Paul Katsouris > Stephenson Harwood Middle East LLP > Dubai, United Arab Emirates > Lawyer Profile
Stephenson Harwood Middle East LLP Offices
LEVEL 13
BURJ DAMAN BUILDING
DIFC, P.O. BOX 482017
United Arab Emirates
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Paul Katsouris
Work Department
Maritime, Dispute Resolution, International Arbitration, Ship Sale and Purchase
Position
Managing Associate
Personal
Paul is a dual qualified managing associate (England & Wales and Greece) in the maritime, trade and offshore team based in Dubai. He advises on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious matters for clients such as ship owners, P&I Clubs, charterers, banks, traders, bunker suppliers, family offices, private investors and energy companies.
Paul is known for his commercial outlook and has a reputation for managing complex transactions in an entrepreneurial, methodical, and effective manner. He is regularly instructed on vessel and yacht sale and purchase transactions, fleet expansion projects and other commercial contracts.
On the contentious side, he is known for his pragmatic approach to handling and settling legal disputes, which usually focused around the maritime and trade industries, including cargo, sale and purchase, and bunker disputes. Having spent several years in the Middle East, he has developed a comprehensive knowledge of the UAE laws and systems, allowing him a better understanding of both the Common law jurisdictions of the DIFC and ADGM, as well as the Civil law system of the local UAE courts. Throughout his career he has been involved in matters before the English High Court, the UAE local and DIFC Courts, as well as complex international arbitrations under the LMAA and LCIA Rules.
Paul has received a number of notable accolades throughout his career, including ‘DIFC Young Lawyer of the Year’ at the DIFC Legal Gala and ‘Young Person of the Year’ at the Seatrade Maritime Awards. Most recently, he was recognised in Seatrade’s annual ’20 under 40: Leaders of Tomorrow’ list, and has been involved in several deals that have won regional awards as ‘Deal of the Year’.
Paul is also an active member of the UAE’s technology and start-up communities.
Lawyer Rankings
United Arab Emirates > Shipping
(Leading associates)Stephenson Harwood Middle East LLP works widely across maritime disputes, corporate advisory, and maritime asset finance, with particular expertise handling complex, high-value cases in the Middle East and internationally. The firm has a speciality in contentious matters including conventional litigation and international arbitration concerning both dry and wet shipping issues. Rania Tadros
leads the global maritime and offshore practice, while Mohamed El Hawawy heads the shipping and insurance practice for the Middle East, bringing extensive litigation experience in marine insurance and transportation disputes. Other key figures include Khurram Ali, noted for his experience in the KSA, and Mark Lakin, who is described as ‘knowledgeable and approachable’. Saif Almobideen continues to act on some the most high-profile civil law litigation, crisis management and marine insurance matters to occur in the region and Menelaus Kouzoupis also acts on many leading super-yachts and sanctions related matters. Chinar Zaidi and Paul Katsouris also come recommended.