Lilas Al Akhras
Legal DirectorWith over 18 years of distinguished legal experience, Lilas Alakhras is recognized as a leading lawyer specializing in financial crime, funds, corporate restructuring, and high-value wealth management solutions. She is an expert in complex trust and foundation structures, asset protection strategies, and cross-border estate planning for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, VVIPs, sovereign entities, and political bodies.
Lilas has built an exceptional reputation advising on some of the region’s most significant financial crime and extradition cases, successfully representing clients in multi-jurisdictional matters involving corruption, money laundering, cybercrime, fraud, and embezzlement. Her work spans matter with a cumulative value exceeding USD 6 billion.
Her expertise includes advising international banks, financial institutions, and investment funds on regulatory compliance, fund structuring, dispute resolution, Islamic finance, and cross-border banking litigation. She is highly sought after for complex crypto-related transactions, digital asset compliance, and navigating the evolving legal frameworks governing cryptocurrencies.
Lilas regularly leads on high-value corporate transactions, including M&A deals, private equity investments, escrow arrangements, and the structuring and re-domiciliation of holding entities, SPVs, and foundations across multiple jurisdictions. Her private client services extend to drafting sophisticated wills, trusts, and wealth preservation vehicles with full regulatory compliance.
A trusted advisor to governments and private offices, Lilas is highly skilled in the enforcement of foreign and GCC judgments, the ratification and annulment of arbitral awards, and resolving high-stakes real estate and commercial disputes.
Fluent in delivering pragmatic, strategic solutions, Lilas continues to act as the legal counsel of choice for international investors, sovereign entities, and VVIP clients seeking unparalleled expertise in navigating today's most complex financial and legal landscapes.
Languages
- English
- Arabic
- French
Education & Qualifications
- Bachelor of Laws, Damascus University, Syria
Experience highlights
- On a number of banking disputes, including some valued at over AED 8 billion, for both conventional and Islamic banking. She has provided banks with legal opinions, outlined case strategy, drafted pleas, and represented banks before experts, as well as leading negotiations pre-settlement with the adverse parties. She has also advised on enforcement of mortgage deeds on real estate and movable assets and shares. All fir Dubai Islamic Bank.
- On criminal cases, including money laundering cases valued at over AED 14 billion; extraditions; breach of trust; defamation cases; conducting due diligence; working alongside the public prosecution and police stations; and international firms on cross-border criminal disputes.
- On a range of corporate maters, including formations, structuring, obtaining licenses and investments, for VIP/HNW individual/high-profile clients active in the UAE and wider region.
- On legal opinions, settlement agreements, and legal notices in relation to civil and commercial matters, real estate, enforcement and criminal matters including extradition, money laundering, embezzlement and breach of trust. International law firms on criminal matters for their clients.
- On the Enforcement of judgments valued at over AED 7 billion. Lilas has enforced foreign judgments, GCC Judgments, Arbitration Awards, UAE court judgments, and DIFC judgments.
- On complex corporate formations in relation to banks, funds, SPVs, and Foundation Trusts, in both mainland and free zones for international companies and individuals.
- On corporate transactions valued at over AED 100 million, including working on escrow agreements.
- On handling bankruptcy cases valued at over 1 billion.
- On a cross border dispute, valued at US$7 million, to arrest oil and gas vessels in RAK and Fujairah ports. The dispute was heard and executed before the Dubai, RAK, Fujairah and DIFC Courts, alongside the US Courts.
- On behalf of a high-profile Saudi individual on a real estate dispute in Dubai as well as the associated investment angle On behalf of Gulf Islamic Investments on a dispute arising from an investment.
- On behalf of several international individuals on general corporate set up, family office matters and transactions.
Awards & Rankings
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