Lilas Alakhras
Legal DirectorWith over 15 years of practice, Lilas has extensive expertise in criminal law, financial crimes, extradition, banking and finance, and real estate disputes and also possesses strong corporate knowledge. She has a strong track record of working with high-profile and international clients, providing sound advice on the full range of corporate, financial, investment, and real estate matters, including structuring, formations, obtaining licenses, drafting agreements and adeptly handling disputes and negotiations.
She has successfully advised international and local banks and financial institutions on banking disputes, including Islamic banking, with a combined value exceeding AED 14 billion. Furthermore, she has particular experience in skillfully representing international clients in complex cross-border criminal cases involving corruption, money laundering, cybercrime, extradition, fraud, and embezzlement.
Highly proficient in enforcing foreign and GCC judgments, Lilas has also represented clients in ratification and annulment matters related to arbitral awards.
Additionally, Lilas is adept at providing top-tier escrow services for UAE real estate and M&A transactions, specializing in company formation, corporate restructuring, establishment of new holding entities including SPVs and foundations, re-domiciliation. Furthermore, her private client experience includes drafting wills and trust deeds, ensuring full regulatory compliance for her clients' peace of mind.
Languages
- English
- Arabic
- French
Education & Qualifications
- Bachelor of Laws, Damascus University, Syria
Experience highlights
- On a number of banking disputes, including some valued at over AED 8 billion, for both conventional and Islamic banking. She has provided banks with legal opinions, outlined case strategy, drafted pleas, and represented banks before experts, as well as leading negotiations pre-settlement with the adverse parties. She has also advised on enforcement of mortgage deeds on real estate and movable assets and shares. All fir Dubai Islamic Bank.
- On criminal cases, including money laundering cases valued at over AED 14 billion; extraditions; breach of trust; defamation cases; conducting due diligence; working alongside the public prosecution and police stations; and international firms on cross-border criminal disputes.
- On a range of corporate maters, including formations, structuring, obtaining licenses and investments, for VIP/HNW individual/high-profile clients active in the UAE and wider region.
- On legal opinions, settlement agreements, and legal notices in relation to civil and commercial matters, real estate, enforcement and criminal matters including extradition, money laundering, embezzlement and breach of trust. International law firms on criminal matters for their clients.
- On the Enforcement of judgments valued at over AED 7 billion. Lilas has enforced foreign judgments, GCC Judgments, Arbitration Awards, UAE court judgments, and DIFC judgments.
- On complex corporate formations in relation to banks, funds, SPVs, and Foundation Trusts, in both mainland and free zones for international companies and individuals.
- On corporate transactions valued at over AED 100 million, including working on escrow agreements.
- On handling bankruptcy cases valued at over 1 billion.
- On a cross border dispute, valued at US$7 million, to arrest oil and gas vessels in RAK and Fujairah ports. The dispute was heard and executed before the Dubai, RAK, Fujairah and DIFC Courts, alongside the US Courts.
- On behalf of a high-profile Saudi individual on a real estate dispute in Dubai as well as the associated investment angle On behalf of Gulf Islamic Investments on a dispute arising from an investment.
- On behalf of several international individuals on general corporate set up, family office matters and transactions.
Awards & rankings
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