General UAE Legal Questions LawFederal Decree Law No. (34) of 2022 Regulating the Legal Profession and Legal Consultation Profession

Article (1) Definitions For the purpose of applying the provisions of this Decree Law, the following words and expressions shall bear the meanings assigned thereto respectively, unless the context requires otherwise: The State : The United Arab Emirates. The Ministry : The Ministry of Justice. The Minister : The Minister of Justice. Head of Local Judicial Authority : The heads of local judicial bodies according to the legislation regulating their work. The Committee : The Lawyers and Legal Consultants Affairs Committee that is established pursuant to Article [79] hereof. The Competent Department : The Ministry's Lawyers and Legal Consultants Affairs Department. The Roll : A paper or electronic document kept by the Competent

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Federal Decree by Law of 2022 Regulating the Legal Profession and Legal Consultation Profession 3 Department for recording the lawyers' data, and each of which shall have an independent roll according to the provisions of this Decree Law and its Executive Regulations. The Register : The paper or electronic document kept by the Competent Department for recording the data of lawyers' assistants; i.e. legal researchers, legal consultants and representatives, according to the provisions of this Decree Law and its Executive Regulations. The Lawyer : The natural person whose name is recorded in the roll of practicing or non-practicing lawyers with the Ministry. Legal Consultant : The natural person whose name is recorded in the roll of legal consultants with the Ministry. The Profession : The legal profession or legal consultation profession. The Code : Regulations that set out a set of rules and controls that regulate the work of the lawyers and their assistants, as well as the professional ethics and conduct. The Firm : The law firm or legal consultation firm duly licensed in the State, whether as a sole proprietorship or a professional company. The Foreign Firm : The branch of a foreign firm or company duly licensed in the State to engage in the legal profession and legal consultation and which satisfies the requirements set out in Article (70) hereof. Legal Fees : The monetary consideration payable to the lawyer or legal consultant against performing the legal work assigned to him / her by the client.

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Federal Decree by Law of 2022 Regulating the Legal Profession and Legal Consultation Profession 4 Retainer Agreement : An agreement between the lawyer or legal consultant and the client, which sets out the agreed fees and payment method, as well as the type and nature of the duties assigned to the lawyer or legal consultant.

Article (6) 1. Only lawyers duly licensed in the State shall practice the legal profession or carry out any activities related thereto or use the title "lawyer" upon performing any other relevant work. The legal profession's activities shall include, without limitation, the following work: a. Appearing on behalf of, and representing, the persons concerned before the courts, the public prosecution, the committees of a judicial mandate, the investigation bodies and the police, defending such persons in relation to the legal proceedings instituted by or again them, and carry out relevant judicial work; b. Giving legal opinion and advice; c. Drafting the contracts and relevant legal procedures; and d. Representing the parties in respect of any non-judicial legal work under a limited power of attorney. The courts, the public prosecution and government entities shall only admit the lawyer's legal representation if his / her name is recorded in the Roll of Practicing Lawyers kept with the Ministry.

Article (8) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article [6] hereof: 1. The persons concerned may authorize their spouses, in-laws or blood relatives up to the fourth degree to appear on their behalf before the courts and judicial committees. 2. An attorney-in-fact appointed under a limited power of attorney may represent the legal representative of the private legal person in relation to any legal proceedings, whether before the Case Management Office or the Court, as the case may be. In which case, the attorney-in-fact shall satisfy the following requirements: a. To be a national citizen having full legal capacity; b. To be holding a university degree in law or in Sharia and law from a university or college recognized in the State or the equivalent certificate thereof. In addition, the Executive Regulations hereof shall set out the controls and requirements of the equivalent certificates; c. To be an employee of the private legal person; and d. To have its name recorded in the Roll of Non-Practicing Lawyers.

