Abu Dhabi, UAE 12 October 2015: Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the international financial centre in Abu Dhabi, today announced that Linda Fitz-Alan has been appointed as Registrar of ADGM Courts.  Linda, who reports directly to ADMG Courts Chief Justice Lord David Hope, will lead the development and implementation of the Courts organisation and operational structure as well as facilitate and manage courtroom processes. She will also play an important role in supporting the completion of ADGM Courts regulations and rules.

Linda has more than 30 years legal experience. For more than 4 years, Linda was the CEO and Principal Registrar of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Australia, which comprises 50 Judges and approximately 200 ministerial and registry staff. At the Supreme Court, she was responsible for the implementation of the Courts electronic filing capability, the design, refurbishment and consolidation of the Courts civil and criminal Registries as well as the development of its human resources and training of ministerial and Registry staff.

Commenting on the appointment, Lord David Hope, Chief Justice of ADGM Courts, said, I am delighted to welcome Linda to the team. Linda has extensive knowledge and experience in the management and operation of courts in an internationally recognised common law jurisdiction.  Her appointment is a significant step both in terms of establishing one of ADGMs three core pillars, a globally-recognised independent civil and commercial Court.

Linda Fitz-Alan, the newly-appointed Registrar of ADGM Courts, commented It is a great honour and privilege to be appointed Registrar of ADGM Courts and I am delighted to be joining the ADGM team. I look forward to being involved in the establishment of a globally-recognised Court, designed to resonate with the needs of a leading international financial centre.

Linda has also held a number of senior legal positions including being a Partner at Colin Biggers & Paisley in Sydney, Australia, a Partner at TressCox in Sydney, Australia, and a Senior Litigation Claim Counsel at CNA Insurance in New York City, USA.  Linda graduated from the University of Sydney, Australia, with a Bachelor of Laws in 1984. She was admitted as Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, in 1985.

ADGM Courts of the First Instance and of Appeal will have jurisdiction over all civil and commercial disputes within Al Maryah Island, the jurisdiction of Abu Dhabi Global Market.    

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About Abu Dhabi Global Market
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), an international financial centre in the capital city of the United Arab Emirates, was established by Federal Decree in 2013.  

A natural next step in Abu Dhabis role as a dependable and responsible participant in the global financial community and in line with the Abu Dhabis Economic Vision, ADGM, a financial free zone, will play a pivotal role in positioning the city as a global centre for business and finance, connecting the economies of the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.

ADGMs three independent authorities, the Registration Authority, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority and ADGM Courts, which will be fully operational in Q4 2015, will enable registered companies to transact business within a zero-tax environment and operate within an international regulatory framework with its own independent judicial system and legislative infrastructure based on English Common Law.

Established as a broad based financial centre, ADGMs foundation stage centres around three anchor sectors - private banking, wealth management and asset management, but will retain the flexibility to expand its activities over time according to market demand.

Abu Dhabi Global Market is located on Al Maryah Island, a 114 hectare mixed-use residential, retail, leisure, hotel and commercial development.

www.adgm.com

For more information please contact:
Abu Dhabi Global Market
Mirna Hijazi
Marketing & Communications
Tel +971 2 3338 888
Mirna.hijazi@adgm.com

Press Release 2015