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Kingsley Napley LLP
Full Credential Description
Dubai family law case study: divorce jurisdiction and parallel proceedings in the UAE Family Court | Case Studies | We Case Studies Dubai family law case study: divorce jurisdiction and parallel proceedings in the UAE Family Court We acted for the applicant wife in matrimonial proceedings, with parallel Children Act proceedings which were instigated by the husband, an British national, residing in the UAE. The parties, both Muslim, had an Islamic marriage in the UAE. Our client petitioned for divorce in England, 12 months after moving Shortly after the husband was served, he issued a complaint in the UAE Family Court, with a view to enforcing our client’s return to the UAE and seeking sole custody of the children. This necessitated the need for our client to obtain a religious divorce in the UAE. We worked closely with an expert family lawyer in Dubai to ensure all steps taken in England were not prejudicial to our client in Dubai and our client benefitted from cross-jurisdictional advice at all relevant stages. The husband (unsuccessfully) defended jurisdiction on the divorce and financial matters in England, relying on the existence of the proceedings in the UAE. The financial proceedings in England involved serious non-disclosure on the part of the husband with various of his assets transferred to family members. The parties’ finances involved complex corporate structures in the USA and the Middle East, requiring us to work closely with our commercial team. We advised on the children proceedings in England and have collaborated with a Dubai lawyer during the concurrent proceedings in the Dubai family court.We have been able to take steps to protect our client and the children, with orders being made in England requiring the husband to surrender his passport to solicitors and to put in place a Prohibited Steps Order preventing the father from removing the children from this jurisdiction.
Measurable Results
Successfully defended English jurisdiction for divorce proceedings despite parallel UAE court actions. Strategic victory securing favorable jurisdiction for British national in complex international family law case.