Foreign judgments & arbitral award enforcement
Cross-border legal assistance with recognising and enforcing foreign judgments or arbitral awards, including document review, asset jurisdictions and local-counsel coordination.
Discuss this matter
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Plan the steps between a decision and recovery
A favourable judgment or award does not itself collect payment in another country. The location of assets, the competent forum, the status of the decision and the documents proving the proceedings all affect the next steps.
Foreign court judgments and arbitral awards follow distinct recognition frameworks. UAE civil procedure sets conditions for foreign judgments, while international awards may engage the New York Convention. Applicability, objections and local procedures must be examined in the relevant jurisdiction.
How the firm can assist
The firm can review the available record, identify gaps and coordinate an enforcement mandate with counsel authorised where the assets or debtor are located. The initial assessment should distinguish enforceability from the practical prospects of recovery.
- Review the decision, service record, finality and any appeal or challenge.
- Identify certification, translation and authority requirements.
- Coordinate the proposed filing sequence and any settlement discussions.
- The judgment or award and underlying agreement.
- Evidence of service, finality and any ongoing challenge.
- Known debtor and asset information obtained lawfully.
An initial outline is enough. Detailed records can follow through a process agreed with the firm.
Questions clients often ask
Is a foreign decision automatically enforceable in the UAE?
No. Recognition and enforcement depend on the applicable framework and conditions. The origin, nature and procedural history of the decision must be reviewed.
Does enforcement advice guarantee recovery?
No. Asset availability, competing rights, objections and practical costs can affect recovery even where a decision is enforceable.
Define the mandate
Clarify your objectives, the jurisdictions involved and any immediate deadline.
Review the legal position
Examine the relevant documents and identify the decisions requiring advice.
Agree the next steps
Set out the work, professional responsibilities and practical sequence.
Experience with a personal point of contact
Hyam El Hachem is an Attorney at Law with the Beirut Bar Association. Following her training at Awada Tyan Law Firm, she established her own firm in 1996 and expanded her practice to the UAE in 2005.
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