Dubai-based lawyers from firms including Clifford Chance, Clyde & Co and Al Tamimi who sit on the DIFC Court’s Users Committee will see their responsibilities broadened as part of a revised charter.

The group of ten representatives on the committee act as representatives on behalf of the DIFC courts and its users and discuss ways to improve the courts system during quarterly meetings. Although they do not have any decision-making powers, one recent initiative was to make official the first pro-bono program in the Gulf last year.

According to the DIFC, committee members should now keep a close eye on developments happening in other judicial systems which can be adopted locally, and advise on whether the courts should add sub-committees and more representative lawyers from local and international law firms.

“The additional scope added into the charter has been driven by the committee members whom identified the initiative as something that will help the courts to maximise input from the very constituents that the courts’ serve,” said a spokesperson from the DIFC Courts.

Lawyers on the DIFC Court Users committee