Abu Dhabi Global Market appoints registrar of courts

Linda Fitz-Alan will report to courts' chief justice David Hope.

Linda Fitz-Alan is welcomed by David Hope, the chief justice. Courtesy ADGM

Abu Dhabi Global Market, the UAE’s newest financial free zone, has hired a top international lawyer as registrar of its independent court system.

Linda Fitz-Alan, who has held senior legal positions in her native Australia and in New York, has been appointed to “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”, ADGM said.

The announcement of the appointment comes just a week after the ADGM chairman Ahmed Al Sayegh named David Hope of Craighead as chief justice of the ADGM legal system.

Lord Hope said: “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 in terms of establishing one of ADGM’s three core pillars – a globally-recognised independent civil and commercial court.” Ms Fitz-Alan, who has four years’ experience as the chief executive and registrar of the supreme court of New South Wales, Australia, organising a team of 50 judges and 200 staff, said: “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.”

Her appointment is the fourth senior job to be filled in the past week, as ADGM gears up to consider the first application from a financial firm to be licensed at the site on Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi.

Follow The National's Business section on Twitter