Michael Kortbawi

Writing for mentl, Michael Kortbawi, unpacks what the newly introduced end-of-service scheme in the UAE means for the financial stability of employees, and protections it may offer against companies that...

More than ever, crypto-investors in UAE need awareness and defense against scams. Michael Kortbawi speaks to Gulf News on how to avoid crypto-scams. It has become clear that the UAE has...

The UAE’s Crypto Industry’s Exponential Growth Leading to an Increase of Cryptocurrency-Related Scams: How to Detect and Avoid them  It has become increasingly clear that the UAE has recognized the...

The 9% corporate tax that the UAE has announced is a positive from the point of view of government finances, but how will it affect the smaller companies in the...

What is the Evernest scam? Evernest Holiday Homes Rental LLC recently conducted a scam in the UAE, resulting in AED30mn in fraudulent gains, impacting almost 500 property owners and tenants....

All UAE business owners and managers should be aware of the very recent decision of the Dubai Court of First Instance in the matter of the Bankruptcy of Marka Holdings...

The worldwide economic distress caused by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has certainly not spared the GCC region. The pandemic has exacerbated the region’s pre-existing economic challenges, many of which date...

This is the first of two articles discussing the challenges that Dubai can overcome to become a global leader in the creative arts. It is now incontrovertible that Dubai ranks...

Potential Compensation Sources The tragic and catastrophic explosion that occurred in Beirut, beyond the immediate health and safety concerns, raises important and potentially time-sensitive considerations involving obtaining compensation for property...

From asking your bank for a mortgage payment holiday or knowing where you stand when it comes to defaulting on your payments, legal experts in the United Arab Emirates explain...

An employer is currently legally entitled to have their employees work from the office. While a complete lockdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak is yet to be announced in the...

The new UAE Bankruptcy Law was widely discussed and debated upon its introduction in 2016. Brought in to encourage a ‘rescue culture’, the regulations were hailed as a significant move...

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Authors: Michael Kortbawi and Adam Tighe I INTRODUCTION i. Legal framework Article 383 of Federal Law No. 5 of 1985 on the Civil Transactions Law of the...

BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates LLP offer specialist legal services to the healthcare sector through a dedicated legal team of experts. With extensive experience of working with many healthcare...

The UAE Bankruptcy Law is viewed as an improvement over the prior insolvency laws (as outlined in the Commercial Transactions Law), insofar as the Bankruptcy Law: 1. allows companies in...

The Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), the authority for attracting, developing and enhancing international investment in Saudi Arabia, accompanied UAE-based law firm BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates LLP...

Direct Distribution 1.May a foreign supplier establish its own entity to import and distribute its products in your jurisdiction? A foreign supplier seeking to import and distribute its products in...

The UAE Insurance Authority (‘IA’) has now promulgated and issued the ‘Cabinet Resolution No 7 of 2019 Concerning the Administrative Fines Imposed by the Insurance Authority’ (‘the Resolution’), which was...

Brexit was a decision that shook the financial world. On June 23rd 2016, a sliver of a majority voted for the United Kingdom to exit the European Union (EU). The...

Recent legislative changes in Dubai have been put in place to change the scope and way in which health is regulated, products are licensed and priced and the health care...

Michael Kortbawi and Raghad Hammad contribute to the UAE Chapter of The Legal 500: 2nd Edition Insurance & Reinsurance Comparative Guide. This country-specific Q&A gives apragmatic overview of the law...

This Chapter is the cornerstone for claims for professional negligence in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Gross negligence is not defined in the UAE Civil Code; however, the wording of...

by Raghad Hammad and NourGemayel Published on May 20th, 2018, Decision No. (12) of 2018 issued by the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”) Insurance Authority regulates the licensing and registration of...

by Michael Kortbawi The recent Zen Tower fire in Dubai Marina is the just the latest in a spate of high profile tower fires to sweep the city in recent...

  Global commerce depends, to a very great extent, on the relationships between manufacturers and suppliers on the one hand and their distributors and commercial agents around the world on...

We are happy to announce the collaboration between BSA and International Comparative Legal Guides (ICLG) on the ICLG Insurance & Reinsurance Legal Guide for the year 2018. Michael Kortbawi, Partner...

