Rebecca Ford

Rebecca has been recognized in Chambers Global for her “strong presence in the market” and in the Legal 500 for her accessibility and responsiveness to clients, knowledge of employment issues across the UAE, and her ability to “clearly communicate what the law says and how this should be implemented.”

Based in the Middle East since 2008, Rebecca advises employers on all aspects of employment law and immigration issues arising from employment in the region across a variety of different sectors. She advises on the challenges faced by employers in the modern work environment, including business reorganizations, workplace discrimination, harassment and victimization claims, whistleblowing, global mobility, use of social media, the protection of confidential information, enforcement of restrictive covenants and alternative business, incentive, and retention structures.

Rebecca has worked with a number of government authorities in the UAE on changes to local employment law, contract templates and guidance provided to employers and employees by the free zone authorities. This includes working with the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) on the drafting and implementation of the primary employment legislation in the DIFC, the DIFC Employment Law.

Rebecca regularly speaks and writes about labor and employment issues and is on the editorial board of the International Employment Lawyer publication.

Prior to joining Morgan Lewis, Rebecca was a partner based in the Dubai office of another global law firm.

Regulatory

• Advising the DIFC Authority on the implementation and drafting of DIFC Law No. 2 of 2019, the primary piece of employment legislation in the DIFC
• Advising a free zone in the emirate of Dubai on changes to their employment regulations, contracts, and licensee guidance on employment issues in response to the introduction of the UAE federal Labour Law, Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, as amended
• Advising a free zone in the emirate of Abu Dhabi on amendments to their employment regulations and mediation structure

Contentious

• Representing a global bank in the defense of a claim containing allegations of whistleblowing and discrimination before the Dubai International Financial Centre Court of First Instance
• Representing a professional services firm in the defense of a claim before the DIFC Court of First Instance alleging sex discrimination and harassment and subsequently concluding a settlement of the dispute
• Representing an investment company in the defense of numerous claims in the Abu Dhabi Global Markets Court, brought against one of its portfolio companies, for breach of contract and failure to pay employment dues
• Representing a multinational geosciences company in the defense of a claim for a workplace injury in the local labor court in the UAE
• Advising a large global asset management company on the termination of employment of a senior employee and the potential claims that may be brought against it before the labor court in the UAE, and the consequent settlement negotiations
• Representing a global consultancy firm in the defense of a claim for defamation and insult against it and its senior manager before the criminal court in the UAE, arising from an employment dispute
• Conducting an independent investigation on behalf of a company operating in the UAE arising from whistleblowing complaints by certain staff
• Representing a global investment bank in the defence of a claim for wrongful termination of employment brought before the labor court in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Advising a global professional service firm on the enforcement of post-termination restrictions and confidentiality obligations owed in response to a team move, across jurisdictions including the UAE onshore, DIFC, and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the potential claims to be brought by it against the former staff and new employer

Non-Contentious

• Advising a global investment bank operating in the DIFC on the terms of employment for the senior hires of a new team, including the incentive arrangements
• Advising companies on the entitlement to end of service gratuity on termination of employment, as well as the entitlement and management of the employer contributions into the DIFC Employee Workplace Savings Plan
• Advising a professional services firm on the transfer of staff between the DIFC and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) free zones, including the impact of the penalty clause contained in each of the free zones
• Advising an asset management firm on the employment terms of a new senior hire, including the incentive arrangements and interplay between local laws in the ADGM and international incentive arrangements
• Advising a multinational technology company on the termination of employment of staff in the UAE and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia arising from a business reorganization, and preparing template termination letters, settlement terms, and talking points for its human resources and senior management staff
• Advising a company on the impact of new laws on Emiratisation and the penalties for non-compliance
• Advising a professional services firm on the employment contracts for its staff following the establishment of a presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Preparing a suite of employment documents, including contract terms for Saudi nationals and expatriates, employment policies, and human resources template letters to deal with disciplinary, grievance and termination, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for a multinational investment bank
• Advising a multinational company on the employment aspects of a business purchase and harmonization of employment terms, in the UAE and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including the transfer of staff within the businesses