Diana Hamade

Diana Hamade

Founder and Managing Partner, Diana Hamade Attorneys at Law (Dubai, UAE)

Areas of expertise

Litigation; Family Law; Succession Planning

Education
  • LL.M, Commercial Law, Kings College - Aberdeen University, Aberdeen, UK

  • Bachelor of Arts in Law, UAE University, Al Ain, UAE

Memberships
  • Lawyer & Legal Consultant licensed by the Ministry of Justice and the Dubai Legal Affairs Department

  • Fellow of the International Bar Association (IBA)

  • Member of the international Academy of Family Lawyers ( IAFL)

  • Member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)

  • Party nominated arbitrator with the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC)

  • Member of the Arbitration Council before local and international courts

  • Registered DIFC Courts and Abu Dhabi Judicial Department practitioner

  • Registered Practitioner with the DIFC Part 1 and 2

  • Member of the Mediation and Conciliation Network (MCN)

Biography

Diana Hamade is the founder of Diana Hamade Attorneys at Law in Dubai, her boutique law firm, and a UAE -licensed lawyer with right of audience before all UAE Courts. She is licensed by the Ministry of Justice, the Dubai Legal Affairs Department, the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, and is a registered practitioner of DIFC Courts. She is also a registered Wills draftsman with the DIFC Wills Service Center.

Diana's expertise in dispute resolution covers litigation before UAE Civil, Commercial and Rental courts and arbitration as counsel and arbitrator.

Diana is an expert in civil and sharia law, specializing in family law matters with emphasis on succession planning and private client. She also provides expert witness evidence on family law matters including divorce, child custody, child relocation/abduction, surrogacy, prenuptial/postnuptial agreements, inheritance matters, and the enforcement of foreign court judgements. She has acted as expert witness before legal forums in foreign jurisdictions including England, France, Australia, Switzerland, and the U.S. She is also a known practitioner in succession planning, advising on Foundations, Trusts and Waqf, and providing practical guidance on structures for estate and succession planning under Sharia, Dubai, DIFC, ADGM & UAE Laws.

Diana is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL), a member of the International Bar Association (IBA), currently serving as Vice Chair for the IBA Arab Regional Forum, and a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) serving on the board of SIGS. Diana is also a member of the Emirates Lawyers Association and chair of the International Relations Committee.

Diana is a contributor to several publications, including the UAE chapter on The Family Law book, Jurisdictional Comparisons, published by Thomson Reuters; the Middle East & North Africa Overview chapter of The International Comparative Legal Guide to International Arbitration, Litigation & Dispute Resolution; among others. Diana was the Legal Affairs columnist in The National from 2009 to 2012, she wrote a column for The Brief (Thomson Reuter) in2008 and has a regular article published in Villa88 magazine titled the Legally Stylish Column since 2016. Diana is also a contributor to Lexi Nexis Gulf Legal Guide and the MENA Business Law Review and is regularly sought after for speaking opportunities in legal conferences, workshops, and events worldwide.

Diana was awarded the “Most Influential Female Lawyer in the UAE” by Thomson Reuters, “Best Legal Affairs Author” by the National and the “”Arab Woman of the Legal chapter 2018”” by ITP. She has an LL.M. from The University of Aberdeen (Scotland), and an LL.B. from the UAE University in Sharia & Law.