Dubai, United Arab Emirates; 7 March 2017: Adding further diversity and international experience to its judicial bench, the Dubai International Financial Centre (“DIFC”) Courts today announced the appointment of a leading Singaporean judge of appeal, Justice Judith Prakash, to the Courts’ judiciary.
Justice Prakash will serve on a part-time basis to hear appeals cases, while continuing her role as a Judge of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Singapore. She brings over two decades of experience as a judge, and in 2016, was the first woman to be appointed as Judge of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Singapore. Prior to that, she served as Judicial Commissioner of the Supreme Court from April 1992, and was appointed a High Court Judge in 1995. Justice Prakash is held in high esteem within the international legal community and specialises in complex commercial cases, arbitration, company, and trust law. She also chairs the Singapore Academy of Law’s Law Reform Committee and Publications Committee, and is the Co-Chair of the Medical Litigation Review Committee, tasked to address the challenges in medical litigation.
Commenting on the appointment, Michael Hwang, Chief Justice of the DIFC Courts said: “The DIFC Courts strong reputation has been earned through our ability to deal with highly complex commercial disputes, and we are confident that Justice Prakash will give international and local corporations even more assurance when they choose to use our jurisdiction. We also take great pride in our achievements in terms of gender equality. Women are strongly represented in the running of the Courts, and we are delighted to add further top female talent to our judicial bench with the appointment of Justice Judith Prakash. However, I would add that Justice Prakash’s appointment is purely on merit regardless of gender. I have known her for many years as a colleague and consider her as one of the top legal brains in Singapore. We are privileged to have her join our Bench.”
Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon of the Supreme Court of Singapore said: “I am delighted that the Ruler of Dubai, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has appointed Justice Judith Prakash as a Judge of the DIFC Courts. With her vast experience in complex commercial and arbitration cases, I am confident that Justice Prakash will contribute positively to the work of the DIFC Courts. This appointment is not just a recognition of Justice Prakash’s ability but a recognition of the calibre and strength of the Singapore Bench in the commercial dispute resolution arena.”
Justice Prakash is the second female judge to be appointed to Dubai’s English-language common law jurisdiction, following Malaysia’s Tan Seri Dato Siti Norma Yaakob who served from 2008 to 2013. Her appointment underscores the DIFC Courts’ track record of employing women in senior positions, further increasing the participation of women in the top echelons of the UAE’s legal sector.
