Biography

Christine is a accredited mediator and specializes in resolving disputes through alternative methods such as mediation, negotiation, or enabling amicable settlements. She provides advisory on UAE law matters, strategic counsel, pre-litigation guidance, and case management for complex and sensitive commercial and civil disputes. She also offers tailored guidance and solutions to clients involved in diverse commercial and civil disputes, and facilitates communication with relevant governmental and non-governmental entities.

Since joining Al Tamimi, Christine has provided guidance to both international and regional clients on the legal and regulatory regime requirements associated with their investments and ventures in the Middle East spanning a diverse array of industries. She has also advised on the most advantageous business structures for operations within the region. Her expertise extends to a wide spectrum of corporate and commercial matters, encompassing transactional matters, due diligence mandates, joint ventures, structuring and restructuring of businesses in various UAE sectors and free zones. Moreover, Christine demonstrates proficiency in drafting a diverse range of commercial agreements as well as advising on matters of corporate governance and compliance within the Middle East, with a particular focus on the United Arab Emirates.

Mediation training and experience:

  • Weinstein JAMS Fellow – 2023.
  • Completed the Negotiation and Leadership Course at the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School, Boston, Massachusetts – June 2023.
  • Completed a training in Mediating the Litigated Case offered by the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, Malibu, California – August-September 2023.
  • Completed the International Training Program for promoting mediation through private and court-connected mediation centers offered by the Centre for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution at UC Law San Francisco in collaboration with JAMS – September 2023.
  • Completed the ADR Center International Accredited Mediator Training Program with the final Assessment for ADR Center International Accreditation for Mediators and IMI International Certification for Qualified Mediators – Dubai, United Arab Emirates – October-November 2022.
  • Diploma in Professional Mediation from the Professional Mediation Center (CPM) of Saint-Joseph University – Beirut, Lebanon – 2010.

Mediation activities and initiatives:

  • shadowing JAMS panelists as part of the Weinstein JAMS Fellowship program
  • teaching a peer mediation program in schools in Lebanon having a main objective to help children acquire and apply non-violent communication in their environment.
  • volunteering as a mediator at the American Bar Association (ABA) Mediation Project in Lebanon for the purposes of providing pro-bono mediation services to citizens in unprivileged areas of Lebanon and awareness about mediation through Social Institutions.

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Recent Experience

  • Assisting a leading fund raising and advising firm in the MENA region in its acquisition of several medical clinics operating in the UAE, Qatar, Lebanon, KSA and Kuwait and leading the implementation of the cross-border transaction with the regional offices of the firm.
  • Assisting an American multinational conglomerate which operates through diversified segments such as aviation, healthcare, energy and manufacturing in the implementation of a re-structuring of their group in the UAE following a segregation of segments of their businesses worldwide.
  • Advising on the conversion of a public authority into a private company and assisting with the drafting of the relevant documentation.
  • Assisting in various legal due diligence mandates.
  • Advising one of largest communications, advertising, and digital marketing company in the world on the re-restructuring of its regional group in the UAE and discussing complex reorganization options and processes with the public authorities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi to be implemented for the first time with these authorities.
  • Advising a major worldwide player in the construction equipment and public works sector, on corporate governance related matters following the acquisition of several groups actively operating in the region and proposing re-structuring options for the management and the operating entities.
  • Advising a key player in the wireless communication industry and global mobile phones distributor in the joint venture arrangement in the UAE.
  • Advising on regulatory and licensing requirements for non-profit organisations, associations and foundations in the UAE.
  • Advised a leading private equity firm on the acquisition of a major construction and engineering company in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.*
  • Acted on behalf of two minority shareholders in a subsidiarity of multinational company in the Defence sector based in the GCC, in connection with the proposed sale of their shares.*
  • Represented a virtual kitchen business in the Middle East in relation to series B funding fully subscribed to by a prominent German listed entity with a leading portfolio of online food delivery services.*
  • Advised a master franchisee of a prominent US chain of quick service restaurants, and US multinational coffee and pastry company with its day-to-day corporate and commercial matters, as well as assisted the same group with major transactions, including but not limited to, its corporate reorganization, a cross-border joint venture, advised on the sub-franchise in Morocco and Egypt, advised on several issues with its sub franchisees and suppliers across the region; advised on various regulatory and corporate governance matters; reviewed and advised on issues under several key contracts in the group’s business.*
  • Advised a service provider of district cooling solutions on an acquisition in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, assisted in obtaining the competition authority approval in relation to an acquisition in the UAE, and general advisory work.*
  • Conducted and led several due diligence mandates on, including but not limited to, one of the major engineering and construction companies in KSA, a leading international service provider to the energy industry, and a sustainability consultancy firm in the Middle East.*

*Transactions and advisory work conducted with another law firm

Language(s)

  • Arabic
  • French
  • English

Education

2009 – Bachelor in Law, Filière Francophone de Droit

Admission

2022 – Solicitor, England & Wales

2016 – Legal Consultant – Dubai Legal Affairs Department

2010 – Qualified Lawyer at the Beirut Bar Association