Saif Almobideen > 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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Saif Almobideen
Work Department
Maritime, Insurance, Commercial Disputes
Position
Partner
Personal
Saif is a bilingual (Arabic and English) partner based in Dubai with deep knowledge of the UAE shipping industry, given his experience in representing major clients in both litigation and arbitration proceedings.
He primarily focuses on big-ticket shipping disputes in the region, including wet claims (collisions, casualties, fire, salvage, grounding, and oil pollution) and dry claims (charterparty disputes, cargo claims, crew claims, ship arrests, trade finance disputes, enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitration awards, and insurance coverage issues). Furthermore, Saif is regularly instructed by international P&I Clubs and their members to assist with the repatriation of abandoned crew members.
Saif has established himself as a leading maritime lawyer in the market by successfully setting up precedents before the local courts in complex civil law disputes. He recently managed to set up – for the first time in the history of civil courts in the region- a limitation fund for the owners of a Ro-Ro Cargo vessel before Aqaba Court – Jordan, following a major oil pollution incident. He also recently resolved one of the most landmark cases in the history of the UAE judicial system, whereby the Dubai local court applied the English law principles and awarded the client full recovery of legal fees, loss of profits, and consequential losses as a result of the insurers acts in delaying the settlement of a CTL claim.
In addition to his shipping practice, Saif’s expertise extends to civil and criminal disputes related to fraud, regulatory and cybersecurity issues.
Lawyer Rankings
United Arab Emirates > Shipping
(Next Generation Partners)Stephenson Harwood Middle East LLP continues to develop ‘its young and energetic team’ which has a ‘strong understanding of the local market and needs of businesses operating in the Middle East.’ The shipping practice is equally adept across contentious, non-contentious and transactional work, with a specialist strength in wet shipping matters that include major pollution incidents, fires, explosions and collisions. Rania Tadros
is ‘well versed with international shipping practice and law’, while Saif Almobideen, who was promoted to partner in May 2023, is a ‘go-to lawyer’ for shipping and commercial disputes in the region. ‘Savvy and skilled operator’ Mark Lakin primarily focuses on complex shipping and commodities disputes; Menelaus Kouzoupis joined the Dubai office from London in April 2023. Mohamed El Hawawy was a new arrival in March 2024.
United Arab Emirates > Dispute resolution: arbitration and international litigation
Stephenson Harwood Middle East LLP fields a sizeable team of experienced partners on the ground in Dubai that provide an ‘effective and efficient service’. Clients include international and domestic corporates, state-owned entities, and governmental institutions, and it is particularly strong in financial services, energy and tech disputes. Practice head Rania Tadros is well regarded for complex and high-value cases, especially for maritime and construction clients, and Mark Lakin specialises in sensitive cases with fraud and sanctions elements, with clients praising him for his ‘excellent knowledge of the market and considerable experience of shipping and commodities disputes’. Saif Almobideen lends expertise to a number of cross-border cases, and is another key maritime advisor. Managing associate Magda Kofluk provides additional support. Mohamed El Hawawy, Khurram Ali, Mehtab Kassam and Mahmoud El Sayed joined the firm in March 2024 from Ince & Co. John Lewis was a new arrival in March 2024 from Charles Russell Speechlys LLP; he heads the firm’s Middle East general commercial litigation and international arbitration practice. Nick Sharratt left the firm.
Lawyer Rankings
- Shipping United Arab Emirates
- Dispute resolution: arbitration and international litigation United Arab Emirates
- Next Generation Partners United Arab Emirates > Shipping