Poras Dhakan

Real Estate Legal Counsel

Dealt with day to day non-contentious workload delegated by the General Counsel.

Advised on DMCC’s rights under the Master Community Declaration in respect of inspecting common areas and towers in respect of health and safety violations.

Advised on DMCC’s rights and powers under sale and purchase agreements with sub-developers.

Worked closely with the sales and leasing team in respect of leases and sale and purchase agreements.

Made recommendations, prepared contracts and formal legal responses to real estate and construction issues.

Prepared and amended standard forms of contract.

Developed documentation to support new initiatives, including long term leases, sale and purchase agreements for plots and individual units, construction contracts and short term leases.

Managed Arabic translations, including delegating to in-house and external translators and and supervising and checking output.

Advised on new laws to ensure that DMCC complies with legislation, regulation and the requirements of professional bodies and other organisations, including assessing the effect on DMCC of any proposed changes to legislation.

Identified, managed and mitigated legal risk issues for DMCC.

Supported the General Counsel with contentious caseload including dispute resolution and litigation.

November 2010 to Present Trench & Associates: Associate
• Responsible for representing a Dubai based developer with over 8 arbitration cases, through advising the client and preparing submissions to the arbitration center and meeting with the arbitration center to manage the arbitration cases.
• Reviewing and amending contracts for high value properties purchased in various Emirates and advising on the practical implications of the law.
• Drafting contracts of sale.
• Working closely with local advocates and meeting with court experts with regard to disputes with major regional developers.

November 2009- November 2010 Bin Suwaidan Advocates and Legal Consultants: Legal Advisor
• Assisting the partners with arbitration cases through the Dubai International Arbitration Centre.
• Advising on commercial, property, criminal and employment issues.
• Assisting with mergers and acquisitions through preparing the contract between the parties and carrying out the due diligence process.
• Drafting legal notices and various contracts.
• Assisting corporate clients with amicably resolving commercial disputes and preparing settlement agreements therafter.