Article (9) Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles (6) and (7) hereof: 1. The State Lawsuits Department of the Ministry shall represent the ministries, government departments, and federal public bodies and institutions in relation to filing the motions, statements of claim, appeals and statements of defense, and, in general, performing all acts and activities relating to the handling of legal proceedings and appeals before the courts of all jurisdictions, the arbitral tribunals in the State and any other entity having a judicial mandate under this Decree Law, whether the ministries, government departments, and federal public bodies and institutions are acting as Plaintiff or Defendant, both within and outside of the State. 2. Without prejudice to Article (7) hereof, such entities may be represented by the following persons in respect of performing the activities referred to in Clause (1) of this Article: a. The legal consultants who are employed by such entities, provided that their names

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Federal Decree by Law of 2022 Regulating the Legal Profession and Legal Consultation Profession 7 are recorded in the Roll of Non-Practicing Lawyers; and b. The law firms in relation to certain important legal proceedings, subject to prior approval of the Minister. 3. The local government entities and State-owned companies may be represented by either the Ministry's State Lawsuits Department for carrying out the activities referred to in Clause (1) of this Article, or the legal consultants and experts who are national citizens employed by such entities, provided that their names are recorded in the Roll of Non- Practicing Lawyers. Such entities may also be represented by lawyers to carry out the said activities, provided that the representing lawyers are admitted for pleading before the Court handling the underlying legal proceeding.

Article (10) 1. A non-national lawyer may be licensed to practice the legal profession in the State subject to satisfying both the requirements set forth in Articles (13.2), (13.3), (13.4), (13.6), (13.7), (13.8), (13.9) and (13.10) hereof, and the following requirements: a. The non-national lawyer must have practiced the legal profession for at least fifteen (15) years, and is still registered as a practicing lawyer in the State wherein the legal profession has been practiced by him; b. The non-national lawyer must be a partner of a foreign law firm that is both duly licensed in the State and satisfying the requirements set out in Article (70) hereof, and according to the conditions set out in the Executive Regulations hereof, and must be practicing the legal profession only through such a firm; c. The non-national lawyer shall carry out the legal representation only in relation to the legal proceedings handled by the specialized circuits to be determined based on a decision of the Head of the Federal Judicial Council or the Heads of Local Judicial Bodies, as the case may be, and excluding the criminal proceedings, administrative proceedings, family proceedings and personal status proceedings of Muslims; and d. The other requirements set out in the Executive Regulations of this Decree Law. 2. During, and on the occasion of, practicing the legal profession, the non-national lawyer shall be subject to all the rights, obligations and disciplinary measures that are applicable

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Federal Decree by Law of 2022 Regulating the Legal Profession and Legal Consultation Profession 8 to the national lawyers and described herein. 3. The Executive Regulations of this Decree Law shall regulate the procedures and controls of licensing and delicensing the non-national lawyers to practice the legal profession, as well as the licensing term and renewal mechanism. Chapter Two Listing in Rolls of Lawyers

Article (13) Any lawyer whose name is listed in the Roll of Practicing Lawyers shall satisfy the following requirements: 1. To be a national citizen; 2. To be at least twenty-one (21) calendar years of age; 3. To be of full legal capacity and good reputation and conduct, and has neither been convicted by a court on the grounds of any felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or breach of trust, nor been convicted on disciplinary grounds in relation to any of such crimes, even if rehabilitated; 4. To be holding a university degree in law or in Sharia and law or the equivalent certificate thereof from a university or college recognized in the State; 5. To successfully pass the training period determined and regulated by the Executive Regulations hereof; 6. To successfully pass the written exams and interview before a committee to be formed by a resolution of the Minister; 7. To successfully pass the medical examination in order to verify his eligibility to practice the legal profession, as described in the Executive Regulations hereof; 8. To complete the necessary procedures and approval of listing not later than three [3] months following the date of being notified of the listing application approval; otherwise, his application shall be invalidated; 9. To submit a valid professional liability insurance policy, to be issued by an insurer duly licensed to operate in the State, unless the lawyer's liability is covered by the insurance policy of the law firm at which the lawyer works, according to the controls to be determined by the Minister; and 10. To pay the prescribed fees.

Article (16) 1. The lawyer shall only practice the legal profession after taking the following legal oath: ("I swear by Allah, the Almighty Lord, that I shall perform my duties honestly and honorably, respect the laws of the State, and preserve the profession and abide by its ethics and core values"). 2. The lawyer admitted before the Federal Supreme Court shall take the oath before any circuit of the Court, while the lawyer admitted before the other courts shall take the oath before a circuit of the Courts of Appeal. 3. The lawyer's taking of the oath shall be record in a report a copy of which shall be kept in his / her personal file at the competent department.

