Our experts
MEET THE TEAM
THE PARTNERS-LAWYERS
Esq. Jean-François Rycx
Jean-François Rycx is the founder and the managing director of the Firm.
He graduated from the Universities of Paris and Aix-en-Provence and has practiced law for 12 years in France as a member of the Bar Association of Marseilles before moving to Dubai, where he is currently acting as a duly registered legal consultant.
His main areas of expertise are the French Civil and Commercial law and international business law.
Fluent in Arabic, Dr. Rycx has given the firm the potential to operate on a regional scale and particularly in different Arab states in the region.
Professional Background
- Director of the French Center for Legal and Social Documentation and Studies (French Embassy in Cairo) 1974-1978.
- Researcher and Head of a Research Department on Middle East Studies at the C.N.R.S. 1978-1988.
- Practicing lawyer at Kamel Law Office (Cairo) 1988-1990: Worked in association with this law Office and participated in the drafting of oil/mining concession agreements in addition to contracts and agreements relating to business law.
- Practicing lawyer in Marseilles, (avocat) since 1991 up to today.
- Founder of Rycx Legal Consultants in Dubai in 1997.
Academic activities
Arbitration practice
- Professor of Law (Maître de Conférences) at the University of Aix-en-Provence, from 1991 to 1997 (Commercial and Civil law).
- Teaching Law of International Contracts (Master of Law) at the Sorbonne Abu Dhabi University from 2011 to 2017.
- French Bar Association France
- International Chamber of Commerce Court of Arbitration Paris – ICC- France
- Arbitrator at the Dubai Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration Center attached to the Dubai Chamber of Commerce – Dubai – DIAC- United Arab Emirates
- C.C.G. Commercial and Arbitration Center – Manama – Bahrain
- Assistance of clients in the frame of the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) – Dispute Resolution.
THE PARTNERS-LAWYERS
Esq. Pierre-Yves LUCAS
University background
- Master II in Laws in Admiralty – TULANE UNIVERSITY: New Orleans (USA) – 1984
- pre-PhD – DEA in European laws – University of Rennes (France) and of Exeter (United Kingdom) – 1983
- Master in public laws – University of Rennes – 1982
- Master in private laws – University of Rennes – 1981
Professional qualifications and practice
- French lawyer admitted to the Paris Bar (since 1985)
- Associate – Law firm Gide Loyrette Nouel (Paris et Riyadh) – 1984 / 1998
- Law professor – University of Paris V – René Descartes : courses on the laws on international investment and international financing – 2000/2013
- Partner – Law firm Trillat & Associés (Paris) – 2009 / 2019
- Registered legal consultant – Dubaï since 2015
- Creation of a legal JV with the Emirati Law firm Jafar Alwan Al Jaziri in 2015
- ’Of Counsel’ at the international law firm Bonnard Lawson from Jan. 2017 to June 2023.
- Partner at Rycx Legal Consultants since July 2023.
Titles and Associations
- Association Française de Droit Maritime (AFDM) – since 1987
- Attenant (Auditeur) of the 36th national session of the Centre des Hautes Etudes de l’Armement (CHEAr)- 2000
- External Commerce Affairs Counsel of France – (CCEF) – 1990 / 2012
- Author of several business law articles in la Revue des CCE and ‘Droit Maritime Français’ and lately in Bonnard Lawson Newsletter and Websites of FBC/FBG.
Expertise – activities
- He specializes in international (and French and UAE) commercial law, transportation law and international relations law. He has been appointed as an arbitrator and represents his clients before the ICC or ad hoc arbitration.
- drafting and negotiation of international contracts, contract management of projects, aspects related to their financing, in particular for the sale of a turnkey plant (Qatar), of SM (Chile, Brazil, India, Pakistan and Malaysia) and of ships and onboard equipment (KSA, Kuwait), provision of services, offset (UAE and Kuwait)
- Creation and acquisition of companies, statutory amendments, shareholders agreements, operational compliance, term sheet, etc.
THE CORPORATE MANAGER
Mr. Damien Gere
Education
2005 – 2006: BTS Software Development
2002 – 2004: DEUG MIAS
Expertise
- Advice and assistance in creating all types of corporate structures provided by UAE legislations, such as Companies, Branch Offices, Representative Offices, Free Zone Companies, Offshore Companies, Industrial Licenses, Professional Licenses.
- Advice and assistance in Administration/Management/HR of such companies
- Documents drafting, reporting, compliance and governance.
- Fluent in French and English.
- Software Development in C# and VB.Net, ActiveReports, SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle.
- Software Solution Conception, Documentation drafting (ISO 9001), Test Routine Development.
Since 2011
- Company Registration Manager at Rycx Legal Consultants.
- Registering and Managing companies registered under UAE Local and Federal Laws, including Free Zones (JAFZA, DAFZA, DMCC, Tecom, RAKIA, TwoFour54, …), Offshores Jurisdictions.
- Assistance in employment and residency procedures and requirements.
- Corporate and Compliance.
Public Relation Officer
Shaji Varghese
- More than 20 years’ experience in the UAE for incorporation of companies, visa issue and labour matters.
Lawyer admitted at the Cairo bar association
Ahmad Gaballa
Assistance with all matters involving the local authorities (Dubai Land Department – DLD -, Dubai Economic Department – DED – etc.) and some disputes and debt collection.
fluent in Arabic language.
Personal Assistant of the Partners
Ashmira Rasika Deepani Thuwan
- Ahmira had an education in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Pearson BTEC Level 5, Higher National Diploma)
Banking industry specialist
Imad DAAS
Imad has an extensive experience in the banking industry for more than 20 years. He assists clients on bank account opening, loan facilities and negotiations of the L/C.
SPECIAL COUNSELS – LAWYERS - NOTARY
Maître Jean Christophe POMMIER - Lawyer
Civil (family) and Commercial Law.
Registered with the Paris bar association.
Paris (France)
Maître Frederic DAL VECCHIO - Lawyer
- French and international taxation law.
Registered with the Nanterre bar association.
Paris (France)
Maître Armand FESTE-GUIDON - Lawyer
- Criminal Law.
Registered with the Marseille bar association.
Paris – Marseille (France)
Maître Hakim IZOUGARHEN – Notary
- Family, succession and donation matters. Notarisation of deed in the UAE.
Registered with the French Notary Association.
Macon (France)
Maître Michel CABAJ - Lawyer
- Corporate, tax, financial and general Swiss law.
Registered with the Geneva Bar Association. Bellum & Avocats
Geneva (Switzerland)