Cases & Deals

CBD succeeds in contempt proceedings against Al Sari family and related companies

Client(s) Commercial Bank of Dubai PSC

Jones Day represented the Commercial Bank of Dubai (the "Bank") in successful contempt proceedings brought against members of the Al Sari family, a wealthy Emirati family operating in the oil and energy industries, and related companies for breaches of a worldwide freezing order ("WFO"). Following Mr Justice Butcher's findings of "contumelious default" and "contemptuous non-compliance" in relation to orders of the Commercial Court, on 20 November 2023, orders for committal were obtained by the Bank, resulting in sentences of imprisonment of 24 months for Abdalla Juma Majid Al Sari and Majid Abdalla Juma Al Sari, and 21 months for Mohamed Abdalla Juma Al Sari, as well as orders for the confiscation of assets for various related companies.

The WFO was obtained by the Bank in February 2022, and continued in March 2022, as part of its wider global enforcement efforts against the Al Saris in relation to a substantial judgment debt (c. $120 million) owed to it.

Commercial Bank of Dubai PSC & Ors -v- Abdalla Juma Majid Al Sari, Majid Abdalla Juma Al Sari, Mohamed Abdalla Juma Al Sari & Ors [2023] EWHC 2624 (Comm); [2023] EWHC 3271 (Comm)