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INTRODUCTION
Ludmila Yamalova is the Founder and Managing Partner of HPL Yamalova & Plewka DMCC (LYLAW). Ludmila founded the Firm in 2009 and has been managing it since. She was born and raised in Ukraine, and is fluent in English, Ukrainian, and Russian.
Ludmila holds a Juris Doctorate (JD) degree from the University of Texas (UT), Austin, U.S.A. She has been actively practicing law for over twenty (20) years, with fourteen (14) years of legal practice in Dubai and eight (8) years of legal experience in the U.S.A., mostly in the Silicon Valley, California.
Ludmila is a U.S. qualified attorney, licensed by the State Bar of California since 2002. In the U.A.E., Ludmila is a Dubai-based lawyer, licensed by the Dubai Legal Affairs Department (Ruler’s Court), the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts, and registered as an arbitrator at the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC).
Prior to moving to Dubai and establishing LYLAW, Ludmila was Associate General Counsel of Finisar Corporation, a NASDAQ-listed fiber optics company in Silicon Valley, California. During her time at Finisar Corp, Ludmila managed high-profile patent litigation and global corporate matters. Before then, Ludmila practiced with DLA Piper in the San Francisco Bay Area, specializing in intellectual property litigation and bankruptcy.
MEDIA AND LEGAL PODCAST
Most recently, Ludmila has become the first verified lawyer on TikTok in the region, and is widely referred to as ‘The TikTok Lawyer’. Her active and informative social media presence has led her to be considered an influential media personality and legal news outlet by U.A.E. entities and authorities, including the U.A.E.’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization (MOHRE), and the UAE’s Media Office.
Ludmila is also the host of the UAE and MENA region’s first legal podcast, Lawgical with Ludmila Yamalova, which is entirely produced in-house by the LYLAW team. Lawgical with Ludmila Yamalova is a free weekly legal resource, where Ludmila offers substantive and practical legal advice, updates, and commentary, covering a wide variety of legal topics.
In addition to her own social media presence, Ludmila has also been a prominent and regular legal commentator on Dubai Eye radio station, since 2009, often referred to as the ‘Legal Eagle’. She has appeared as a legal commentator on the Kris Fade Show on Virgin Radio, and on LovinDubai.
Furthermore, Ludmila is often quoted as a go-to legal expert and commentator, in mainstream national and international media outlets. At an international level, she has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, New York Times, Washington Post, Bloomberg, Associated Press, Reuters, BBC, CNN, ABC, EuroNews, and more. Regionally, Ludmila is often quoted by The National, Gulf News, Khaleej Times, LovinDubai, Zawya, Arabian Business, and more.
Ludmila is also often invited to host legal webinars and trainings for private, government, and semi-government entities, including the Dubai Multi Commodities Center (DMCC). She has also been a regular participant and speaker at the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation (MBRF) Knowledge Summit.
Ludmila often hosts legal webinars and training for various private, government and semi-government entities. She has been a regular participant at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation (MBRF). She also conducts legal webinars for Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC).
Experience
Founder and Managing Partner at HPL Yamalova & Plewka DMCC (LYLAW), Dubai, U.A.E.
Aug 2009 – Present
Dubai-based general practice law firm, advising individuals and corporations, on the legal aspects of living and doing business in the U.A.E., with a practical approach.
Host of Lawgical with Ludmila Yamalova Podcast
Mar 2018 – Present
U.A.E. and region’s first, and for a long time, only, legal podcast: LAWGICAL WITH Ludmila Yamalova . Regular weekly podcast, covering a wide range of legal issues and updates, related to the U.A.E. laws, business and lifestyle. Masterminded, produced and hosted entirely in-house at LYLAW, in collaboration with the entire team and legendary Tim Elliott.
Presenter at Dubai Multi Commodities Center (DMCC) Knowledge Series, Dubai, U.A.E.
2014 – Present
Regular presenter at the DMCC Knowledge Series, leading presentations about employment law, corporate matters, meaning and enforcement of contracts, real estate management, etc.
Legal Commentator at Dubai Eye Radio 103.8
2009 – Present
Ludmila is a regular legal commentator on Dubai Eye FM 103.8. She also provides regular commentary to the news show on topical issues of the day.
Managing Partner at Al Sayyah Advocates & Legal Consultants
Jan 2009 – Aug 2009
Dubai-based law firm, specializing in real estate dispute resolution and commercial litigation.
Partner at Davidson & Co. Legal Consultants
May 2008 – Feb 2009
Ludmila was one of the founding partners of the firm, specializing in real estate dispute resolution. Built and managed own client base.
Associate General Counsel at Finisar Corp.
March 2005 – July 2008
Managed Finisar Corp’s legal affairs, domestically and internationally. Headed multiple high profile patent litigation cases. Managed shareholder derivative law suits. SOX legal compliance officer.
Associate at DLA Piper US LLP
2002 – 2005
Specialized in intellectual property litigation. Worked on post-dot com bankruptcy cases.
Summer Associate at Howrey Simon Arnold & White
2001
Summer associate, specializing in intellectual property litigation and contract drafting.
Business Analyst at Business for Social Responsibility
1998 – 1999
Conducted due diligence and business analysis in connection with providing consulting services to international clients on improving their bottom line by exercising social responsibility. Clients included: Starbucks, Gap, Nike, etc.
Business Analyst at Strategic Decisions Group
1996 – 1999
Conducted due diligence and business analysis for international clients in connection with mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring and growth development strategies.
Education
The University of Texas School of Law
Doctor of Law (J.D.), Intellectual Property Law,
1999 – 2002
Activities and societies: International Law Society, Intellectual Property Law Society. Obtained advance graduate degree in law, Juris Doctor (JD)
Université Paris X Nanterre
Master’s degree, European Union Law,
2000 – 2001
Activities and societies: Studied European Union law; obtained a master’s degree in law
Reed College
Bachelor of Arts, Political Philosophy,
1993 – 1996
Activities and societies: Internal Student Society.
Studied Political Philosophy. Obtained a university degree in Bachelor of Arts.
Université Laval
Summer School, French Language and Literature,
1994 – 1995
Activities and societies: Studied French language, over the course of two summers.
Harvard University
Summer School, Junior Thesis, 1995
Researched and wrote junior thesis on post-Soviet era social developments.