Fichte & Co

Managing Partner: Jasamin Fichte
Number of partners: 2
Number of lawyers: 25
Languages: Arabic, Cantonese, English, Farsi, French, German, Gujrati, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Malayalam, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog

Firm Overview:
Established by Jasmin Fichte in 2005, Fichte & Co is a full-service law firm comprised of an experienced international team of experts.
The staff includes over 25 local and international lawyers that are dual-qualified and multilingual with experience from practicing in a wide variety of countries including the UK, Germany, India, Italy, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan, Iran, Bahrain, Lebanon, Canada and Russia. The firm has also built a strong network in other jurisdictions, working closely with firms in the UK, Singapore, Europe, the GCC, Iran and offshore locations such as the Cayman Islands, BVI and Jersey. The team regularly advise international corporations on commercial law issues and risk advisory matters, including strategic advice on business risks. The firm’s clients have included governmental and quasi-governmental entities such as ADNOC, Oman and Dubai Drydocks, UAE Classification(Tasneef) and the Port of Fujairah. As a pioneering law firm, Fichte aims to shape the region’s legal landscape and regulation — the firm is a founding member of the UAE Maritime Law Committee (which is set to become a member of the Comité Maritime International), and a have a seat on the DIFC Rules Subcommittee.

Main Areas of Practice:
Maritime
Marine Insurance
Risk Management
Mergers & Acquisitions
Corporate Restructuring
Banking & Finance
Real Estate
International Trade & Commodities
Litigation
Arbitration & Mediation
Commercial Disputes
Marine Insurance
Bankruptcy
Charter Party
Ship Finance
Ship Building, Repair & Conversion
Debt Recovery

Maritime:
3 partners, 6 fee earners based in Dubai and Abu Dhabi office
■Acted for various P&I Clubs following a change of rules in local maritime rules to obtain approval by the UAE Federal Transport Authority (FTA)
■Represented over 40 seafarers, stranded on board the vessels without food supply and salaries for over three years, due to a legal dispute involving the ship owners, and assisted the Federal Transport Authority (FTA) in successfully filing labor complaints and activating arrest documents to bring the abandoned vessels to port
■Representing one of the largest conglomerate from India in defending their interest of their Dubai subsidiaries for the claims filed in Dubai towards recognition of NY Arbitration/London Arbitration awards, where one award is for USD 1.6 billion and the second award is for USD 425 million
■Represented a client in the tender for a turn-key project by a national oil company for delivery and operation of a FPSO unit for a total value of approx. US$400m. Upon award of the project, we further assisted the client in the purchase of an Aframax tanker and subsequent conversion into FPSO
■Represented one of the leading Insurance companies in the UAE under a Marine Cargo Policy cover to defeat the claim of the cargo owners for colluding with the owners and sinking of the vessel
■Advising Major Oil Trader in a dispute under L/C against Central Bank of Sudan and Sudanese Petroleum Counsel, the dispute is in the tune of USD 250 million.
Key Clients: AXA, Oman Trading, Union Insurance, North of England P&I, Port of Fujairah
Contact: Jasmin Fichte
Tel: +971 4 43 57 577
Email: [email protected]

Corporate/Commercial & Commercial Contracts:
1 partner, 5 fee earners based in Dubai and Abu Dhabi
■A multi-state-owned shipping company based in the GCC region on various aspects of its USD 8 billion (approx.) combination with a German multi-national company including the group reorganization, optimisation, and transformation of key group companies throughout the GCC region
■A Saudi Arabian conglomerate on all aspects of a multi-jurisdictional M&A deal, valued at USD 6 million (approx.), involving the formation of a joint venture with a Japanese promoter and the subsequent acquisition of entities in the UAE, Japan, and India in the chemicals and fuel additives industry, as well as the bridge financing of the UAE and Japanese entity
■A Pan Arab Conglomerate on various UAE law matters including a joint venture between its UAE insurance brokerage subsidiary and an insurance technology company for establishing a digital platform allowing users to compare, buy, and manage insurance products in the UAE
■A UAE based private joint stock company operating in the food sector on corporate governance and compliance (including registration with the DFM for availing share registry services) and its capitalization up to AED 300 million to fund its strategic acquisitions and investments in various food companies in the UAE
■A leading Indian Infrastructure Development and Finance Company on two multi-million dollar deals involving its proposed exit of (i) a public-private partnership with the Government of Dubai in relation to a construction project, and (ii) a joint venture with, inter alia, the Government of Fujairah relating to the operation of an independent oil storage terminal
■A French global conglomerate company, in connection with the reorganisation of the corporate presence in the region by way of consolidation of the local companies within the broader group
Key Clients: Hapag-Lloyd, Gulf Energy Maritime (GEM), Gulf Resources Insurance Management Services Co. (LLC)
Contact: Alessandro Tricoli
Tel: +971 4 43 57 577
Email: [email protected]

Dispute Resolution:
1 partner, 7 fee earners based in Dubai and Abu Dhabi
■Represented a major insurance service provider on a series of claims arising out of a fire break out at a building in Sharjah. The claims, initiated by tenants, are primarily being defended on the grounds of non-operational sprinkler systems which were the landlord’s duty and obligation to maintain at all times
■Represented a real estate company in labor dispute against its employees, seeking compensation and entitlements. Fichte has successfully protected the interest of the employer
■Represented a Vietnamese government owned shipping company in respect of enforcement of London seated arbitral awards before the DIFC Courts against two UAE based trading entities
■Advising a major insurance service provider on a series of claims under the Sanadi plan for Involuntarily Loss of Employment. The claims are being defended under the various exclusions set out in the insurance policies
■Represented a UAE based insurance company in a series of claims initiated by guests of a prominent hotel in Dubai which caught fire on New Year’s Eve
■Represented a leading Indian shipping company which went through a major financial crisis. Due to the financial crisis multiple VLGC/LVCCs were arrested in UAE. Fichte was appointed to negotiate the terms of settlement with all the arresting parties and secured the release of all their vessels
Key Clients: Deugro Emirates Shipping, Union Insurance, Seaport International Shipping Company, Southern Petroleum Transportation JSC
Contact: Ravi Jawani
Tel: +971 4 43 57 577
Email: [email protected]