Find a Corporate & Commercial Lawyer

My business partner is refusing to honor what we agreed to.

I need someone to review a contract before I sign it.

I’m forming a company and want to get the structure right from the start.

A client or supplier hasn’t paid for delivered goods or services.

If any of this sounds familiar, tell us what happened, you don’t need to know the exact legal category first.

Corporate and commercial law covers the legal framework businesses operate within, from how a company is formed and governed, to the contracts it signs, the deals it makes, and the disputes that can arise along the way.

For business owners, founders, and executives in the UAE, this area of law touches almost every meaningful decision, setting up a company, bringing on a partner, signing a supplier agreement, raising investment, or resolving a disagreement with a business partner.

Corporate and commercial law is broad by nature, and most lawyers who practice in this space develop specific depth in particular areas, such as mergers and acquisitions, commercial contracts, corporate governance, or regulatory compliance, rather than being equally expert in everything.

Understanding roughly where your situation fits within this broader field can help you describe your needs clearly and find a lawyer whose specific experience genuinely matches your matter.

Many business owners first consider a corporate lawyer when forming a new company, needing guidance on the right legal structure, jurisdiction, and shareholder arrangements from the outset.

Others reach out when reviewing or negotiating a significant contract, a supplier agreement, a partnership arrangement, a lease, wanting to understand the terms and risks before signing something with real financial consequences.

A corporate lawyer also becomes relevant during major business transitions, bringing on an investor, selling the business, merging with another company, or restructuring ownership.

Disputes are another common trigger, a disagreement with a business partner, a breach of contract by a supplier or client, or a regulatory issue that needs resolving before it escalates further.

Company formation and structuring, including choosing between mainland, free zone, and offshore structures based on your business activity and goals.

Contract drafting and review, covering everything from employment agreements to supplier contracts, licensing agreements, and partnership terms.

Shareholder agreements and corporate governance, establishing clear rules for how a company is run and how disputes between owners are resolved.

Mergers, acquisitions, and business sales, including due diligence, negotiation, and the legal documentation involved in buying or selling a business.

Commercial disputes, ranging from contract breaches to disagreements over business dealings that may require negotiation, mediation, or litigation.

Regulatory compliance, ensuring a business meets the legal requirements specific to its industry and jurisdiction within the UAE.

LEXNOVA is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Legal Connect exists to help you describe your corporate or commercial matter clearly, then explore potentially suitable legal professionals from our network based on what you've shared. The page about the LEXNOVA Legal Network sets out who can join and how applications are reviewed.

We consider factors like the specific nature of your matter, your preferred jurisdiction, the size and stage of your business, and any language or logistical preferences you've indicated.

Every potential match involves human review before an introduction is made, matching is never fully automated, since a corporate matter's nuances deserve genuine judgment, not just a keyword algorithm.

Once we identify potentially suitable professionals, we help facilitate an introduction. From there, the lawyer or firm discusses your matter directly with you, including their approach, experience, and fees.

The process starts with a short guided form asking about the type of matter, your location or jurisdiction preference, a brief description of your situation, and how urgently you need assistance.

We deliberately ask you not to include highly sensitive or confidential details at this stage, general context is enough for us to identify potentially suitable professionals; detailed specifics are best shared directly with the lawyer once introduced.

After you submit a request, our team reviews it and considers professionals from our network whose stated experience and practice focus align with what you've described.

If we identify a potential match, we facilitate an introduction. If your matter is highly specific or outside what our current network can support well, we'll tell you honestly rather than force an unsuitable match.

The UAE has multiple legal frameworks operating in parallel, onshore UAE law, DIFC common law in Dubai, and ADGM common law in Abu Dhabi, each with different courts, regulations, and, in some cases, different applicable law entirely.

Which framework applies to your matter often depends on where your company is registered, where the contract was signed, and what the parties agreed to in terms of governing law and dispute resolution.

