Legal due diligence in the UAE
Legal due diligence for acquisitions, investments and substantial transactions: ownership, authority, contracts, liabilities and matters affecting completion.
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Turn documents into an informed commercial decision
Legal due diligence examines the rights and obligations behind a proposed transaction. A useful review is tailored to the asset or business, the buyer’s objectives and the areas where an adverse finding would change the decision to proceed.
An organised document room is a starting point. Missing records, inconsistent authority and restrictions in existing contracts may be as significant as the terms disclosed. The review should identify its scope, assumptions and unanswered questions.
How the firm can assist
Hyam El Hachem Law Firm can review the agreed materials and explain the legal implications in a form that supports negotiation. Findings can lead to further enquiries, corrective action, specific protections or conditions to completion.
- Examine corporate ownership, signatory authority and material contractual commitments.
- Identify consents, transfer restrictions, security interests and disclosed disputes.
- Distinguish critical issues from matters capable of contractual or practical resolution.
- Transaction outline and the proposed scope of review.
- Corporate records, key contracts and asset documentation.
- Available dispute, licensing and financing information.
An initial outline is enough. Detailed records can follow through a process agreed with the firm.
Questions clients often ask
Can the scope be limited to a particular concern?
Yes. A focused review can address an identified issue, provided the limits are clear and the client understands what has not been examined.
Is a clean report a guarantee that there are no liabilities?
No. Conclusions depend on the scope and evidence available. A considered report should make material limitations and unresolved enquiries explicit.
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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