Fractional Chief Compliance Officer & Corporate Advisory Services for businesses in Dubai and across the UAE.
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Blackthorne & Chase is a Dubai-based management consultancy focused on corporate compliance, governance systems, and regulatory risk management. Our approach is direct: prevent problems before regulators or audits find them.
We act as your external compliance leadership team — providing the senior expertise your business needs without the overhead of full-time executive hires. Whether you are scaling, entering a regulated industry, or tightening internal controls, we build systems that actually hold up under scrutiny.
We act as your external General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer — senior expertise across legal, compliance, and corporate strategy on a fixed-fee or retainer basis.
A senior compliance function without hiring a full-time executive. We design, implement, and manage your entire compliance framework on a monthly retainer — so you have executive-level compliance leadership at a fraction of the cost.
Build internal systems that support accountability, transparency, and regulatory alignment. Shareholder agreements, board governance, decision-making frameworks, and governance manuals structured for UAE law.
Anti-money laundering frameworks tailored for UAE regulatory expectations. goAML registration, Institutional Risk Assessments, KYC/CDD procedures, suspicious transaction reporting, and staff training.
Identify regulatory exposure before it becomes enforcement action. Enterprise risk assessments, compliance gap analysis, internal control design, and regulatory remediation plans for UAE mainland and free zone businesses.
Ensure your company structure aligns with UAE legal and operational requirements from day one. Jurisdiction selection, corporate structure advisory, commercial contracts, and compliance infrastructure for new and growing businesses.
End-to-end advisory for international companies entering the UAE. Mainland vs free zone vs DIFC/ADGM analysis, regulatory obligations, AML program setup, and governance frameworks from the point of incorporation.
Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025 replaced the entire UAE AML framework in October 2025. The Ministry of Economy actively fines non-compliant DNFBPs. If your business is a real estate broker, accountant, corporate service provider, or FinTech — an AML program is a legal requirement, not a recommendation.
A confidential 30-minute call to assess your current compliance position, regulatory obligations, and risk exposure. No charge, no obligation.
We identify weaknesses in your governance, AML program, and regulatory structure — mapped against your specific industry obligations under UAE law.
We design and build a compliance framework tailored to your business — fixed-fee, delivered on time, and structured to hold up under regulatory inspection.
Optional Fractional CCO retainer to maintain your compliance program continuously — monitoring regulatory changes, maintaining documentation, and managing reporting obligations.
You work directly with a senior advisor from day one. No junior consultants. No associates handling your file. Every engagement receives the founder's personal attention.
We build compliance programs designed for real business operations — not templates that look good on paper but fail under inspection or enforcement scrutiny.
Deep knowledge of the UAE's AML framework, DNFBP obligations, Ministry of Economy enforcement patterns, and free zone vs mainland compliance differences.
No hourly billing. No surprise invoices. Every engagement starts with a clear scope and a fixed price — you know exactly what you're paying before you commit.
15+ years spanning Canadian and UAE legal environments. Invaluable for international companies entering the UAE market who need someone who understands both sides.
We operate as a trusted ongoing advisor — not a transactional vendor. Clients retain us because we treat their regulatory risk as seriously as they do.
Month-to-month retainers with a 3-month minimum. All plans include a complimentary 30-minute onboarding consultation.
Baqa Rashdi is a licensed barrister and solicitor called to the Ontario, Canada Bar in 2010. Over 15 years he has practiced across criminal defence, real estate, corporate, and family law — working with businesses ranging from early-stage startups to high-profile individuals and established enterprises.
He founded Blackthorne & Chase to bring senior legal and compliance expertise to Dubai's growing business community through a model that delivers real, executive-level advisory at a fraction of the cost of traditional arrangements. His unique cross-border perspective — spanning Canadian and UAE legal and regulatory environments — gives clients a decisive advantage when navigating complex compliance and commercial landscapes.
Our team brings deep experience in corporate law, criminal and regulatory matters, cross-border transactions, and compliance program design. We understand both legal risk and business execution — allowing us to build systems that actually work in practice.
Called to the Law Society of Ontario, 2010. Active standing.
Corporate, real estate, criminal defence, and family law across Canada and the UAE.
Deep knowledge of UAE AML law, DNFBP obligations, and Ministry of Economy enforcement.
Proven experience advising businesses operating across Canadian and UAE legal environments.
Regulatory enforcement in the UAE is becoming more structured, more active, and less forgiving. If your business is growing, your compliance systems must grow with it. The Ministry of Economy does not accept "we were going to get to it."
Book a confidential 30-minute consultation. No obligation. We will assess your situation and tell you exactly where your risk exposure is.