This layered legal landscape is one reason working with a lawyer who has genuine, specific experience in the relevant jurisdiction matters, general corporate knowledge doesn't always translate cleanly across these different frameworks.

If you're unsure which jurisdiction is relevant to your situation, that's a completely reasonable starting point, this is exactly the kind of detail a lawyer can help clarify once you're connected.

Larger law firms often bring more resources and broader bench strength, useful for complex matters involving multiple specialties or significant transaction volume.

Independent lawyers and boutique firms can offer more direct, personal attention and, in some cases, more cost-effective rates, particularly well-suited to smaller businesses or more contained matters.

Neither option is inherently better, the right choice depends on your matter's complexity, your budget, and how much direct access to a senior lawyer matters to you personally.

When you describe your needs through Legal Connect, this is a preference you can share, and we'll take it into account when considering potentially suitable professionals from our network.

Has the lawyer handled matters similar to yours before, and can they speak to that experience, in terms of scope and outcome, without breaching another client's confidentiality?

What is their fee structure, hourly rate, fixed fee, or another arrangement, and roughly what should you expect the total cost to be for a matter like yours?

What is the realistic timeline for your matter, and what factors could extend or shorten it?

How will they communicate with you throughout the matter, and how quickly can you generally expect a response to questions?

These are reasonable, appropriate questions to raise directly with any lawyer you're introduced to, a credible professional will answer them clearly.

Corporate and commercial legal fees vary considerably based on matter complexity, the lawyer's seniority and experience, and whether the engagement is billed hourly, at a fixed fee, or on a retainer basis.

LEXNOVA does not set or control the fees charged by professionals in our network, this is a policy determined and communicated directly by each lawyer or firm, and is best discussed openly during your first conversation with them.

It's reasonable and expected to ask for a clear fee estimate before engaging a lawyer, and a credible professional should be willing to provide one, even if it's necessarily an estimate rather than an exact figure.

For matters with real financial complexity, some lawyers offer an initial consultation at a set, modest cost specifically to scope the matter before providing a fuller fee estimate.

An early-stage startup typically needs help with formation, founder agreements, and basic contract templates, foundational work that sets the business up correctly from the start.

A growing business often needs more sophisticated contract negotiation, employment structuring, and potentially early-stage investment documentation as it scales.

An established business may need ongoing corporate governance support, more complex commercial agreements, and, at some point, transaction support for acquisitions, sales, or restructuring.

Wherever your business currently stands, describing this stage clearly helps us consider lawyers whose experience genuinely matches where you are, not just your general industry.

Contract review is one of the most common corporate legal needs, understanding what you're actually agreeing to, what risks you're taking on, and what protections you may be missing before you sign.

Contract drafting, creating a new agreement from scratch or substantially customizing a template, requires a lawyer who understands both the legal requirements and the practical business context of the deal.

Common contracts include supplier and vendor agreements, service agreements, non-disclosure agreements, licensing agreements, and partnership or joint venture agreements.

A lawyer reviewing or drafting a contract for you should be able to explain, in plain language, what the key terms actually mean for your business, not just confirm the document is legally valid.

Many businesses call any arrangement with a local distributor or sales agent an "agency", but UAE law draws a sharper line. Federal Law No. 3 of 2022 Concerning Regulating Commercial Agencies, in force since 16 June 2023, defines a commercial agency broadly enough to cover distribution, sale and concession arrangements, yet only persons entered in the Commercial Agencies Register at the Ministry of Economy and Tourism may carry on the activity (Article 3), and only UAE nationals and certain UAE-owned entities may register as agent, save for a narrow Cabinet-approved exception for an international company's own products (Article 2). A registered agent holds exclusivity in its territory (Article 7). An arrangement that is not registered does not get these statutory protections and is governed by its own terms and the general law.

