The Legal 500

Few firms can match Al Tamimi & Company’s local court knowledge, which it complements with international dispute resolution expertise; it strengthened that capability further by recruiting Paul Turner from Clyde & Co LLP to head the arbitration practice regionally. Highlights for Hassan Arab’s litigation team included representing Tamweel in the Dubai courts in a dispute relating to an ijara agreement, which was the first time the emirate’s secular courts had issued such a judgement. On the arbitration front, the team acted in one of the highest-value arbitrations in the region over claims following termination of a major construction contract.

Clifford Chance has a powerhouse arbitration practice under Graham Lovett and James Abbott, whose experience at the Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC) is highly prized by international clients. The practice’s expertise extends to all arbitral bodies, both locally and internationally.

Clyde & Co LLP’s sizeable dispute resolution team gives it the capacity to cover numerous cases across a broad range of matters and industry sectors, as well as coverage that spans the greater GCC region. Although its core strength lies in insurance, it has also seen an increase in financial services regulatory matters, and acted for RSM Tenon and Al Mal Bank in the first case to be brought before the new Qatar Financial Centre Court. In 2011, Christopher Mills was appointed head of the practice following Brian Nash’s relocation to London, and the group also recruited Rebecca Kelly from DLA Piper Middle East LLP, who provides contentious regulatory and compliance expertise.

Hadef & Partners has general commercial litigation capability, with niche strengths in shipping, offshore and aviation disputes, and a growing number of DIAC arbitrations. Highlights for Richard Briggs and his team included acting alongside Gates and Partners to represent the London underwriters of Aerogulf Services Co LLC in insurance claims pursuant to an accident involving an Aerogulf Bell 212 helicopter. Newly promoted partner Adrian Chadwick represented Souq Residences FZCO in a property dispute with Nakheel PJSC in the Dubai World Tribunal, which involved an AED100m claim by Nakheel and an AED920m counterclaim by Souq Residences.

Afridi & Angell’s well-respected contentious practice is particularly active in construction matters; in 2011, it acted for Al Dua’a Holdings, a major Pakistan-based developer, and Dheeraj & East Coast LLC, an Indian developer, in several multimillion-dirham disputes. Name partner Haider Afridi is highly respected.

Jim Delkousis’ contentious practice at DLA Piper Middle East LLP had another busy year, advising clients before the DIFC and QFC courts in commercial disputes and contentious regulatory matters and governmental affairs. It recruited shipping litigation specialist Stephen Ballantine and senior legal consultant Wissam Dagher, who has Arabic law expertise.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has a highly respected contentious practice in the UAE, which it sought to strengthen with a significant increase in the number of associates. Highlights included representing Credit Suisse in a GCC Arbitration Centre arbitration brought by Saffar International Limited regarding an aborted attempt to open up a branch of Credit Suisse in Kuwait; and representing Limitless PJSC in a DIAC arbitration concerning construction issues in downtown Jebel Ali, Dubai. Reza Mohtashami, Jan Paulsson and Joseph Huse are recommended.

Habib Al Mulla & Company’s founding partner Habib Al Mulla has an eminent reputation in the region for his contentious expertise, and accordingly attracts a heavyweight list of clients that includes the Consulate General of Japan, Select Group and numerous high-net-worth individuals.

Patrick Bourke’s prolific contentious practice at Norton Rose (Middle East) LLP continues to advise regional and international corporates and financial institutions in arbitrations and in claims before the Dubai World Tribunal.

Allen & Overy LLP’s disputes practice has broad geographic spread and varied industry expertise, and represents its international clients in arbitration and investment treaty matters. Regional managing partner Simon Roderick is recommended and has over 20 years’ experience in the Middle East. He is ably supported by Chris Mainwaring-Taylor, an expert in commercial and construction arbitration.

Fulbright & Jaworski LLP’s dispute resolution practice has an excellent reputation in the market, particularly in the energy sector where Jonathan Sutcliffe is considered to be ‘one of the best international arbitration energy lawyers in the market’. He, Philip Punwar and Hassan Elsayed provide valuable strategic advice to international clients in arbitration.

Litigation underpins Galadari & Associates’ reputation in the region, with the firm having built up ‘a large team of highly experienced litigators’ that is active in the local courts and is growing its presence in the DIFC. The practice successfully defended its client in Dubai’s largest fraud case. Ziad Galadari is highly respected.