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Article (20) 1. Each lawyer admitted for pleading before the Federal Supreme Court shall admit at least one trainee lawyer at his / her law firm, and shall pay to the same a monthly remuneration the minimum value of which is to be determined by the Committee. However, the Committee may relieve the lawyer of admitting any trainee lawyer at his / her law firm if the surrounding circumstances so justify. 2. The Trainee Lawyer shall, during his / her practical training period, appear and plead before the Courts of First Instance and Appeal on behalf, and under the supervision, of the employer lawyer, according to the conditions to be determined by the Executive Regulations of this Decree Law.

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Article 21 No lawyer, whose name is listed in the Rolls of Practicing Lawyers, shall be permitted to assume any of the following positions: 1. Presidency or membership of the Cabinet; 2. Presidency of the Federal National Council; 3. The public office, and the Committee may, however, as determined by the Executive Regulations of this Decree Law, grant an exemption to the faculty members of the law or Sharia and law at any university or faculty who are both nationals of the State and holder of PhD degree; 4. The private job, unless the same is conforming to Articles (8.2) and (23) of this Decree Law. If the lawyer occupies any of such positions in violation of the provision of this Article, any disciplinary penalties shall be imposed on him / her as determined by Article (86) of this Decree Law. Section Three Listing in the Roll of Non-Practicing Lawyers

Article (22) 1. The following persons shall have their names listed in Roll of Non-Practicing Lawyers: a. The Practicing Lawyer wishing to have his / her names moved to the Roll of Non- Practicing Lawyers for whatever reasons; and b. The Trainee Lawyer who has successfully completed his / her training period and taken the legal oath provided for in Article (16) of this Decree Law, and is wishing to have his / her name moved to the Roll of Non-Practicing Lawyers. 2. The lawyer, who has any reason preventing him / her from practicing the legal profession, may submit an application to the Committee, within thirty (30) days of the occurrence date of the underlying reason, to have his / her name moved to the Roll of Non-Practicing Lawyers; otherwise, he / she shall be held accountable on disciplinary grounds. When such a reason ceases to exist, he / she may request that his / her name be re-listed in the Roll of Practicing Lawyers.

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Federal Decree by Law of 2022 Regulating the Legal Profession and Legal Consultation Profession 13 3. If the lawyer, whose name is listed in the Roll of Non-Practicing Lawyers prior to the entry into force of the provisions hereof, is wishing to have his / her name moved to the Roll of Non-Practicing, provided that he / she is not subject to the provisions of Article [14] hereof, and his name has never been listed in the Roll of Practicing, he / she shall be subject to the provisions of Articles (13.6) and (13.8) of this Decree Law. 4. Lawyers, whose names are listed in the Rolls of Practicing Lawyers and Non-Practicing Lawyers, shall have their affairs adjusted within one year following the date of entry into force of the provisions of this Decree Law. 5. The persons, who satisfy the requirements set forth in Article (13) of this Decree Law, may have their names listed in the Rolls of Non-Practicing Lawyers, as long as they work for government entities or state-owned companies. The Executive Regulations of this Decree Law shall determine the conditions and procedures for listing and the controls for its renewal.

Article (23) 1. Subject to the provisions of Articles (6.2) and (7) of this Decree Law, the Lawyers, whose names are listed in the Roll of Non-Practicing Lawyers, may practice the professional duties described in Article (6) of this Decree Law, through legal departments of the private legal persons licensed in the State. 2. Lawyers working at such departments shall have their names listed in a special register kept with the competent department, and shall only be allowed to practice the profession after having their names listed in the Roll. The Executive Regulations of this Decree Law shall determine the procedures, terms and conditions for listing their names in, and removing their names from, the said Roll. 3. Lawyers working at such departments shall only practice the legal profession for the benefit of their employers, and violating this prohibition shall be a ground for removing their names from the Roll. In addition, they may only appear before the criminal courts in respect of the civil claims relating to the legal proceedings to which their employers are a party, as well as the legal proceedings instituted against the managers or employees of their employers by virtue of their positions.

