Stephen Swanson, Chief Legal Officer with Invest AD – Abu Dhabi Investment Company, discusses the challenges of advising on fund launches in countries like Iraq, and the merits of adapting to different cultural requirements.

With in-house counsel facing more competition than ever before, Ahmad Rizwan, legal advisor with the Government of Dubai, shares the core competencies that both he and his employer rely on for success.

Roberta Calarese Julfar, director of policy and legal services for the Dubai Financial Services Authority discusses the expertise of the institution’s in-house team.

Director of legal for the Arabian Real Estate Investment Trust, Adam Malouf discusses his career path and the challenges of his current role.

This month’s issue includes a special focus on the United Arab Emirates. Our feature story looks at the effect of the economic crisis on the UAE’s legal profession, whilst international firms discuss emerging trends, issues and the legal infrastructure that will impact the UAE’s corporate legal scene.

Off the back of an extraordinary year of growth, modest economic expectations in the year to come are the current trend. Asian-Counsel provides a regional overview in addition to special features on Islamic finance in Japan, recent developments in Malaysian securities law and regulations and Islamic banking and finance regulations in the United Arab Emirates.

The temperature is not the only thing sizzling in the dynamic United Arab Emirates. Melinda Finch reports on the region and its red hot legal market.