Legal Clinic Third Edition

Legal Clinic Students Explore UAE Legal Practice with Leading Law Firms, Clyde & Co, Hadef & Partners, ADGM Dispute Resolution Hearing Centre and organizations including ArbitrateAD and IRENA

(September-October 2025)

Between trips, conferences, and guest visitors, the legal clinic programme for SUAD law students was incredibly interesting and useful, and varied enough to cover all major areas of legal life in the UAE. During the Clinic, students have had the opportunity to meet professionals and visit key institutions, gaining invaluable first-hand insight into the realities of legal practice in the UAE and internationally.

As part of the SUAD Legal Clinic 2025–26, students attended a session at the ADGM Dispute Resolution Hearing Centre (DRHC), where they were introduced to the ADGM Courts and ADGM DRHC’s work, applicable legal frameworks, and jurisdictional matters. The session was led by Hannah Dennehy, Head of Client Relations – ADGM DRHC and Shourouk Ragheb, Legal Counsel – ADGM Courts.

Following the talks, students toured ADGM’s impressive courtroom facilities, gaining first-hand insight into how disputes are managed at ADGM. This experience exposed them to the working environment of judges, arbitrators, lawyers, and ADGM staff, offering a valuable real-world perspective on dispute resolution. 

For more information about the ADGM Courts, visit: https://www.adgm.com/adgm-courts, and the ADGM DRHC at https://disputeresolution.adgm.com/

On campus, the class welcomed attorney Kavya Balram, currently at DSK Legal, who shared her experience of completing the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), the assessment required to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. Students gained a clearer understanding of the relevance of the SQE route—particularly in the UAE context—as well as the different pathways, requirements, and practical steps involved in pursuing this professional qualification.

Students also visited the renowned global law firm Clyde and Co. There, students were introduced to the world of international firms in the UAE and the type of work they do. It was a chance to meet lawyers from all walks of life as well as from varied backgrounds, who shared their experiences, including academic background and what led them to working in this firm, as well as a question-and-answer session where they got to inquire and ask for advice and network.

The following week, students had their first visit to the Emirati firm Hadef and Partners, an introduction to Emirati legal firms. As in the preceding week, they were exposed to the firm’s areas of work and got to know more about their internship programme. Students learned more about the firm’s internship programme, discussed aspects of UAE legal history, and explored the significant role Hadef & Partners has played in shaping the country’s legal landscape.

During a second visit to Hadef and Partners, students followed a different agenda: a debate was conducted concerning AI and law, where students received feedback on their oratory skills as well as argumentation from legal professionals at the firm. They were introduced to two fascinating legal personalities: Senior litigator Salih Ahnaish, who has over 50 years of experience as both a professor of law and a lawyer, and attorney and former NYU lecturer Omar Shehabi.

Students further engaged with ArbitrateAD and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), further expanding their understanding of the diversity of legal and institutional practice in the UAE. Representatives from ArbitrateAD visited SUAD to deliver a lecture on arbitration and alternative dispute resolution, offering students valuable insight into how disputes are resolved outside traditional court systems.

Building on their exposure to dispute resolution and legal practice, students also engaged with international organizations. At the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), students explored the intersection of law, policy, and renewable energy governance. They gained understanding of how global energy transition efforts are coordinated through institutional frameworks and legal instruments.

The programme culminated with the Oceans Conference hosted at SUAD. During this conference, students heard expert opinions and analyses of current problems in the shipping industry relating to the environment, and discovered the steps taken to solve these issues by companies, international organisations, and states. These were presented by, notably, Professor Beatriz Garcia, Dr. Jean-Michel Mornière, as well as government and private sector representatives and academics from the National University of Singapore (NUS).

All in all, this was an incredibly insightful programme, strongly recommended to any SUAD law student. The L3 legal clinic batch would like to extend their sincere thanks to Dr Beatriz Garcia for her hospitality and skillful planning of this programme.

This edition of the Legal Clinic was made possible thanks to the generous contribution of the following professionals, who shared their time and expertise with our students. We extend our special thanks to:

Content provided by Legal Clinic student Fatima Al-Sayegh.