The label matters most when the relationship ends. For a registered agency, the law sets the grounds for expiry and termination (Article 9), notice of one year or half the remaining term, whichever is shorter, unless agreed otherwise (Article 10), and compensation for the agent's lost future profit in defined cases (Article 11). Disputes go first to the judge-chaired Commercial Agencies Committee (Article 24), though an agreement to arbitrate is preserved (Article 26). An unregistered distributor relies on its contract and the general law, and claims between merchants are generally barred five years after the obligation fell due (Commercial Transactions Law, Article 92); a lawyer confirms which period applies. LEXNOVA's page 'My Principal Terminated or Won't Renew Our Distribution Agreement' covers termination, and its guide 'How Franchising Is Actually Regulated in the UAE' explains the same line for franchises.

Before signing, raise a few points with a lawyer: how exclusivity and the territory are defined, and whether exclusivity or resale terms raise competition-law questions; the governing law and forum, whether the onshore courts, the DIFC or ADGM Courts, or arbitration; what happens to stock and other agency assets on exit; and where each party is licensed. The Commercial Agencies Law says nothing about free zones, so whether it reaches an arrangement with a free-zone, DIFC or ADGM principal or distributor is not settled by its text and needs specific advice. Telling us whether your arrangement is registered, and where each side is licensed, helps us consider distribution and agency agreement lawyers.

Buying or selling a business involves substantial legal work: due diligence to understand what you're actually acquiring or divesting, negotiation of terms, and drafting the transaction documents themselves.

M&A matters typically benefit from a lawyer with specific transactional experience, this is a specialized area distinct from general corporate or commercial practice.

Timelines for M&A transactions vary considerably based on deal complexity, but even relatively straightforward transactions typically take weeks to months from initial agreement to closing.

If your matter involves an acquisition or sale, sharing this specifically when describing your needs helps us consider lawyers with genuinely relevant transactional experience.

How a company is structured, its shareholding, its board composition, its internal governance rules, affects everything from day-to-day decision-making to how disputes between owners get resolved.

Shareholder agreements are particularly important for businesses with multiple owners, establishing clear rules for decisions, exit scenarios, and dispute resolution before disagreements arise.

Corporate governance needs often become more significant as a business grows, adding investors, board members, or more complex ownership structures.

A lawyer specializing in this area can help ensure your company's structure genuinely reflects how you want the business run, not just what a generic template provides.

Solvent reorganizations, such as group restructures, mergers, conversions of legal form and new holding structures, are handled by corporate and commercial lawyers like those on this page, while a company under financial pressure that needs to restructure its debts should look instead at Restructuring & Insolvency lawyers.

Commercial disputes can arise from a contract breach, a disagreement over payment, a partnership conflict, or a range of other business disagreements.

Not every dispute needs to go to court, negotiation, mediation, and arbitration are all potential paths, and a good lawyer will help you understand which approach makes sense for your specific situation.

The right approach often depends on the relationship you want to preserve, if any, the amount in dispute, and what resolution mechanism your original contract specifies, if one exists.

If you're dealing with a commercial dispute, describing the general nature of the disagreement, without needing to share sensitive specifics upfront, helps us consider lawyers with relevant dispute resolution experience.

Businesses in the UAE operate under a range of regulatory requirements that vary by industry, jurisdiction, and business activity, from licensing requirements to sector-specific regulations.

Non-compliance can create real risk, financial penalties, license issues, or reputational harm, making proactive legal guidance valuable rather than purely reactive.

Regulatory considerations often differ significantly between mainland, free zone, and financial-center jurisdictions like DIFC and ADGM, adding another layer of complexity for businesses operating across these frameworks.

If your matter involves a specific regulatory question, sharing which industry and jurisdiction is relevant helps us identify lawyers with genuinely applicable regulatory experience.

Some businesses benefit from an ongoing relationship with a corporate lawyer, rather than only engaging one reactively when a specific issue arises.

This can take the form of a retainer arrangement, or simply an established relationship you return to as new contracts, questions, or matters come up.

An ongoing relationship allows a lawyer to build genuine familiarity with your business, which can make each subsequent matter more efficient than starting from scratch each time.