Click here to view PDF Published: November 2017 Publication: Premium Magazine Title: Run-Off: Why it Matters Authors: Michael Kortbawi

Click here to view the article online. Published: November 2017 Source: Arab news Title: Insurance hike expected for Dubai high-rises after fires Authors: Michael Kortbawi

Click here to view the PDF. Published: August 2017 Publication: inhouselawyer.co.uk Title: Country Comparative Legal Guides UAE: Insurance & Reinsurance Authors: Michael Kortbawi andRaghad Hammad

The UAE’s commitment to sharing financial data on individuals and entities under Common Reporting Standards (CSR) has been furthered reinforced by the Insurance Authority Board of Directors Decision No. 32...

Click here to view the article online. Published: June 2017 Publication: NBC News Title: London Fire: 95 U.K. Buildings Fail Fire Safety Tests Authors: Michael Kortbawi

Click here to view the article in PDF. Published: June/July 2017 Publication: Lexis Nexis Middle East Law Alerts Title: Case Focus on DIFC Case No. 006/2016 Practice: Commercial Authors: Michael...

You know how you sometimes feel bad enough to not go to work but know that you just have avirus that your body will work through so don’t make the...

Increased insurance cost due to fires in towers means high prices for flat owners. Dubai: Billions of dirhams in losses from a spate of spectacular skyscraper fires in Dubai and...

Ifyou’re off sick from work on Thursday and then again on Sunday, you’ll be taking more sick leave than you may realise…It’s widely known that theUAE labour law allows for...

The first half of 2016 has justified what many analysts have forecasted in regards to the shipping insurance sector in the Gulf Region – that it will maintain the trends...

Speaker at Insurance event organised by Reynolds Porter Chamberlain (RPC). Held in London on 1 June 2016. Topic: Insurance in Iran Speaker: Michael Kortbawi, Partner The topics of discussion were:...

The lifting of sanctions in Iran could give a major boost to what is already Mena’s dominant Takaful market - but a lack of transparency and fragmentation in the global...

The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), which regulates all Financial Services within the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC), in November, 2015, issued its Consultation Paper No. 103 (CP103), proposing changes...

The New Year arrived in Dubai, UAE, with more than the usual amount of spectacular fireworks this year, as anyone of the hundreds of thousands of people who gathered around...

Regional insight, global outlook Rooted in local heritage with a focus on building relationships, BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates’ key strength lies in their ability to look beyond the...

Speaker at the Islamic Insurer’s Association of London (IIAL). Hosted by IIAL in partnership with Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC),held atDIFC, on 8th November 2015 hop over to this website....

Michael Kortbawi, Partner - Insurance and Reinsurance discusses why insurers in the regions should invest in sectors with which they are best acquainted. To read full article CLICK HERE and...

Speaker at the Speaking Event organised by Insurance Business Group (IBG) under the auspices of Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Hosted at the Movenpick Hotel, Bur Dubai, Dubai on...

Regulatory and Advisory partners of the 10th Annual World Takaful Conference (WTC 2015) Hosted by Mega Events at the Dusit Thani Dubai on 14 and 15 April 2015 CEO Power...

BSA together with JAFZA organized a four-day road-show in Paris and Lyon, which included seminars and networking events with 300 of France's most prominent companies from a range of industry...

Speakerat theJafza Road Show in Paris Hosted by BSA, Dumon & Partners, JAFZA (Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority), and Le Moci in Paris and Lyonon 9th – 13th March 2015....

Multinational companies, with offices in the UAE, have recently been facing conflict of law issues rising upon termination of an employment agreement when an employee is transferred abroad within their...

Non-fire retardant cladding poses an enormous risk for high-rises in the UAE, write Barry Greenberg and Michael Kortbawi from BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates LLP The recent fire at...

Malpractice claims can prove to be a financially risky proposition. Michael Kortbawi and Barry Greenberg compare the professional liability landscape in the US and the UAE. The necessity of obtaining...

France and the United Arab Emirates are two key business partners. Approximately 350 subsidiaries of French companies are estimated to be settled in Dubai, whilst figures of the French presence...

