Past event summary

Luke Tapp
Partner, Pinsent Masons

As head of the Pinsent Masons Middle East Employment Practice, Luke advises clients based in the United Arab Emirates and Gulf region on all aspects of employment and labour law issues.

Chambers describes Luke as being "praised by sources as a very experienced and capable lawyer. Other commentators add that he's proactive and definitely someone to watch. He regularly advises clients on contentious and non-contentious matters, including before the DIFC courts".

Luke is ranked as a “Next Generation Lawyer” and an “Associate to Watch” by Legal 500 and Chambers respectively, and was awarded Young Lawyer of the Year at the 2017 DIFC Gala Dinner. 

Luke assists clients on all aspects of the labour laws of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait. Luke regularly presents to clients and HR professionals on a variety of employment law topics

• Assisted a tier one energy sector client on all aspects of its UAE employment terms and conditions and implementing change across the workplace arrangements, including changes under the UAE Labour Law and changes to the contractual terms and conditions of employment. The project we consulted on included changes to working hours and reductions in allowances and benefits. Our assistance included consulting with the client on the required amendments, the most effective way of implementing those amendments in accordance with the statutory requirements and incorporating the amendments into the terms and conditions of employment.
• Provided consultation and legal support to a major financial Free Zone in preparing an Employee Handbook and several employee-related policies for implementation within the Free Zone. Our approach was to meet with the client to discuss their objectives and understand the legislative position and the areas where change was necessary to support the cultural and legal requirements. We prepared and finalised the handbook and delivered a presentation to a number of delegates on local employment law which included discussion around aspects of the policy. The client required us to prepare a policy which reflects the local legal requirements and also included elements of international best practice.
• Assisted the DMCC Free Zone with the preparation of a guidance handbook and staff policies to be standardized and made available for all clients and companies incorporated within the free zone. Our handbook dealt with all aspects of employee relations and policies, including incorporating international best practice into the policies. We have also delivered presentations to hundreds of companies incorporated within the DMCC free zone on the applicable Labour Law and international best practice in respect of employee relations.
• Assisted a semi-government conglomerate in establishing its workplace arrangements and employee policies for entities being incorporated in Kuwait, Oman, KSA and the UAE. This cross-border project required us to advise on all aspects of statutory employment benefits that operate across the five GCC jurisdictions and to assist with implementing these benefits, which included addressing areas such as working hours, agile working and part-time working hours. We also provided our client with advice on the employment and secondment of employees in the five jurisdictions. Our ongoing assistance reflects our ability to advise clients on all aspects of Middle East employment matters across the GCC jurisdictions. Our involvement included ensuring the policies reflected minimum statutory requirements across the GCC jurisdictions. We also advised the client on the consultation process to implement the policies.
• Assisted a major conglomerate in the transfer of employment of its Middle East-based workforce from one employing entity to a newly established entity. The project involved advising on legal issues arising out of the transfer of employment from the entity established within a free zone into an onshore entity and the impact on employment law rights. We assisted the client in respect of its consultation process, preparing of transfer documentation and new employment contracts and preparation of associated HR policies.