If ongoing support is what you're looking for, rather than a single, specific matter, it's worth mentioning this when describing your needs.

A lawyer who guarantees a specific outcome upfront, before genuinely understanding your matter, is making a promise no responsible legal professional can honestly make.

Vague or evasive answers about fees, rather than a clear estimate or a clear explanation of how fees will be calculated, are worth treating as a caution sign.

A lack of clarity about their specific experience with matters like yours, rather than a general claim of broad corporate expertise, is worth probing further.

Trust your own judgment during an initial conversation, if something feels off, it's entirely reasonable to continue exploring other options.

DIFC and ADGM operate under common law frameworks with their own courts, distinct from onshore UAE civil law, which can matter significantly depending on where your company is registered and where a contract's governing law clause points.

Onshore UAE companies operate under UAE federal and local commercial law, with disputes typically falling under the UAE court system unless otherwise specified in a contract.

Cross-jurisdictional matters, where different parts of a transaction or dispute touch multiple frameworks, often benefit from a lawyer with genuine, specific experience navigating this complexity.

If you're not certain which jurisdiction applies to your situation, that uncertainty itself is worth mentioning, it's a common and entirely reasonable starting point.

Having a clear, chronological summary of your situation ready, even if informal, helps make the most of your first conversation with a lawyer.

Relevant documents, contracts, correspondence, company records, are useful to have organized and available, though you don't need to send everything before the first conversation.

A list of specific questions or concerns you want addressed helps ensure the conversation covers what actually matters to you, rather than leaving key questions unasked.

It's also reasonable to prepare questions about the lawyer's process, fees, and communication style, this is as much about finding the right fit as it is about the legal matter itself.

When describing your needs through Legal Connect, we ask that you avoid sharing highly sensitive or confidential business details at the initial request stage.

Once you're introduced to a potentially suitable lawyer, confidentiality and attorney-client privilege considerations become part of your direct relationship with that professional.

A credible lawyer will be able to explain their confidentiality practices clearly if you ask, this is a reasonable and expected question to raise early in the relationship.

General context about your matter, the type of issue and its rough scope, is sufficient for us to identify potentially suitable professionals; sensitive specifics can wait until you're speaking directly with the lawyer.

Due diligence: the investigative process of reviewing a company's legal, financial, and operational details before a transaction, such as an acquisition or investment.

Shareholder agreement: a contract between a company's owners establishing rules for governance, decision-making, and what happens in various scenarios like an exit or dispute.

Governing law: the specific legal system a contract specifies will apply if a dispute arises, which may differ from where the parties are physically located.

Mainland, free zone, and offshore: the three broad categories of UAE company structures, each with different regulatory, ownership, and operational implications.

Arbitration: a private dispute resolution process, often specified in commercial contracts as an alternative to court litigation.

Retainer: an ongoing arrangement where a client pays a lawyer or firm for continued availability and support, rather than a single, isolated matter.

We only publish or introduce professionals who have joined our network and been verified for matching; we never invent a professional, their credentials, or their experience.

Every potential introduction involves human review, not a purely automated match, since corporate and commercial matters often involve nuance that a simple algorithm can't fully capture.

We're transparent about our role, LEXNOVA is not a law firm, does not provide legal advice, and does not guarantee outcomes, we help facilitate a potentially suitable introduction, and the legal relationship itself is between you and the professional.

If we don't currently have a strong potential match for your specific matter, we'll tell you honestly rather than force an unsuitable introduction.

You're about to sign a contract with significant financial or operational consequences and haven't had it reviewed by a lawyer.

You're forming a company or bringing on a business partner without a clear, documented agreement covering key scenarios like disagreements or exits.

You've received a formal legal notice, demand letter, or regulatory communication that requires a response.

A business relationship has broken down in a way that could lead to a formal dispute if not addressed properly.

You're considering a significant business transaction, an acquisition, a sale, a major investment, without legal guidance on the structure and risks involved.