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Federal Decree by Law of 2022 Regulating the Legal Profession and Legal Consultation Profession 14 4. The prohibition provided for in Clause (3) of this Article shall not apply to the legal proceedings involving them and their spouses and relatives up to the fourth degree, in respect of matters other than the judicial matters relating to their employers. Section Four Removing Lawyers' Names from the Rolls

Article (34) 1. If the court appoints a lawyer to defend an accused in accordance with the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Law, the Lawyer so appointed shall appear and defend the accused in all trial hearings in accordance with the controls set forth in Article (32) of this Decree Law. 2. When adjudicating on a case in respect of which a lawyer is appointed, the court shall determine the latter's fees, and its decision in this regard shall be conclusive. The Executive Regulations of this Decree Law shall determine the controls for determining the fees of Lawyers appointed to handle criminal proceedings and the payment mechanism thereof.

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Article (36) 1. The Lawyer shall submit to the court his / her duly attested power of attorney at the first hearing he attends on behalf of his / her client, unless the court approves the submission of the same at the following hearing. 2. If the power of attorney is of a limited nature, it shall be kept in the case file, and if the same is of a general nature, only its number, date, and issuing authority shall be recorded in the transcript of the hearing and a copy thereof shall be kept in the case file. 3. If the client appears alongside the lawyer in the criminal case, the judge shall record the same in the transcript of the hearing, and such appearance shall be valid in lieu of the power of attorney.

Article (37) 1. When the legal representation is completed, the Lawyer shall return to his / her client the power of attorney together with the original documents and paperwork belonging to the client if requested by the latter. 2. If the Lawyer has not received his professional fees, he may obtain, at the expense of his / her client, photocopies of all paperwork that could be used as a ground for claiming his / her professional fees. 3. The obligation provided for in Clause (1) of this Article shall not include the delivery to the client of the draft paperwork issued by the client in respect of the case, the letters received by the lawyer from the client, or the documents relating to the activities

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Federal Decree by Law of 2022 Regulating the Legal Profession and Legal Consultation Profession 18 performed by the lawyer on his / her client's behalf, as long as the lawyer has not received his / her professional fees for any such activities. 4. The client's right to request that the Lawyer deliver back to him / her the documents and paperwork, which were initially handed over to the lawyer, shall lapse either in the event that the client fails to pay full professional fees of the lawyer or after the passage of five (5) years following the date of termination of their relationship, unless otherwise agreed between them.

Article (38) 1. If the Lawyer wishes to step down or to have his / her legal representation for the client terminated, he / she shall notify his / her client or the latter's representative either by registered post with acknowledgment due or via e-mail, as the case may be. In addition, the lawyer shall continue to handle the case procedures for not more than one month following the date of sending the aforementioned notice, whenever the same is necessary to defend the interests of the client or its representative, unless the client or the court notifies the lawyer that the termination is accepted. 2. If the Lawyer steps down or requests the termination of his / her legal representation for the client when the case is being processed, he / she shall deliver to his / her client the power of attorney, the original documents and paperwork and fees paid upfront, unless otherwise agreed. 3. In all cases, the lawyer shall not be allowed to step down if the case is set for adjudication, without the approval of the court hearing the underlying case.

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Article (41) Any person, who had occupied a public or private job and left the same, and is currently practicing the legal profession, shall not accept the legal representation, whether by himself / herself or through any lawyer acting on his / her behalf, in respect of any case against his / her former employer, within the year following the date of leaving his / her job, unless the merits of the underlying case are relating to anything falling under his / her responsibility or in respect of which he had performed any action with the former employer. In the latter case, the lawyer shall never accept the legal representation whether by himself / herself or through any lawyer acting on his / her behalf.

Article (45) 1. The Lawyer shall be prohibited from: a. Disclosing any secret entrusted to him / her, whether orally, in writing or via e-mail, means of modern technology or any other means of communication, or which comes to his / her knowledge ex officio, unless the disclosure of the same would prevent the commission of an offense affecting a person's life or safety or would cause serious damage to a person's property, or unless the disclosure of the same is an obligatory duty under the laws in force in the State; b. Revealing the personal matters that offend or spoil the reputation, honor or dignity of the adverse parties, attorneys or witnesses, unless the same is necessary to defend the interests of his / her client; c. Disclosing any information about the cases assigned to him / her or any secret entrusted to him / her; d. Abusing the right to litigation, including prolongation of the proceedings; e. Deceiving or misleading his / her client in any way; f. Providing any assistance, even in the form of advice, to his / her client's adverse party in respect of the same dispute in question or any dispute thereto related, even after the legal representation for such a client ends;

