Dubai, Thursday, 20 November, 2008: DIFC Courts today held a seminar for legal professionals which provided insights into the world-class independent judicial system that has been created to adjudicate civil and commercial disputes arising in connection with the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and its residents. The DIFC Courts system is the only English language, common law judicial system in the Middle East region.

Prominent speakers at the seminar included Sir Anthony Evans, Chief Justice of the DIFC Courts; Deputy Chief Justice Michael Hwang, Justice David Williams and Justice Sir Anthony Coleman. They were joined by HE Justice Ali Al Madhani and HE Justice Omar Al Muhairi, the first Emiratis appointed as DIFC Courts’ Judges, and some of Dubai’s leading legal professionals.

Titled “The Role of the DIFC Courts”, the seminar explored key features of the DIFC Courts including its legal framework, jurisdiction and the enforcement of its judgements throughout the world. The Courts’ landmark Small Claims Tribunal was also referenced, with its impressive record of having resolved 47 disputes this year, each in under 2 weeks.

Established in 2004, the DIFC Courts were created to guarantee the highly secure business and contracting environment of the DIFC. The Courts comprise eminent judges from around the world, operate to the highest international standards and are fully staffed to handle all cases within their jurisdiction, whether small claims of under AED100,000 or claims involving sophisticated international financial transactions.

Sir Anthony Evans, Chief Justice of the DIFC Courts said: “The seminar offered us an opportunity to interact closely with Dubai’s legal community and promote a greater understanding of the authority and functioning of the DIFC Courts. At a time when developed markets are going through a turbulent period, legal institutions like the DIFC Courts, which provide globally benchmarked judicial procedures, are essential to maintaining a stable economic environment in the region. This seminar offered an invaluable opportunity for legal professionals to deepen their knowledge of the DIFC Courts’ frameworks and processes that facilitate secure and just dispute resolution.”

About the DIFC:

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is an onshore hub for global finance. It bridges the time gap between the financial centres of Hong Kong and London and services a region with the largest untapped emerging market for financial services. In just four years, over 750 firms have registered at the DIFC. They operate in an open environment complemented with world-class regulations and standards. The DIFC offers its member institutions incentives such as 100 per cent foreign ownership, zero tax on income and profits and no restrictions on foreign exchange. In addition their business benefits from modern infrastructure, operational support and business continuity facilities of uncompromisingly high standards. (www.difc.ae)

About the DIFC Courts:
The DIFC Courts is an independent judicial system established under laws enacted by The Late His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai in September 2004. It has jurisdiction over matters arising from and within DIFC. The DIFC Courts is an independent court system set up to uphold the provisions of DIFC laws and regulations. They provide the protection of an English language, common law court system, with an internationally renowned bench of judges versed in commercial disputes, to ensure transparent and efficient justice in civil and commercial matters in or relating to the Centre.

The overriding objective of the DIFC Courts is to deal with cases justly and to help parties settle cases.

Designed to deal specifically with the sophisticated transactions conducted within the DIFC, the DIFC Courts provide comprehensive legal redress in civil and commercial matters. Along with offering the highest standards in legal dispute resolution and a judicial system based on international best practices, DIFC Courts provide a small claims tribunal which is unique in the region. In January this year, DIFC Courts appointed the first female judge in the UAE and announced that two Emirati judges had become common law International Judges. (www.difccourts.ae).

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