Startups often need cost-conscious, foundational legal support, formation, basic contracts, and founder agreements, without the budget for extensive, ongoing legal counsel.

Established businesses more often need deeper, matter-specific expertise, complex transactions, regulatory compliance in a specific sector, or dispute resolution involving significant amounts.

Some lawyers and firms specifically focus on startup-stage work, offering more accessible pricing structures suited to earlier-stage businesses.

Sharing your business's actual stage and rough budget expectations when describing your needs helps us consider professionals genuinely suited to your situation.

That legal help is only necessary once something has already gone wrong, proactive legal review of contracts and structures often prevents far more costly problems later.

That all corporate lawyers are essentially interchangeable, in practice, meaningful differences exist in specific experience, jurisdiction familiarity, and communication style.

That legal fees are always prohibitively expensive, fee structures vary considerably, and many lawyers offer arrangements suited to smaller businesses or more contained matters.

That a lawyer can guarantee a specific outcome, a responsible lawyer explains risks and likely scenarios, but genuine guarantees about outcomes are not something an honest professional offers.

A straightforward contract review might take days, while drafting a more complex agreement from scratch could take one to two weeks depending on negotiation back-and-forth.

Company formation timelines vary by jurisdiction and structure, but often range from a few weeks to a couple of months depending on the specific requirements involved.

More complex matters, mergers, acquisitions, significant disputes, can take months, sometimes longer, depending on complexity and how quickly all parties are able to move.

Any lawyer you're introduced to should be able to give you a realistic timeline estimate specific to your matter once they understand the details.

Businesses operating across the UAE and other countries often face matters involving multiple legal systems, adding real complexity to contracts, disputes, and structuring decisions.

Cross-border matters typically benefit from a lawyer with specific experience in international or cross-jurisdictional work, not just general corporate practice within a single system.

If your matter involves parties, assets, or operations in multiple countries, sharing this clearly when describing your needs helps us consider professionals with genuinely relevant experience.

Corporate and commercial law is broad, and the right lawyer for your specific situation depends on the nature of your matter, your business stage, your jurisdiction, and your practical preferences around cost and communication.

LEXNOVA Legal Connect exists to make this first step easier, helping you describe what you need clearly and explore potentially suitable professionals from our network, with a real person reviewing every potential match.

The legal relationship itself, advice, representation, fees, remains directly between you and the professional you're introduced to, our role is to help you take that first step with genuine clarity rather than guesswork.

Most corporate and commercial engagements begin with an initial consultation, sometimes free, sometimes at a modest set cost, where the lawyer learns about your matter and outlines how they'd approach it.

For discrete matters, a contract review, a specific negotiation, lawyers often propose a fixed fee once they understand the scope. For more open-ended or ongoing needs, hourly billing or a retainer arrangement is more common.

A clear engagement letter or agreement, outlining scope, fees, and responsibilities, is standard practice and something you should expect to receive and review before formal work begins.

Understanding this typical structure in advance can help you feel more confident and prepared during your first conversation with a lawyer, rather than navigating an unfamiliar process blind.

Not every introduction results in an ongoing working relationship, and that's a normal, expected part of the process, finding the right lawyer is partly about genuine personal and professional fit, not just matching credentials to a matter type.

If your first introduction doesn't feel right, whether due to approach, availability, or simply personal fit, you're welcome to submit another request or let us know so we can consider other potentially suitable professionals.

We'd rather you find a lawyer you genuinely trust and communicate well with than settle for the first introduction simply because it was first, this matters particularly for corporate matters that may involve an ongoing relationship.

Credentials and experience matter, but so does communication style, responsiveness, and whether a lawyer takes the time to genuinely understand your business rather than treating your matter as generic and interchangeable.

For matters likely to involve an ongoing relationship, corporate governance support, a growing company's recurring contract needs, this personal fit can matter as much as technical expertise over the life of the relationship.

Pay attention during your first conversation to whether the lawyer asks genuine, specific questions about your business and situation, rather than immediately pivoting to a generic pitch about their services.