Bio

Kiersten Lucas heads the Middle East employment team and is one of the most pre-eminent international employment advisors, with a wealth of experience advising clients across a wide range of industries on the full spectrum of contentious and non-contentious matters arising under the UAE Federal laws/specific UAE freezones and under English law. Kiersten has extensive experience providing operational and strategic advice to clients internationally across a wide range of industries on the full spectrum of contentious and non-contentious employment and HR matters arising under the UAE Federal laws, the laws of specific UAE freezones, including the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), and under English law. Particular areas of specialism include: restrictive covenants and the protection of confidential information; assisting with complex and sensitive investigations, including whistleblowing disclosures; preparing employment contracts and policies; advising on incentives arrangements and innovative means of providing for, and structuring, end of service payments and employee savings/benefits; the employment law implications of financial services regulatory obligations/contraventions; the interplay between data privacy and employment law; and employee exits and disputes (including high value multi-jurisdictional litigation – she is a registered DIFC Court Practitioner). As a trusted advisor to a number of leading companies in the Middle East region, Kiersten is known for her client-focused approach, providing expert guidance and tailored solutions that take into account the unique requirements of each business. With over two decades of experience in advising on employment-related matters, she is a sought-after speaker and regularly presents on a range of employment topics. She is also a published author, having co-authored several chapters in Bloomsbury’s Fourth Edition of “Employment Covenants and Confidential Information: Law, Practice and Technique” (a leading text that offers practical guidance in this field), as well as being commissioned by the DIFC Authority to co-author the employment law and data protection law chapters in LexisNexis’ Laws of the DIFC, Volumes 1 and 2 (and the updates to both). As a result of her standing in the market, Kiersten is recognised as a “Leading Individual” for Employment law in prominent legal directories such as Chambers & Partners Global 2023 and Legal 500 EMEA 2023. In addition, Kiersten's reputation in the market is reflected through her also being listed as one of the standout lawyers for the Middle East and North Africa region in the “MENA Super 50 Lawyers” 2023 list which was issued by Thomson Reuters’ ALB publication and is also listed as one of the "top recommended lawyers" in Spear's Magazine's 2023 'Employment, Immigration, and Art Law Indices' for high-net-worth individuals where she is noted as being an "an excellent choice for anyone straddling London and Dubai". Clients describe Kiersten as "the star of the UAE employment team" and "a highly experienced counsel with deep knowledge of local DIFC employment law, providing context to her advice based on her multi-jurisdictional experience." Additionally, she is acknowledged for being "an exceptional lawyer" when advising clients on their matters.