Watson Farley & Williams > Dubai, United Arab Emirates > Firm Profile
Watson Farley & Williams Offices
Office 1702, Level 17, Index Tower, West Entrance
Dubai International Financial Centre
PO Box 506896
United Arab Emirates
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Watson Farley & Williams > The Legal 500 Rankings
United Arab Emirates > Shipping Tier 2
Watson Farley & Williams‘ team excels in handling complex, cross-border shipping disputes, including vessel construction, charter party, and international trade matters, with a strong focus on litigation and arbitration. The firm represents a broad scope of clients, including P&I clubs, shipowners, charterers, insurers, and offshore operators across the UAE and beyond. Charlotte Bijlani, head of the Dubai Maritime Dispute Resolution team, is recognised for her expertise in shipping litigation and international arbitration, with a particular focus on high-value disputes. New additions Natalie Jensen and Khalid Hamed bring significant experience in arbitration, adding further depth to the firm’s capabilities in resolving maritime issues.Practice head(s):
Charlotte Bijlani
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
North Standard/Alberta Shipping
Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation
Work highlights
- Acting for Yang Ming, a cargo carrier, in a complex and multifaceted Dubai Courts dispute.
United Arab Emirates > Dispute resolution: arbitration and international litigation Tier 4
Watson Farley & Williams has further strengthened its disputes offering through the hire of Natalie Jensen and Khalid Hamed from Ince & Co in March 2024, with the duo bringing extensive expertise in insurance and maritime disputes. The team is headed by Charlotte Bijlani who is praised as an ‘outstanding lawyer that goes the extra mile to make sure that her clients are satisfied, covered and properly informed and advised.’ Haya Al Bawab is valued by clients for her expertise in cybercrime and tech disputes.Practice head(s):
Charlotte Bijlani
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘It is one of the best law firms to work with, not only when it comes to disputes, but also for shipping as well as corporate and commercial work. They assisted us in an excellent and diligent manner during negotiation sessions with joint venture partners and provided us with a personalised experience.’
‘This law firm has talent amongst its staff like Charlotte Bijlani. We enjoy working with all of them and sincerely value the excellent relationship we have with them.’
‘Charlotte Bijlani is indeed an outstanding lawyer that goes the extra mile to make sure that her clients are satisfied, covered and properly informed and advised. I recommend Charlotte to all my colleagues as the best person to go to for any JV negotiation, corporate/commercial matters or any matter that you want it to prevent becoming a contentious dispute. She’ll do magic and settle it for you.’
Key clients
Bahri (National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia)
Bin Otaiba Investment Group
Citibank NA
Yanbu Cement Company
Dant Investment LLC
FTAI Aviation
Sahara International Petrochemical Company (SIPCHEM)
Genesis Aircraft Services Limited
Work highlights
- Acted for Bin Otaiba Investment Group, owner of a Bombardier Global 5000 Aircraft, against GAMA Aviation FZC in connection with complex and technical proceedings before the English High Courts, concerning maintenance and repair works performed on the Aircraft.
- Acted for Dant Investment, in connection with a dispute arising out of the sale and purchase of a Bombardier Challenger 605 Aircraft.
- Acted for FTAI Aviation, an industry-leading supplier of high quality CFM56 engines, in complex litigation proceedings resulting with obtaining a worldwide freezing order on SpiceJet’s engines, before the DIFC Courts.
United Arab Emirates > Infrastructure and projects (including project finance) Tier 4
Watson Farley & Williams' Middle East projects team advises on energy, infrastructure, and natural resources across the Middle East and North Africa. The firm supports clients with power, oil and gas, mining, and transport projects, covering development, financing, M&A, and disputes for regional and international companies. Mhairi Main Garcia leads the practice and leverages over twenty years of market experience to comprehensively advise clients across conventional, energy transition, and infrastructure projects. Co-head Alhassane Barry is noted for his skill in project finance. Amoetsoe Mkwena also comes recommended.
Practice head(s):
Mhairi Main Garcia; Alhassane Barry
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Great knowledge and strategically focused advice. ’
‘Mhairi Garcia is an exceptional projects lawyer. Very attentive to the matter and technically brilliant.’
‘The team was reactive and engaging. