Legal Consultant – Intellectual Property & Commercial
Lionel specializes in Intellectual Property (IP), dealing with all areas of IP with a particular focus on Trademarks, Copyrights, IP portfolio management, and enforcement within the UAE. His expertise encompasses registration and enforcement of IP rights (Trademark and Copyrights), as well as carrying out enforcement actions and oppositions. He advises businesses on trademark registration in the UAE, from clearance searches and filings with the Ministry of Economy through to renewals, and manages trademark portfolios for brand owners in the UAE and abroad.
Lionel is a registered DIFC Wills Draftsman and advises expatriates on wills and succession in the UAE. He prepares single and mirror wills for registration with the DIFC Wills Service, the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department and the Dubai Notary, guides families through DIFC probate, and prepares powers of attorney together with their notarization and attestation.
Lionel has routinely advised high net worth individuals as well as corporate entities to restructure their affairs in a manner that ensures the optimal corporate structure in compliance with the regulatory requirements of various jurisdictions both, within Freezones as well as the UAE Mainland. He has prior experience of wealth and succession planning through specialized vehicles such as Foundations in DIFC, ADGM and RAKICC.
Prior to joining Al Midfa & Associates, Lionel practiced as a Corporate Associate dealing with various commercial assignments ranging from sale and purchase agreements (Assets and Real Estate), acquisitions, due diligence, sale and purchase of shares, and setting up corporate entities in Freezones and the UAE Mainland.
Lionel also advises on a range of real estate matters which include contentious as well as transactional matters such as sale and purchase of real estate, brokerage arrangements, property leasing (both commercial and private), property management and property conveyancing.
Lionel is registered with the Government of Dubai – Legal affairs department as a legal consultant authorized to practice UAE law and is a registered DIFC Wills Draftsman.
Key Highlights:
- Managed the entire global trademark portfolio of a multinational FMCG group: over 17,000 trademark records across 157 jurisdictions.
- Managed compliance with an international trademark co-existence agreement across jurisdictions in Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
- Secured UAE trademark registrations for local and international businesses across a range of sectors.
- Registered copyright in software and digital products for technology and fintech businesses in the UAE.
- Advised expatriate families on succession planning, preparing and registering single and mirror wills through the DIFC Wills Service and the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department.
- Structured wealth and succession plans through foundations in the DIFC and ADGM, from set-up through to drafting their charters and by-laws.
Education:
- L.L.B. (Honors) – The University of Sheffield, UK
- Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (LPC) – The University of Sheffield, UK
Memberships:
- Registered with the Government of Dubai – Legal Affairs Department as a Legal Consultant authorized to practice UAE Law
- Registered DIFC Wills Draftsman
- The Bar Council of India
- The Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa, India