Legal Consultation in Kuwait: Advice from Kuwaiti-Licensed Lawyers

What a legal consultation in Kuwait covers

A consultation is a structured discussion of your facts and documents against the Kuwaiti law that applies to them. It is not a general introduction to the firm. You describe the matter, the lawyer asks what is needed to assess it, and you leave with a clear view of your legal position, the steps available and the authority each step goes through.

Where a matter needs more than a single discussion, the lawyer will say so and explain what a formal engagement would involve. No lawyer-client relationship is formed until a signed engagement letter is in place.

• Reviewing your position under the relevant Kuwaiti statutes and regulations
• Identifying the competent authority and the procedure it follows
• Reviewing contracts, corporate documents and regulatory correspondence you bring
• Explaining the options, the risks and the sequence of steps

The subjects we advise on

Our practice is focused. We advise private clients and companies on the following subjects, and we say plainly when a question falls outside them.

• Private client and wealth: structuring of personal and family assets, succession and estate planning
• Corporate and commercial: company formation, governance, commercial contracts and standing counsel
• Capital markets: listing on Boursa Kuwait and the obligations that follow under the Capital Markets Authority framework
• Investment funds: formation, licensing coordination and ongoing compliance
• Foreign investment and market entry: ownership structures and approvals, including the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA)
• Investor residency: eligibility and application coordination with the competent authorities

Which Kuwaiti authorities are involved

Most questions put to us end at a government or regulatory body, and part of the value of a consultation is knowing which one. Company registration and commercial licensing sit with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Securities, listed companies and licensed investment activity fall under the Capital Markets Authority, established by Law No. 7 of 2010, with Boursa Kuwait as the exchange. Direct foreign investment licences are handled by KDIPA under Law No. 116 of 2013. Work permits are issued by the Public Authority for Manpower, and residency matters are handled by the Ministry of Interior.

We tell you which of these applies to your matter, what the authority is likely to ask for, and what it decides. Decisions and timelines rest with the authority, not with the firm.

How to prepare

A consultation is more useful when the lawyer can see the documents. Before the call, gather what you have and write down your questions in order of importance.

• Your questions, in order of priority
• Existing contracts, articles of association, licences or letters from an authority
• The names of the parties and the jurisdictions involved
• Any deadline you are working to

How to book a legal consultation

Consultations are held by Zoom, in Arabic or English, and can be booked directly from the booking page. You may also write to us through the contact page and we will reply to arrange a time. The firm's office is in Bneid Al-Gar, Kuwait City.

A consultation gives you legal information and an assessment of your position. It is not investment advice, and it is not a guarantee of any outcome.