2014, and according to Chambers UK, is known for his ability to "understand Middle Eastern culture and the sensitivities involved in dealing with employees in the region."

For the last 10 years, Ben has advised on recruitment and immigration issues, performance and remuneration issues, employee transfers, manpower supply arrangements, data protection and issues arising on the termination of employment.

He brings extensive experience advising on employment issues arising from corporate restructurings, outsourcings and multi-jurisdictional M&A as well as complex internal investigations in relation to both financial wrongdoing and complaints of inappropriate workplace behaviour, including harassment.

Ben's contentious work takes him to the DIFC courts and local labour courts in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. In 2019, Ben advised the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Authority on the drafting of the new DIFC Employment Law.

Andrew Johnston, Corporate Partner and Head of Region – GCC, said:

"Ben's hire is an important one for us as we strive to attract a greater share of higher value contentious and non-contentious employment and immigration matters for international and local companies operating across the UAE, KSA, Bahrain and Oman. Faced with a raft of new laws and regulations in the region, Ben's experience, combined with the reputation of our wider team, is a compelling proposition."

He added:  

"Since opening our Dubai office in 2012, we have continued to make material investments in order to provide clients with a market-leading, full-service capability.  We have recently relocated into new office space and continue to see really strong growth.  As a result, we expect to be joined by at least four additional partners across various service lines over the next few months." 

Addleshaw Goddard has three offices in the GCC – Dubai, Oman and Qatar - and currently has 13 Partners and more than 30 lawyers in total providing international and local clients with all matters connected with investing in and doing business in the Gulf region.