Fact Sheet H1 2020

FACT SHEET HALF YEAR 2020

CFI (INCLUDING ARBITRATION)

SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL

ENFORCEMENT

192.4

2.2

TOTAL VALUE OF CLAIMS FILED

24 MILLION

TOTAL VALUE OF CLAIMS FILED

BILLION

TOTAL VALUE OF CLAIMS FILED

MILLION

Registered legal practitioners in 2020 Law Firms

136 @difccourts

www.difccourts.ae

difccourts

@difccourts

difccourts

Individual Lawyers

1003

KEY HIGHLIGHTS • January 2020: DIFC Courts signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration.

• February 2020: DIFC Courts signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Ajman Free Zone.

• March 2020: DIFC Courts started physical closure and 100% remote operations due to COVID-19.

• April 2020: DIFC Courts Wills Service offers video-conference registrations for Full Wills.

• May 2020: DIFC Courts reopened its physical premises.

DIFC COURTS TEAM

61% FEMALE

JUDICIAL BENCH The DIFC Courts has been able to attract some of the world’s most experienced international judges, as well as retaining leading Emirati judges with trans-systemic expertise across civil and common law.

39% MALE

UK

2

3

37%

DEVELOPING EMIRATI TALENT

UAE

1

Malaysia

3 Australia

of the DIFC Courts team are UAE nationals

OUTREACH The DIFC Courts is committed to transparency and customer engagement. This requires regular and robust communications with stakeholders conducted via:

Quarterly newsletters

Social media

Media relations

Annual Report

Website updates

Case updates

eREGISTRY Among the many technologies the courts have pioneered to increase access to justice, is the region’s first eRegistry in 2009, to the first digitally integrated courtroom and state-of-the-art e-Court system, as well as the region’s first ‘paperless’ e-bundling cloud solution in 2018. These early tech adoptions are now the bedrock that enables the DIFC Courts to maintain uninterrupted operations for court users.

By increasing utilisation of our existing videoconferencing and teleconferencing facilities for applications and hearings, we are enabling court users and the public to access extensive eServices remotely from any smartphone, tablet or desktop device. This enables remote 24/7 secure case progression and administration, e-payments and practitioner registration facilities.

Registered legal practitioners Law Firms

136 Individual Lawyers

1003

WILLS SERVICE

Total Wills registered

456

Video conference registration

Virtual Registry

Physical appointment

Online automated drafting

COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE (CFI)

Total value of claims filed

AED 2.2 BILLION

CFI (including Arbitration)

SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL (SCT) The first of its kind in the region, the SCT was set up in 2007 to enable access to justice in a swift and efficient manner. The SCT operates with a community approach that promotes settlement. Cases in the SCT are resolved in an expeditious, cost-efficient manner without the need for lawyers.

The SCT can hear: Claims within the jurisdiction of the DIFC where:

The amount or value of the claims does not exceed AED 500,000;

OR

The claim relates to the employment or former employment of a party and the amount or value of the claims exceed AED 500,000 and all parties to the claim elect in writing that it be heard by the SCT. There is no value limit for the SCT’s elective jurisdiction in the context of employment claims;

OR

In the context of claims which are not employment related, the amount or value of the claim does not exceed AED 1 million; and all parties elect in writing that it can be heard by SCT, such election can be made in the underlying contract (if any) or subsequently.

NUMBER OF CLAIMS FILED

213

CASES

4-6 WEEKS

average time for SCT cases to be resolved after successful service

‘SMART’ SCT

Region’s first ‘Smart’ SCT launched in 2016, enabling parties to resolve disputes from any location by participating via smartphone, tablet, or desktop device.

Only the judge need be present in the purpose-built facility in Dubai, with screens showing the parties and a control panel making it possible to either open the virtual courtroom to all, or switch to private mode.

24

MILLION

ENFORCEMENT

COURT OF APPEAL (CA)

Total value of claims filed

The Court of Appeal deals with a variety of civil and commercial disputes. It comprises a panel of three judges, and deals with:

192.4 MILLION

• Appeals filed against judgments and awards made by the CFI. • Interpretations of any article of the DIFC’s laws based upon the request of any of the DIFC’s establishments, provided that the establishment obtains leave of the Chief Justice in this regard.

Such interpretation shall have the power of law.

COOPERATION WITH OTHER COURTS AT HOME AND ABROAD The DIFC Courts have signed many important memoranda with local and international courts. The DIFC Courts’ money judgments can be enforced internationally through treaties and reciprocal arrangements with common law courts overseas.

The Supreme court of The Republic of Kazakhstan

Commercial Court of England and Wales

The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY)

The Paris Convention

The Riyadh Convention

The Tunisian Republic The Arab Republic of Egypt

Shanghai High People’s Court

Jordanian Ministry of Justice

Ras Al khaimah

Hangzhou Arbitration Commission

Abu Dhabi Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China

The National Court Administration of the Supreme Court of Korea

The GCC Convention High Court of Zambia The High Court of Kenya

The Supreme Court of Singapore

Federal Court of Malaysia

The Federal Court of Australia

The Riyadh Convention (1983) The GCC convention (1996)

PRO BONO PROGRAMME

The New South Wales Supreme Court

Treaties Memorandum of Guidance/Memorandum of Understanding

PRO BONO CLINICS

Launched in 2009 and the first of its kind in the region, the Pro Bono Programme was created for those who cannot afford a lawyer to receive access to free legal advice. Services range from basic advice to full case management and representation in proceedings.

10 clinics Volunteer firms

58

Individual Lawyers

171

JANUARY - MARCH

*

*Due to COVID-19 restrictions, weekly on site Pro Bono clinics were suspended in March, until further notice

140 individuals served

80 individuals served Through the online consultation service