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Federal Decree by Law of 2022 Regulating the Legal Profession and Legal Consultation Profession 21 g. Accepting the legal representation in respect of any legal proceeding that had already been handled by him / her or which falls within the scope of his / her area of competence for the jobs covered by the provisions of Article (14) hereof; or h. Promoting, or attempting to promote, himself / herself in any manner that goes against the ethics of the profession, by any means of promotion or enticement by intermediaries. The Executive Regulations of this Decree Law shall determine the controls and means of promotion. 2. Whoever violates the provisions of Clause (1) of this Article shall be subject to the disciplinary measures, without prejudice to any other penalties set forth in this Decree Law and the laws in force in the State. Chapter Three Legal fees

Article (47) The following aspects shall be taken into account upon determining the effort and estimating the legal fees due: 1. The type and nature of the work assigned to the Lawyer, the estimated effort and the skills required to perform the same; 2. The expected time required by the lawyer to complete the work; 3. The importance of the case or the interests involved in the dispute; 4. The lawyer's experience, standing, seniority, degree of registration, and the reputation and prestige of his / her law firm; and

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Federal Decree by Law of 2022 Regulating the Legal Profession and Legal Consultation Profession 22 5. Expenses of the lawyer's firm for gathering the information, and other costs and encumbrances.

Article (49) 1. The retainer agreement shall set out the details of the work assigned to the Lawyer, as well as its requirements in accordance with the law, customary practice and the nature of such work; 2. The retainer agreement may be relating to a legal proceeding, the execution or review of a contract or agreement, the giving of a legal opinion or advice, a stage of the legal proceeding such as appealing a judgment by any means of appeal or the initiation of enforcement procedures, or just a specific procedural action in respect of any existing legal proceeding, and the legal fees shall become due according to the agreement. 3. In the absence of a retainer agreement, the legal fees shall become due as follows: a. If the work assigned to the lawyer is relating to a particular legal proceeding or any phase thereof, such as appealing the judgment by any means of appeal, the lawyer shall, as a prerequisite to be entitled to the legal fees, handle the procedures on behalf of his / her client in respect of such a legal proceeding until both a judgment is rendered on the merits thereof at the litigation instance for which the lawyer is appointed, and such a judgment is served upon the adverse party; b. If the work assigned to the lawyer is relating to enforcement procedures of a legal proceeding, the lawyer shall, as a prerequisite to be entitled to the legal fees, handle the enforcement procedures on behalf of his / her client until a final judgment is rendered by the court or where the enforcement procedures could not be completed due to any reasons beyond the reasonable will of the lawyer, and after exhausting all legal procedures of enforcement; or

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Federal Decree by Law of 2022 Regulating the Legal Profession and Legal Consultation Profession 23 c. If the work assigned to the lawyer is relating to a specific procedural task in respect of a pending legal proceeding or a specific procedure in respect of any enforcement matter, the lawyer shall, as a prerequisite to be entitled to the legal fees, complete the work assigned to him / her. 4. If the lawyer-client agreement provides that the legal fees shall be a percentage of the court-awarded amount, such a percentage shall not exceed (25%) of the value of the court-awarded amount, and the Executive Regulations hereof shall determine the conditions governing the lawyer's eligibility to receive such fees. In which case, no fees shall be due to the lawyer if the latter loses the underlying legal proceeding.

Article (52) 1. The lawyer shall receive his / her fees according to the retainer agreement with the client. In addition, the Court that hears the case shall have the exclusive jurisdiction to reduce, at the client's request, the agreed fees of the lawyer, if the court is convinced that such fees are overestimated compared to the effort of the case and the benefit generated by the client. Moreover, the Court may increase the value of the agreed fees at the

