UAE’s transformation from a regional keyplayer to a global economic giant has increasingly brought changes that have also shaped its demographic and legal landscape. The growing presence of expatriates, for instance, is part of a broader wave of social transformation, bringing with it a host of legal implications. This is even more prevalent in family-related matters. As diverse nationalities move to the UAE, differing family laws and norms often complicate separations leading to one parent removing a child across borders.
Sometimes, the complexities tied to addressing these concerns especially when it involves expatriates require legal firms to specialise in international family law. While leading firms like Professional lawyer Dr. Hassan Elhais and Awatif Mohammad Shoqi Advocates and Legal Consultancy have stamped their dominance in this niche, there are also local law firms in Dubai and the UAE with an impressive portfolio and experience in offering family legal consultancy services and handling child-related disputes. As a result, we’ve identified the top 5 law firms that handle abduction cases in the UAE.
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Dr Hassan Elhais
First on this list is Dr Hassan Elhais and his team of legal experts. Dr Hassan Elhais is a professional lawyer in UAE. He is a consummate legal professional who brings about two decades of legal expertise and experience spanning across diverse areas of specialisation but with a demonstrable success rate on family law and international child custody disputes. Dr Elhais adopts a client-specific approach whereby he approaches cases specific to the unique circumstances of each client. Moreover, his versatility and ability to apply both the Personal Status Law and the Civil Personal Status Laws (Federal and Abu Dhabi Law) to Muslims and non-Muslims respectively are part of his strong points.
Through his exploits, Dr Elhais has gained global recognition. He contributes to legal advocacy through his website, providing awareness on the steps and consequences to take on Child Abduction cases. He has also offered public engagement, discussing the process of enforcing foreign orders. His international credentials is evident in his role as co-chair of the relocation of children committee at the international academy of family lawyers and a member of the international association of lawyers. Accordingly, clients benefit from Dr Elhais’ wealth of experience, international exposure and knowledge of UAE laws as well as international civil laws, and bilateral agreements. This has made him a leading go-to option for clients facing parental abduction issues.
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Awatif & Shoqi Mohammad Advocates and Legal Consultancy
Awatif Mohammad Shoqi Advocates and Legal consultancy is a household name in the UAE legal landscape. Formerly known as Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants, this firm is distinguished by its full service offering that extends to family disputes and child abduction. This firm’s reputation and approach to excellence can be gained in the quality of its advocates and legal consultants. Enlisting the services of Dr Hassan Elhais, a legal luminary by every standard has not only elevated the reputation of this firm but has also added to the quality of leadership and expertise at Awatif & Shoqi Mohammad Advocates, placing it at the vanguard of legal excellence.
In the context of child abduction cases, Awatif Mohammad Shoqi navigates federal laws and international civil laws when it applies to expatriates. The firm employs a strategic and overarching approach that blends the provisions of UAE federal personal status laws, bilateral arrangements to effectively provide resolutions. Likewise, they don’t apply a generic approach but specific ones that address the circumstances of each case.
The firm recognises the emotional tension typically invested in family law matters. Hence, it advises clients on pursuing resolution methods such as mediation, diplomatic channels, and litigation when other channels prove futile. Furthermore, the firm enlists a team of some of the best lawyers in Dubai that is also notably diverse, matching the cosmopolitan nature of the UAE. Some of its lawyers are fluent in Arabic, English and other languages, enabling them to connect with firms from diverse backgrounds both from the west and the east. For further enquiries, you can check them at this link.
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Trench and Associates
Ranked among the best law firms in the UAE is Trench and Associates. The firm specialises in family law and related issues including child abduction cases. The firm offers client empowerment and advocacy channels to its clients, providing deep insights into UAE laws and application to expatriate families.
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Madeleine Mendy
Added to the list is Madeleine Mendy, a legal consultant based in Dubai. With over a decade of experience in family law in the UAE, and 9 years of experience in England, Madeleine is an expert in High Net Worth divorces, children matters and cross-border abductions. She frequently deals with cases involving relocation of children across international borders. Due to the urgency that is required of child abduction cases, Madeleine Mendy is known for taking quick decisions and actions.
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Mohammad Al Najjar Advocates and Legal Consultants
Mohammad Al Najjar Advocatess is one of the top law firms in Dubai a with a major focus on family dispute resolution. The firm’s strength lies in the quality of its employees and its corporate culture. The firm enlists the services of professionals who are also diverse, bringing differing perspectives from their varied backgrounds. The quality of this workforce helps Mohammad Al Najjar Advocates effectively address child abduction issues and provide lasting solutions. Additionally, they adopt a strategy in resolving family disputes. Accordingly, this reputation for effective representation makes it a standout for custody and abduction matters.
Conclusion
Among the top experts in the field of family law, Dr. Hassan Elhais is particularly known for representing high-profile clients in matters specific to family including child abduction. With a multilingual team that is fluent in Arabic, English, Hindi, Russian and Tagalog, Dr. Hassan offers specific legal strategies for expatriates, addressing both the emotional and jurisdictional challenges regarding abduction disputes with both empathy and skill. His reputation is further cemented by the large number of accolades bestowed upon him by various online platforms and legal magazines, making him a reliable choice for families entangled in international custody disputes.
