Gordon Barr

Level Up: Unlocking Financial Potential In The Middle East

Welcome to this edition of Law Update, where we focus on the ever-evolving landscape of financial services regulation across the region. As the financial markets in the region continue to grow and diversify, this issue provides timely insights into the key regulatory developments shaping banking, investment, insolvency, and emerging technologies.

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Eyes
On 2025

Legal Updates in
Middle East & North Africa

2025 is set to be a game-changer for the MENA region, with legal and regulatory shifts from 2024 continuing to reshape its economic landscape. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Iraq, Qatar, and Bahrain are all implementing groundbreaking reforms in sustainable financing, investment laws, labor regulations, and dispute resolution. As the region positions itself for deeper global integration, businesses must adapt to a rapidly evolving legal environment.

Our Eyes on 2025 publication provides essential insights and practical guidance on the key legal updates shaping the year ahead—equipping you with the knowledge to stay ahead in this dynamic market.

The leading law firm in the Middle East & North Africa region.

Gordon Barr

Partner

Biography

Gordon advises on the full spectrum of employment, incentive, and business immigration law issues throughout the employment life cycle with a particular focus on disputes, whether before the UAE or DIFC Courts. With respect to the latter, Gordon is a DIFC-registered practitioner with full rights of audience. A key part of Gordon’s practice involves compensation and benefits advice where he advises across all sectors and with a specific focus on banking, financial services, and technology. In 2020, Gordon was elected to the Supervisory Board of the DIFC DEWS (DIFC Employee Workplace Savings) Plan as a DIFC employer representative, a post he holds to the current date.

Gordon has worked in the Middle East since 2011 after previously working with a leading UK law firm, acting for a wide range of blue-chip clients for whom he appeared before Employment Tribunals throughout the UK. Prior to a career in law, Gordon spent several years in financial services.

Gordon is a regular speaker via UAE media outlets and at industry events and has contributed to a number of significant legal publications. He is the first and only ‘Star’ ranked UAE employment practitioner with Chambers and Partners and a ‘Leading Individual’ with Legal 500, with the former noting the following client feedback within its 2024 publication:

“Gordon is unfailingly professional and helpful. His advice is practical and easily digestible. He is responsive and shows commercial awareness.”

“Gordon is outstanding. He is very responsive and very experienced. He has been engaged in every aspect of employment law in the UAE since the DIFC started. I rate him as outstanding.”

Recent Experience

Leading a team providing support to a significant DIFC Bank in the context of a multi-employee investigation and the associated regulatory and PR considerations.
Providing strategic and practical advice in connection with a financial services team move including detailed advice around incentives and covenants.
Providing employment advice in respect of a transaction within the pharma sector being the largest asset swap transaction to date.
Advising a leading multinational technology company on the acquisition of a competitor and the resultant ongoing harmonization exercise.
Advising a number of clients on the introduction of employee share option plans, LTIPs, and phantom share schemes.