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Federal Decree by Law of 2022 Regulating the Legal Profession and Legal Consultation Profession 24 request of the lawyer if the latter makes effort and dedicates time for the underlying case in excess of the effort and time initially estimated as being required from the lawyer under the agreement and according to the consideration set forth in Article [47] of this Decree Law. 2. The legal fees may neither be reduced nor increased if their value is agreed upon after the agreed work is completed. 3. In the absence of a retainer agreement, or of the retainer agreement is null and void, the Court that hears the case shall, where there is a matter of disagreement, determine the fees due to the lawyer in the light of the effort made by the lawyer and the benefit generated by the client. 4. In all cases, the fees estimate application set forth in Clauses (1) and (3) of this Article shall be submitted to the Court under a petition that is subject to the procedures and controls of the writs on petitions referred to in the Civil Procedure Law and its Executive Regulations, and shall be served upon the adverse party. 5. The lawyer ad client shall each have the right to file a grievance against the fees estimate writ within fifteen (15) days following the date of being notified of the underlying writ, by requiring its adverse party to appear before the court issuing the writ. Such a grievance shall be heard on an urgent basis. 6. If the legal fees that are a matter of disagreement belong to any work that has nothing to do with the legal proceeding heard by the court, the lawyer and client may each institute a case for estimating and claiming the legal fees according to the standard rules for instituting the case.

Article (53) 1. The lawyer's right to claim his / her legal fees shall lapse upon the passage of three [3] years following the termination date of the legal representation, the completion date of the underlying work or the date of removal of the lawyer, in the absence of any lawful excuse, whether the agreement is of an oral or written nature. 2. Where there are several tasks assigned to the lawyer, the prescriptive period set out in the foregoing clause shall apply to every task thereof on a case-by-case basis.

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Federal Decree by Law of 2022 Regulating the Legal Profession and Legal Consultation Profession 25 Notwithstanding this stipulation, the prescriptive period shall only apply after the last of such tasks is completed, in the event that the underlying tasks are inseparably interconnected, or if it explicitly agreed that the fees shall only become due after all tasks are completed.

Article (57) 1. If the client removes the lawyer without a lawful reason after the lawyer has initiated the task assigned to him / her, the client shall be required to pay the full legal fees agreed upon, as if the lawyer has properly completed the whole work in favor of his / her client. 2. If the lawyer is removed before initiating the task assigned to him / her, the lawyer shall be entitled to fees for the effort made by him / her in preparation for initiating the underlying task, but not exceeding (25%) of the agreed-upon fees. 3. In the absence of a retainer agreement, a case shall be instituted for estimating and claiming the same according to the standard procedures of instituting the case.

Article (59) 1. The work of the legal researcher and consultant shall be restricted to providing the legal services – not including the pleadings and legal representation before the courts and judicial committees – through the firm at which the same works. The paperwork of the legal researcher and consultant shall be issued on the law firm's letterhead and signed by a lawyer whose name is listed in the Roll of Practicing Lawyers of the same firm.

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Federal Decree by Law of 2022 Regulating the Legal Profession and Legal Consultation Profession 27 2. The legal researcher and consultant shall be prohibited from instituting or following up on the legal proceedings before the public prosecution or the courts of the State of all instances by any means whatsoever, or representing third parties before the rental dispute resolution committees or tax dispute committees or any committee of a judicial mandate.

Article (61) 1. Upon performing their duties, the legal researcher and consultant shall abide by the principles of honor, honesty and integrity, shall safeguard the values of the profession, and shall respect its norms and ethics, relevant laws and decisions in the State, and the Code. 2. Upon performing the legal services, the legal researcher and consultant shall be prohibited from: a. Signing the statements of claim and submissions to be filed with the courts of all instances; b. Signing retainer agreements with the clients, whether in his / her own name or in his / her capacity as a representative of the law firm; c. Providing legal consultations for his / her own benefit or for the benefit of any entity other than the law firm at which he / she is working; d. Claiming from the client an in-kind share of any right in dispute; e. Performing any work requested by the client if the same is involving violation of the

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Federal Decree by Law of 2022 Regulating the Legal Profession and Legal Consultation Profession 28 applicable legislation in the State or of the ethics and norms of the profession; or f. Managing or co-managing the law firm on behalf of the firm's owner in any way whatsoever, except for the circumstances set out in the Executive Regulations of this Decree Law.

Article (64) 1. The Competent Department shall keep a register that contains the names of representatives working at the law firms, in order to accept their dealings with the federal judicial authorities and competent bodies. 2. The representative shall only perform his / her job duties at the law firm only after his / her name is listed in the said register.

