Fichte & Co Legal

When Voyage Becomes Unsafe: Allocating Risk Under Charterparty

Arthur Dedels — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 13:36:01 +0000

The Strait of Hormuz has become a stark reminder that geopolitical risk can quickly become contractual risk for the shipping industry. A dangerous route does not however, by itself, determine whether an owner may refuse to proceed, whether a charterer has breached the charterparty, or who bears the resulting costs. Those questions depend on the …

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The Coupon Trap: A Practical Guide to the Risks of High-Yield “Bond-Like” Investments

Anna Mkrtchyan — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 05:27:16 +0000

Products marketed as offering bond-like certainty — a fixed coupon, a defined maturity date, a headline yield well above prevailing market rates — have proliferated across private markets in recent years. Generally referred to as corporate bonds, they are prima facie lawful instruments, however many of them are mere contractual arrangements hedged by the promised …

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Fichte & Co Secures USD 50 million Worldwide Freezing Order from the DIFC Courts in Support of Foreign Arbitration

Arthur Dedels — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 08:18:56 +0000

We are pleased to announce that Fichte & Co has secured a USD 50 million worldwide freezing order from the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts in support of confidential foreign arbitration proceedings concerning an oil & gas trade dispute. The freezing order was obtained against a company registered in mainland Dubai which, at the …

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Impossible, Delayed or Simply More Expensive? Force Majeure and Hardship under the New UAE Civil Code

Florian Herkommer — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 12:21:35 +0000

Commercial disruptions can affect contractual performance in different ways. A government restriction may prevent delivery, a critical asset may be destroyed, or performance may remain possible but become substantially more expensive. These situations are often described generally as force majeure. Under UAE law, however, the legal consequences depend on whether performance has become impossible or …

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Before the Signature: Why Good Faith Now Matters at the UAE Negotiating Table

Galymzhan Alpeis — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 08:29:53 +0000

What if the biggest legal risk in your next deal has nothing to do with the contract itself? Most businesses assume that legal obligations only kick in once a contract is signed. Under the new UAE Civil Code, that assumption no longer holds up. Think about how much happens before anyone reaches for a pen. …

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Force Majeure or Force Mirage? Middle East Conflict, Maritime Disruption and the New Contract Reality

Chakrapani Bodapati — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 09:31:37 +0000

The current Middle East crisis, particularly the most recent announcement of Yemen’s Houthis declaring a naval blockade and maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia has brought force majeure out of contractual boilerplate clauses and firmly into the boardroom discussions. As pressure grows across key regional shipping routes, parties in the energy, commodities, logistics, maritime trade and …

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Avoiding Tax Fines in the UAE: Why Compliance Starts Before Filing

Florian Herkommer — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 11:17:56 +0000

Tax compliance in the UAE is no longer just a filing exercise. It is a business discipline that affects cash flow, audit readiness, financing, and the ability to respond when the Federal Tax Authority asks questions. Failure to comply can lead to significant penalties, unexpected tax assessments, and disputes with the Federal Tax Authority (FTA), …

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Major Changes Ahead for DIFC Prescribed Companies

Florian Herkommer — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 07:01:11 +0000

The Dubai International Financial Centre (“DIFC”) is considering significant reforms to its Prescribed Company regime. If adopted, these changes would further expand access to DIFC holding structures and shift the regulatory focus from entry requirements towards ongoing oversight. Prescribed Companies have become an important structuring tool for investors, family offices and multinational groups seeking a …

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DIFC COURTS VS. DUBAI COURTS: Resolving the Jurisdictional Divide in the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards

Ravi P. Jawani — Thu, 07 May 2026 12:49:39 +0000

The Emirate of Dubai operates two legally distinct court systems: the onshore Dubai Courts, constituted under UAE federal and local law, and the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts (“DIFC Courts”), which administer a common-law framework within the DIFC’s autonomous legal jurisdiction. While this dual-court architecture has been a powerful draw for international commerce, it has …

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Ship Arrest: The One Legal Tool That Can Stop a Vessel Overnight

Bhargavi Gadre — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 22:48:03 +0000

In shipping, most disputes take time. Ship arrest doesn’t. It is one of the very few tools in maritime practice that can immediately disrupt operations, create pressure, and force action sometimes within hours. And that’s exactly why it matters. What is ship arrest, in practical terms? Think of it as a legal pause button. …

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