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A Litigation Hold Notice tells people and organizations to keep specific documents, emails, and other records safe when there's a chance of legal action in the UAE. It's a formal alert that stops the normal deletion or updating of files that might be needed as evidence later.

Under UAE Federal Law No. 10 of 2017, businesses must preserve all relevant materials once they receive this notice. Breaking this rule can lead to serious penalties and harm your position in court. The hold typically stays active until the legal matter ends or the court lifts the requirement to keep these records.

Issue a Litigation Hold Notice immediately when your UAE organization faces potential legal action or receives a legal complaint. Common triggers include employee disputes, contract disagreements, regulatory investigations, or accidents that might lead to claims. The faster you act, the better you protect critical evidence.

Send the notice when government authorities request information, during internal investigations of misconduct, or after major safety incidents. UAE courts expect businesses to preserve all relevant records once litigation becomes likely. Early action helps avoid penalties under Federal Law No. 10 and strengthens your position if the matter goes to court.

• Basic Preservation Notice: Standard version sent to all employees, detailing what materials to save and how long to keep them under UAE law
• Targeted Department Hold: Specialized notice for specific teams or units handling sensitive data or critical business operations
• IT Systems Hold: Technical instructions for preserving electronic records, databases, and digital communications across UAE-based servers
• Third-Party Notice: Extended hold requirements for external vendors, contractors, or partners with access to relevant materials
• Regulatory Investigation Hold: Enhanced preservation requirements aligned with UAE regulatory authority specifications

• Legal Department: Drafts and issues Litigation Hold Notices, coordinates with IT teams, and monitors compliance
• Company Executives: Approve notice distribution and ensure organization-wide compliance with preservation requirements
• IT Teams: Implement technical measures to preserve electronic records and prevent automatic deletions
• Department Managers: Distribute notices to their teams and ensure staff understand and follow preservation instructions
• Employees: Must follow the notice requirements by preserving specified documents and data in their possession
• External Partners: Third parties who handle company data must comply when notices extend to their operations

• Scope Assessment: Identify all potentially relevant documents, data types, and systems that need preservation
• Key Players: List departments, employees, and third parties who possess or control relevant materials
• Timeline Details: Document when the legal issue arose and set clear preservation start dates
• Storage Locations: Map out where records exist (physical files, email servers, cloud storage, mobile devices)
• Legal Requirements: Review UAE Federal Law requirements for document preservation in your industry
• Distribution Plan: Create recipient list and determine how notice will reach all necessary parties
• Compliance Tracking: Set up system to monitor and document preservation compliance

• Notice Header: Clear identification as Litigation Hold Notice, date, and matter reference
• Legal Basis: Citation of UAE Federal Law No. 10 and specific legal obligations
• Scope Definition: Detailed description of materials to preserve, including digital and physical records
• Preservation Period: Clear timeline for how long materials must be kept
• Recipient Instructions: Specific steps for preserving different types of records
• Compliance Requirements: Actions prohibited during the hold period
• Contact Information: Details for questions or clarification needs
• Acknowledgment Section: Space for recipient signature confirming understanding

A Litigation Hold Notice differs significantly from a Notice to Remedy Breach in both purpose and timing. While both documents deal with potential legal issues, they serve distinct functions in UAE business operations.

• Primary Purpose: A Litigation Hold Notice preserves evidence for potential legal proceedings, while a Notice to Remedy Breach demands correction of specific contract violations
• Timing of Issue: Hold notices come before or during legal proceedings; remedy notices typically precede any litigation
• Scope of Effect: Hold notices affect multiple departments and document types; remedy notices target specific contractual issues
• Duration: Hold notices remain active until litigation ends; remedy notices usually specify short correction periods
• Legal Consequences: Hold notice violations can damage court cases; remedy notice non-compliance typically leads to contract termination