Herbert Smith LLP showcased its dual international and UAE law capability when it acted in a major arbitration against a Korean company under UAE law. The group is also on the dispute panels of Etihad Airways and Arabtec. Restructuring expert Michael Barker and UAE law consultant Diana Hamade provide a strong foundation for commercial litigation work, and practice head Craig Shepherd is also recommended.

Apart from its strengths in contentious shipping and construction matters, where it is roundly well regarded for its ‘key insights and pragmatic instincts’, Holman Fenwick Willan LLP also has broader litigation capability and notably provides advice ‘with a view to the commercial issues of the dispute at hand’. It has been particularly active in Dubai World Tribunal cases and more regional disputes. Edward Newitt heads the team.

Pinsent Masons’ ‘thoroughly professional’ team is particularly well respected for its construction expertise, for which it is considered ‘among the best in the region’. Group head Michelle Nelson ‘gives her all for her clients’ and has extensive regional expertise, having co-written the rules governing DIAC arbitrations.

SNR Denton’s contentious practice ‘takes the time to know the client’s objectives, and manages the execution of cases in accordance with those objectives’. Michael Kerr and practice head Paul Stothard, who is ‘an excellent manager and tactician’, are particularly experienced in construction disputes and handle arbitration matters for clients such as Standard Chartered and Al Fajer Properties.

Simmons & Simmons Middle East LLP’s ‘excellent, insightful and reactive’ team typically provides clients with ‘absolute satisfaction’. Highlights included acting for Damac in successfully defending claims in a case before the DIFC, and acting for Griffins Insolvency Practitioners in a test case in the local courts to trace alleged proceeds of crime into the UAE. Practice head Adrian Cole is excellent.

Trowers & Hamlins’ contentious practice is oriented strongly towards the firm’s expertise in real estate and construction. It also handles financial services disputes, and recently acted for a private equity house in a prospective LCIA arbitration against three GCC companies. Andrew Greaves is recommended.

Al-Suwaidi & Company has a strong following in the oil and gas and defence sectors, and now has construction disputes expertise following Nigel Truscott’s arrival from SNR Denton. Name partner Mohammed Al Suwaidi enjoys a good reputation.

Bin Shabib & Associates (BSA) LLP’s practice spans the defence, real estate and construction sectors, and the firm represents clients such as Halliburton and Samsung Engineering and Construction. Founding partner Rashid Bin Shabib is well respected.

Hilal & Associates handles local law cases in the Dubai courts. Founding partner Abdullah Rashid Hilal is also an arbitration expert.

Khasawneh & Associates (in association with Eversheds KSLG)’s Abu Dhabi-based practice provides real estate and general commercial litigation advice to regional and international clients including Aldar and Abu Dhabi Airport Company, having joined both companies’ litigation panels in 2010. Its merger with a consortium of Middle Eastern firms, including Dubai-based Khasawneh & Associates, strengthens its regional resources. Nasser Ali Khasawneh, Nayiri Bhogossian and John Kemkers co-head the practice.

At boutique commercial firm KBH Kaanuun, Kaashif Basit’s contentious team handles DIFC court work for local and regional players, and recently successfully represented its client in Dubai World Tribunal proceedings seeking ratification of an arbitral award against Nakheel.

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton’s Thomas Wilson advises on a number of commercial and construction arbitration matters.

Reed Smith has a ‘competent and thorough’ disputes team with a strong focus on construction cases. Highlights included acting for Dasman Properties in ICC arbitration relating to the termination of a development lease. Jay McKenna recently relocated to the Middle East from the firm’s Pittsburgh office. Construction disputes expert Paul Taylor joined in January 2012.

SJ Berwin LLP’s team combines ‘outstanding business acumen with clever and highly effective strategies tailored for the particular matter’. Global head of arbitration Tim Taylor QC also heads the team regionally, having relocated to Dubai in 2009; he is ‘an excellent practitioner at the top of his field’. Along with ‘excellent case manager’ Mark Hoyle, who joined from Al Tamimi & Company in February 2011, Taylor has been advising clients such as Meydan Group and Nakheel PJSC in major regional cases. The team represented the latter in its proceedings before the Dubai World Tribunal, and the former in dispute with Arabtec.