Stephenson Harwood Middle East LLP

Maritime, Shipping and Commodities Disputes, Commercial Disputes

Middle East Managing Partner

Rania brings over 25 years’ experience advising on contentious, non-contentious, and commercial matters across the global shipping, trade, and offshore sectors.

With a strong track record of delivering commercially focused solutions, Rania works closely with clients to resolve their most complex challenges across the maritime industry. She is regularly instructed by senior stakeholders on complex, high-value, multi-jurisdictional disputes concerning wet and dry shipping matters, as well as advisory mandates requiring sector-specific insight.

Rania acts for shipowners, charterers, offshore service providers and insurers in arbitrations under LMAA, LCIA, SIAC, DIAC, and ICC rules, and in litigation before the English and UAE Courts, including the DIFC Courts. She also brings experience sitting as an arbitrator. Her portfolio spans charterparty and cargo disputes, shipbuilding and S&P contracts, pollution, collisions, groundings and fires.

Clients also turn to Rania for non-contentious support, including drafting and negotiating commercial contracts, drydocking frameworks and project documentation. Her litigation background and deep industry knowledge allow her to deliver proactive, commercially sound advice when negotiating and drafting such contracts.

Rania spent 15 years at a top London law firm before moving to Dubai in 2013, where she has practiced across the Middle East and held senior management roles for over a decade. She is also an active leader in the maritime community, serving as President of UAE branch of the Women in Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA UAE) and as a committee member of International Congress for Maritime Arbitrators.