Kamal Shah > Stephenson Harwood > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Stephenson Harwood
1 FINSBURY CIRCUS
LONDON
EC2M 7SH
England

Work Department

Commercial litigation.

Position

Kamal is the head of Stephenson Harwood’s Africa and India groups. He specialises in complex, cross-border international arbitration, litigation and fraud and asset recovery. Kamal is highly regarded by his peers and clients in his abilities in multi-jurisdictional disputes.

Kamal acts for governments, government entities, banks, private corporations and high net worth individuals in a range of matters including those relating to projects and infrastructure, joint ventures, banking and finance, shareholder arrangements, energy and a range of schemes commonly used to defraud individuals and corporations.

Kamal is highly ranked in the legal directories including The Legal 500 UK, Chambers (UK, global and Asia Pacific) and IFLR1000. “Kamal Shah is highly experienced in Africa and India-related arbitrations” (Chambers UK 2020, international arbitration) and “he understands the continent” (Chambers Global 2019, Dispute resolution Africa-wide). He was named as a leading international arbitration practitioner in “Who’s Who Legal: Future Leaders 2017 – 2020” and has been recognised in Africa’s 30 Arbitration Powerlist 2020 and The Legal 500’s Powerlists for arbitration and Africa for 2019. In addition to being a LCIA Court Member, Kamal is currently the president of the LCIA African Users Council. He has also been listed in India Business Law Journal’s top 100 international lawyers for India-related matters. The Legal 500 UK 2021 notes that “Kamal Shah stands out as the most outstanding personality at Stephenson Harwood. His demeanour and responses are always insightful and full of solution thinking and that makes him a leader.”

Kamal co-published the text of the ‘African Promise’, which seeks to tackle the under-representation of Africans on international arbitration tribunals. He is also the co-author of the leading text “Arbitration in Africa: A Review of Key Jurisdictions”.

Lawyer Rankings

London > Dispute resolution > International arbitration

(Leading individuals)

Kamal Shah – Stephenson Harwood

Well versed in international arbitration‘, Stephenson Harwood has a strong market reputation for its disputes expertise concerning Africa, the Middle East and India. The team is also increasingly active in Southeast and North Asia-related mandates. Global international arbitration head Rovine Chandrasekera works across the firm’s London and Dubai offices; Kamal Shahdeservedly has a strong reputation‘; and recently-promoted partner Jide Adesokan has significant experience in Africa-related claims. At managing associate level, Charlotte Welsh and Charlotte Murphy are active team members.

London > Dispute resolution > Public international law

Stephenson Harwood‘s London office routinely represents governments and state-owned companies in their most important PIL matters. The team also comprises financial sanctions expertise, and stands out for its experience in Africa-related issues. PIL leader and head of the Africa and India groups, Kamal Shah, has ‘a strong skill set‘; Sue Millar leads the sanctions group; Rovine Chandrasekera acts in investor-state arbitrations; Ben Sigler is ‘an excellent lawyer‘; and Richard Garcia‘s broad practice includes jurisdictional challenges and freezing orders. Of counsel Stephen Ashley is an expert in EU and UK sanctions.

India > Foreign firms

Stephenson Harwood routinely advises India-based corporations, banks, high-net-worth individuals, and families on the full range of matters. The team, based primarily in London and Dubai, particularly stands out for its significant experience advising clients in India-related disputes, handling both international arbitrations and general commercial litigation. Kamal Shah, based in London, heads the practice and is a key name for contentious mandates. Diwakar Agarwal, in Dubai, takes point on complex M&A, private equity, and general corporate matters for clients in India.