Samantha ELLABYSenior Associate - Clyde & Co

Samantha is an employment law specialist advising on the full range of employment issues in the UAE and wider Middle East, from commencement of employment to its termination and the associated immigration considerations. Samantha is also part of our specialist Health and Safety practice and regularly advises clients both on preventing and responding to workplace incidents and injuries in the UAE.

Samantha is a UK qualified employment lawyer, now based in Clyde & Co's MENA employment team in Dubai. She advises clients based onshore in the UAE, in its free zones (including the Dubai International Financial Centre and Abu Dhabi Global Markets) and across the wider Middle East. Samantha's practice covers a wide range of sectors, with a particular focus on education, insurance and oil and gas.

She advises on a range of issues throughout the employment cycle from the immigration processes and contractual documentation required to employ an individual in the Middle East through to termination issues such as exit strategies, the enforcement of post termination restrictions and the protection of confidential information. Her practice also includes advising on day to day employment issues such as managing performance and disciplinary issues and investigating employee grievances including more complex harassment and discrimination allegations.

Samantha regularly drafts employment documentation including contracts of employment, service agreements for senior management, company handbooks and policies and secondment agreements. Her practice also involves advising on the employment implications of corporate processes such as reorganisations and employee transfers. Samantha has significant experience of project managing large multi-jurisdictional projects such as global redundancy projects and multi-jurisdictional handbook reviews.

Additionally, Samantha is experienced in assisting clients with contentious matters including employment related disputes in the UAE Labour Court, UAE Commercial Court, UAE Criminal Court and DIFC Courts.  

Samantha regularly delivers training sessions to HR professionals, in-house lawyers and management on employment and immigration issues in the Middle East.

Samantha is also part of our specialist Health and Safety practice and, in this capacity, regularly advises clients both on preventing and responding to workplace incidents and injuries in the UAE. She has supported clients with litigation arising from workplace incidents and injuries in both the labour and criminal court.