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Federal Decree by Law of 2022 Regulating the Legal Profession and Legal Consultation Profession 29 3. The Executive Regulations of this Decree Law shall set out the conditions, controls and procedures for listing the representatives' names in the said register and removing such names from the same. 4. The Competent Department may, at any point of time, verify the compliance by the representatives with the duties and obligations set forth in this Decree Law and its Executive Regulations, and may request that any documents or paperwork be provided by the law firms and their representatives, or conduct any investigation to verify the same such compliance. 5. The representative or the lawyer owning the law firm at which the representative works, as the case may be, file a grievance against the decisions issued by the Competent Department according to the procedures set out in the Executive Regulations of this Decree Law.

Article (67) The representative shall be prohibited from: 1. Pleading before the courts or public prosecution, or drawing up or signing any submissions or statements of claim; 2. Delivering the representation deeds to the lawyers within the courtrooms; 3. Disclosing the secrets that come to his / her knowledge ex officio, unless such disclosure would preclude the commission of a crime; 4. Promoting the law firm at the buildings of courts and public prosecutions or at any other competent administrative authority; 5. Communicating with the court judges or members of the public prosecution, unless such communication is based on their request; and 6. Dealing with any entity in his / her capacity as a representative once the registration period recorded in the card delivered to him / her from the competent department expires, unless the same is renewed according to the procedures and periods described in the Executive Regulations of this Decree Law. Part Five Regulation of Law and Legal Consultation Firms and Companies

Article (69) 1. National citizens, who are listed in the registers of legal consultants kept with the Ministry, may be licensed to practice the legal consultation profession that is relating to the provision of non-judicial legal services, including, but not limited to, giving the legal

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Federal Decree by Law of 2022 Regulating the Legal Profession and Legal Consultation Profession 31 opinion, advice and consultation, drafting and drawing up the contracts and documents and relevant legal procedures, and other profession-related services that do not require appearance with the litigants or representing them before the judicial or judicial- assigning entities. 2. The legal consultant shall practice the profession singlehandedly through his / her own firm, in association with other legal consultants whose names are listed in the registers of legal consultants with the Ministry under the umbrella of a professional legal consultation company, through a branch of a foreign legal consultation firm duly licensed in the State, or based on an employment contract with a legal consultation firm or company that is licensed under this Decree Law. 3. The owner or partners of the legal consultation firm shall not receive a license for establishing a law firm.

Article (70) The law firm or legal consultation firm may be a branch of a foreign firm. As a prerequisite for approving the licensing of the foreign firm's branch, the following requirements shall be satisfied: 1. The parent foreign firm must have an outstanding international reputation in the legal field; 2. The parent foreign firm must have been operating for at least fifteen (15) years in the country of origin, and must have branches or subsidiaries in at least three (3) different countries; 3. The foreign firm's branch required to be licensed must have a manager in charge of the branch's activities in the State. Such a manager must have at least ten (10) years of experience in the legal field, and must have his / her name listed in the Roll of Legal Consultants with the Ministry; 4. The parent foreign firm and its branches must have at least twenty-five (25) partners, and shall nominate at least two partners to represent it in the State; 5. Appointing national lawyers and legal consultants according to the quota to be determined under a resolution of the Cabinet;

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Federal Decree by Law of 2022 Regulating the Legal Profession and Legal Consultation Profession 32 6. Developing and qualifying the national personnel operating at the firm, and transferring the expertise and legal knowledge to them; 7. Providing training to national lawyers whose names are listed in the Roll of Trainee lawyers; and 8. Satisfying any other requirements set out in the Executive Regulations of this Decree Law.

Article (76) 1. The committee may, based on a a well-grounded application to be submitted thereto by the law firm or legal consultation firm, give permission to the firm to cease to provide the legal services for a specific period of time, provided that the firm furnishes an undertaking confirming the absence of any obligations on the part of the firm as a result of providing the legal services, and that there would be no harm to the clients' interests. 2. The committee may revoke the license of the firm, provided that the firm furnishes an undertaking confirming the absence of any obligations on the part of the firm as a result of providing the legal services, and that there would be no harm to the clients' interests.

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Federal Decree by Law of 2022 Regulating the Legal Profession and Legal Consultation Profession 34

Article (77) The license of the law firm or legal consultation firm shall either be temporarily suspended by the Committee for a period not exceeding one year or be revoked by a decision of the committee under any of the following circumstances: 1. If the law firm or legal consultation firm fails to have its license renewed for a period exceeding ninety (90) days without a lawful excuse admitted by the Committee. 2. If the license granted to the firm is revoked by the licensing authority; 3. If a judicial order is issued suspending or revoking the license issued by the committee or licensing authority; 4. Liquidation of the firm; 5. If the firm merges with any other firm that practices the profession according to the procedures and conditions set out in the Executive Regulations of this Decree Law; or 6. If the firm no longer satisfies, or fails to comply with, any licensing requirements, or violates the legislation in force in the State or any of the provisions set out in the Executive Regulations of this Decree Law.

