We recently had the opportunity to interview Alexander Kopenkin, Founder of InTrouble, a company offering effective legal services in the UAE. A serial entrepreneur, advisor, and investor, Alexander was inspired to build InTrouble to meet the urgent need for legal services. Delivering fast and effective services for a wide range of cases, from criminal cases to financial disputes, the team behind InTrouble acts swiftly to achieve the best possible outcome for their clients. With the expertise of top legal professionals, InTrouble by Alexander Kopenkin focuses on clear and results-driven solutions.
Spark Behind the Journey
We started the session by asking, “What inspired you to start or lead this business, and how has the journey surprised you?”
Alexander shared, “InTrouble was born out of a very real gap I observed in the UAE — a region where many expats and entrepreneurs find themselves caught in complex legal or administrative trouble, often without immediate support or understanding of the local system. What inspired me was the urgent need for a service that is fast, discreet, and deeply knowledgeable, something between a legal strategist and an emergency response unit.
What surprised me was how frequently even successful, well-structured individuals or companies fall into these traps, from travel bans to bounced checks, fraud allegations, or residency issues. The volume and diversity of the cases made it clear: the need was larger and more global than expected.”
Advice for Younger Self
Reflecting on his experience in the field so far, we asked Alexander Kopenkin what advice he would give himself if he could go back to his first year in this role.
He mentioned, “Focus more on assembling the right local alliances from day one. Having access to the right experts — not just lawyers, but people who understand the inner workings of government, police, and financial regulators makes all the difference.
Also, don’t underestimate how much time is lost on language barriers and repetitive intake work. That’s one of the reasons we’re now rolling out an AI system, to help us process incoming client requests faster, in different languages, and classify each case properly from the start. It’s a time-saver, but more importantly, it improves how quickly we can respond to urgent issues.”
A Precise Approach for Navigating Uncertainty
Success often comes as a result of dealing with challenges efficiently. We asked, “How do you approach solving problems that don’t have clear solutions?”
Alexander explained, “With precision and speed. In our business, you can’t afford theoretical debates. We start with facts: legal status, documents, timelines. Then we map possible pressure points, which institutions are involved, where decisions are delayed, and who holds real authority. Each case becomes a mission; we coordinate lawyers, investigators, interpreters, and authorities to break the deadlock.”
A Career-defining Experience
Intrigued to learn more about Alexander’s approach to running his business, we asked, “Can you share a unique experience that shaped the way you run your business?”
He responded, “One early case involved a man detained at the airport with a travel ban he didn’t know existed. His business and family were at stake. Within 24 hours, we verified the ban, filed the necessary motion, got an urgent court session scheduled, and coordinated legal representation, all while keeping his employer and relatives informed discreetly. That case taught us that ‘response time’ is not a metric; it’s a survival factor for clients. Since then, we’ve built InTrouble as a 24/7 command center, not just a consulting service.”
From an Unconventional Idea to Success: Panic Button by InTrouble
We further asked, “What’s the most unconventional idea you’ve implemented, and how did it turn out?”
“One of the most unconventional ideas was — panic button, an emergency feature that instantly connects clients to us with pre-filled case data. It’s designed for people who might be getting detained, searched, or entering legal jeopardy on the spot. Many considered it excessive or dramatic. But it proved invaluable, especially for high-risk clients who need real-time intervention before a situation escalates. Today, it’s one of our most praised tools,” Alexander added.
Navigating through a Dynamic Market
In the dynamic UAE market, keeping a close eye on the emerging trends is a significant move for success. To Learn how Alexander Kopenkin stays ahead of the competition, we asked, “How do you identify and seize the latest opportunities in your industry?”
He replied, “We stay ahead by monitoring changes in UAE laws, visa regulations, residency schemes, and enforcement practices. We also track behavioral shifts — for example, the rise of crypto-related fraud or misuse of social media evidence in court cases. Our clients are often the first to be affected by these trends. So, by staying close to the ground and actively collaborating with local legal advisors, we can anticipate the next wave of risks, and be ready with solutions before others even react.”
Quick Decisions for Success
We requested Alexander to describe his leadership style in a single word, and the reason behind opting for the same.
“Decisive. In high-pressure environments, especially involving law enforcement or reputational risk, indecision is fatal. I believe in making clear calls, taking responsibility for them, and moving forward fast, even when all variables aren’t yet known. Clients don’t come to us for theory; they come for action,” Alexander reflects.
Turning Challenges into Opportunities
Obstacles can often pave major breakthroughs for a business. To learn about such experiences at InTrouble, we inquired Alexander Kopenkin, “Can you share a challenge you faced that led to a surprising breakthrough?”
He mentioned, “We once handled a case involving cryptocurrency fraud where a foreign national had assets frozen, and authorities initially refused to recognize his overseas ownership documents. It took coordinated action involving embassies, forensic audits, and legal translations across three jurisdictions. The breakthrough was realizing that informal diplomatic channels and private-sector cyber investigators could succeed where traditional legal filings failed. This reshaped how we approach cross-border financial crimes.”
A Transparent Industry: Driving Transformation with InTrouble
Lastly, we posed the question to Alexander Kopenkin, “If you could change one thing about the industry you work in, what would it be?”
“I would change the opacity. Too many legal processes in the region are not transparent enough — clients don’t know where their case stands, what actions have been taken, or what risks they face next. That’s why we push for structured case handling, regular updates, and multilingual reporting. And that’s another reason behind our AI initiative — to make intake and case coordination faster, more accurate, and accessible to everyone, regardless of language or background,” he concluded.
Follow Alexander Kopenkin on LinkedIn.
Find InTrouble on LinkedIn and visit their website https://introuble.ae/
Also Read :-
A Trusted Name in Finance and Investment Consulting: Sasa Pejic as the CEO of Pannon GroupNS
Empowering Beauty Professionals with Innovative Solutions by Laria Beauty: Alana Wambeek
About Author
