Mr David Holloway > Al Tamimi & Company > Dubai, United Arab Emirates > Lawyer Profile

David studied law at Cambridge University in the UK and had been in practice at the English Bar for over 20 years. He joined Al Tamimi in 2022 from a leading set of chambers in London. He has lived and worked in the UAE since 2019 and has been listed as one of the leading English barristers practising in the region in the Legal 500 in 2021 and 2022.

David is a specialist in international trade law and international commercial dispute resolution. He has developed particular experience of the oil and gas industry, joint ventures, banking and finance, insurance and reinsurance disputes (particularly in the marine and energy sectors), commodities disputes, and disputes involving carriage of goods, and banking and financial disputes. He has been instructed in several cases involving State parties and in various matters involving public international law including claims arising under bilateral investment treaties and disputes involving issues of State Immunity before national courts.

David has an extensive DIFC litigation practice and has been counsel in some of the significant recent cases in the DIFC Court involving issues of jurisdiction, State immunity, insolvency, remedies and principles of DIFC law.

David has been appearing as counsel in  international arbitrations for over 20 years and has represented clients in numerous arbitrations conducted under various international institutional rules and in ad hoc arbitrations including ICC, LCIA, UNCITRAL, LMAA, GAFTA and LME. He is also experienced in court proceedings ancillary to arbitration, including applications for interim relief and contested enforcement proceedings.

In addition to counsel work David sits as an arbitrator and is appointed to the panel of arbitrators for DIAC (Dubai), CIETAC (Beijing), HKIAC (Hong Kong list), BAC/BIAC (Beijing), SCIA (Shenzhen), C.A.A (Taipei) and THAC (Bangkok). He has also served as a Tribunal Member of the Hong Kong Board of Review (the Hong Kong tax appeals Tribunal). He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb).

David is also an accredited mediator (CEDR and IMI accredited), and has significant ADR experience. He has played a leading role in developing the firm’s mediation practice and been involved in many initiatives involving promotion of mediation and ADR in the region,”

David has spent several years of his life working in China (mainland and Hong Kong) and is a key member of the firm’s China practice group.  He is also a member of a number of firm- wide committees, including the working group on the practice of English law, the risk and compliance committee (which encompasses sanctions issues) and the diversity equality and inclusion committee.