The reception took place in Dubai on 29 October 2014, during the World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) which was held on 28 – 30 October at Madinat Jumeirah conference. WEIF...

The reception, which took place in Paris on 23 October on the occasion of the SIAL (the largest global international food products exhibition) and the Paris Art Fair, was held...

Panellist at the MENA IR Breakfast Briefing Hosted by at Jumeirah Emirates Towers on 24 September 2014 Speaker: Irshied Tayeb Could third-party capital transform the reinsurance market? Alternative risk transfer...

The international nature of recent developments presents challenges not only to regulators, but also to legal systems. This first edition of Insurance & Reinsurance Law & Regulation is an essential...

The practice of retaining a percentage of the risk and local or legal cession is done in order to develop the local market to become fair and competitive. In contrast...

As population and legislative change drives GCC insurance market growth, Michael Kortbawi and Amira Janine El Masry of Bin Shabib & Associates look at the current regulatory position. What is...

The global economy has experienced much uncertainty in recent years, however 2014 is predicted to be muchhealthier. Both Michael and Nadim have witnessed thisup-tick. “We have definitely experienced an increase...

Regulatory and Advisory partners of the 9th Annual World Takaful Conference (WTC 2014) Hosted by Mega Events at the Dusit Thani Dubai on 14 and 15 April 2015 The Industry...

Lloyd’s plans to set up DIFC is a great boost to the market. However, there may be difficulties that need to be ironed out first, say Michael Kortbawi and Irshied...

Speakerat theEmirates Insurance Authority Seminar. Hosted byThe Emirates Insurance Association in conjuction with Clyde & Coat Al Bustan Rotana Hotel on 26 March 2014. Topic: The Direction of Insurance Regulation...

Current practices in the reinsurance industry of the UAE impede its growth and development. BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates LLP (Former Bin Shabib & Associates) recommends measures that need...

Moderator at Mena Insurance Live, a leading insurance conference and networking event. Hosted by MENAIR on 15 January 2014, The Address Downtown Dubai Discussion Leader: Irshied Tayeb Regulation Overview panel...

Regulatory and Advisory Partners at the 4th Annual Middle East & Africa Insurance Summit Hosted by Fleming Gulf at the Dusit Thani on 20 & 21 January 2014 CEO panel:...

Islamic Finance has seen unprecedented growth in recent years and the pace of this growth is accelerating. This is evidenced not only by the size of the Islamic finance market,...

Having been appointed by the UAE Insurance Authority to assist in redrafting the UAE insurance law, Irshied Tayeb, head of insurance, Rima Mrad, partner, and Michael Kortbawi, partner at BSA...

Michael Kortbawi and Irshied Tayeb of BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates LLP (Former Bin Shabib & Associates) discuss the new mandatory healthcare scheme in Dubai. Health insurance is a...

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is a growing market which is attracting increasing interest from local and foreign investors alike. With competition on the rise, the region...

Michael Kortbawi, Partner and Maamoon Ashraf, Associate at BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates LLP (former Bin Shabib & Associates LLP) discuss Qatar's new Central Bank Law and elaborate on...

Proposed regulatory changes penciled to be introduced within the next two to three years are expected to boost consolidation among GCC insurance companies, local bankers, attorneys, and industry sources told...

The insurance landscape in the MENA region has changed rapidly over the past five years, presenting challenges and opportunities for the various players. Mr Irshied Tayeb and Ms Liz Zamorski...

This new book aims to provide foreign insurers and intermediaries looking to enter the market with practical, up-to-date guidance on setting up in the region. The countries featured in the...

Michael Kortbawi, Partner at BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates LLP discusses the Tax regime in the UAE. There are no federal tax legislation in the United Arab Emirates (hereinafter...

This month Bin Shabib & Associates (BSA) LLP supported the French Business Council Dubai and Northern Emirates, in hosting a cocktail reception at the Divan hotel in Erbil. The reception...

Bancassurance allows banks to sell insurance policies of insurers they have partnered with and is one of the many means of alternative distribution methods adopted by GCC insurance companies. Although...