Article (80) 1. The Committee shall exercise the following functions: a. Decide on the applications for listing, renewal of listing, suspension, transfer and removal, of the names in / from the roll of lawyers and registers of legal consultants;

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Federal Decree by Law of 2022 Regulating the Legal Profession and Legal Consultation Profession 36 b. Moving the names from any roll to another roll of the lawyers and legal consultants; c. Giving opinion on the counterpart work of the lawyers; d. Giving temporary permission to the lawyers of other State to conduct pleadings in particular legal proceedings; e. Receiving and investigating the complaints and grievances according to the provisions of this Decree Law; and f. Forming subcommittees among the members of the committee and assigning thereto certain duties of the committee. 2. The Executive Regulations of this Decree Law shall set out the committee's terms of reference and the conditions for granting the temporary permission to the lawyers of other States to conduct pleadings before the courts of the State. Chapter Two The Ministry's Competent Department

Article (86) Any lawyer or legal consultant, who violates the duties of his / her profession, breaches any professional obligations, commits any of the prohibited acts set forth in this Decree Law or its Executive Regulations or the decisions to be issued in implementation hereof or the Code,

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Federal Decree by Law of 2022 Regulating the Legal Profession and Legal Consultation Profession 38 or acts in any inappropriate way that spoils the prestige of the profession, shall be subject to any of the following disciplinary penalties: 1. Warning; 2. Administrative fine of not less than AED (5,000) five thousand dirhams, and not exceeding AED (30,000) thirty thousand dirhams; 3. Suspension from practicing the profession for not more than two years; or 4. Irrevocably removing his / her name from the Roll or Register. The Executive Regulations of this Decree Law shall set out the effects of the suspension and removal of the lawyer's / legal consultant's name from the Roll.

Article (88) 1. The complaint against the lawyer or legal consultant shall be filed with the committee against the prescribed fee, and the complainant may file a grievance against the committee's decision to dismiss the complaint with the Minister within fifteen (15) days of the date of being notified of the underlying decision. 2. If an insignificant violation is committed by the lawyer or legal consultant more than once, or if the violation is of a significant effect, the matter shall be escalated to the Public Prosecution. 3. Referral of the complaint to the Disciplinary Board shall be conducted based on an order of the Public Prosecution after an investigation to be conducted by the Public

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Federal Decree by Law of 2022 Regulating the Legal Profession and Legal Consultation Profession 39 Prosecution, and the latter may order that the complaint be dismissed. In all cases, the committee shall be notified of the Public Prosecution's decision.

Article (95) 1. The Public Prosecution and the lawyer or legal consultant – as the case may be – who is found guilty, may appeal against the disciplinary board's decision before the Federal Supreme Court, within fifteen (15) days following the date of issue of the underlying decision with regard to the public prosecution, and within fifteen (15) days following the date of serving the decision upon, or delivering a copy of the decision to, the lawyer concerned. Such appeal shall be based on a statement of appeal to be filed with the Federal Supreme Court. 2. The appeal shall be heard by the criminal cassation chamber behind closed doors, in accordance with the rules set out in the Criminal Procedure Law referred to hereinabove.

Article (96) 1. The lawyer or legal consultant – as the case may be – against whom a final judgment is rendered by the competent court or a decision is issued by the disciplinary board removing his / her name from the Roll or Register, may, after the passage of at least three

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Federal Decree by Law of 2022 Regulating the Legal Profession and Legal Consultation Profession 41 (3) years, submit an application to the Committee to have his / her name re-listed in the Roll or Register. The committee may admit such application and decide that the name be re-listed, unless the lawyer or legal consultant – as the case may be – is convicted on the grounds of a crime involving moral turpitude or breach of trust, even if rehabilitated. 2. If the committee decides that the application be rejected, the application may only be re- submitted after one year following the rejection date. 3. In all cases, the decision shall be substantiated. Chapter Two Criminal Liability and Penalties