Arkhurst & Abdellah: Sailing companies to sustainable success In a city where thousands of foreign companies have established their operations, confusions over legal compliance, corporate governance, and funding options are not uncommon. Jennifer Arkhurst, Director and Solicitor at Arkhurst & Abdellah Consultancy, shares her experiences in dealing with Dubai’s corporate world.
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s a boutique consultancy practice working with small and large firms, Arkhurst & Abdellah has handled a diverse range of requests since its establishment in 2012. Led by a team of specialists in corporate and commercial matters, the Jumeirah Lake Towers based consultancy focuses on minimizing legal spend through innovative solutions. “Our mission is to encourage companies to adopt best business practices as well as save them thousands of dollars in wasted revenue,” says Jennifer Arkhurst, a British lawyer with 15 years’ experience advising management teams and boards of directors of Dubai and UK listed companies. “From the outset, we’ve attracted the interest of multinationals and a good number of our clients have a presence overseas.” Indeed, Arkhurst and Abdellah have been working on corporate issues for a world-renown French lingerie group, a Swiss conglomerate specialising in F&B, in-flight catering for VIP’s and private jets and more closer to home, an international conglomerate owned by a Sheikha. “We receive numerous enquiries relating to preparing agreements associated with forming a company in the UAE, such as joint ventures, collaboration agreements, memorandums of association, shareholder agreements and mediating disputes relating to collecting receivables and service related issues” notes Arkhurst & Abdellah. “We strive to prevent companies from having legal problems in the first place instead of focusing on solutions”.
Regulated by the Law Society of England and Wales, Arkhurst & Abdellah has also been the consultancy of choice for many SMEs, who make up about 60% of their client base and often seek assistance with agreements and locating Emirati sponsors and angel investors. According to Arkhurst, SMEs in the UAE aren’t typically prepared for the challenges of the UAE business community, whether it’s the expense associated with setting up, sustaining their companies over the long term, or the local business etiquette and changes to local laws and regulations. “Many SMEs are eager to expand too quickly, hence develop expensive habits that could result in problems further down the line. Attention is rarely given to corporate governance, managing business risk and succession planning. The sudden death of a business partner and the effects of Sharia and the UAE laws for example, could have a drastic effect on business continuity”.
Jennifer Arkhurst
A large number of companies looking to set up in Dubai, according to Arkhurst, come from Europe and Africa, as a result of the UAE government’s initiatives to build closer business ties with Africa, the business opportunities that Dubai’s World Expo 2020 will create for entrepreneurs and government initiatives to support women and SME’s in business. Clearly, Arkhurst and Abdellah have been successful in executing their unique ideas, thanks to their positive attitude and commitment to their mission and core va-
lues. “We take a collaborative approach to the success of the business community at large and not only our own success. We like to see our clients’ and other businesses thrive, especially SME’s”. “Our warmest gratitude and thanks to the UAE leaders, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, UAE Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai and the successful and highly inspirational Emirati business women” concludes Arkhurst.
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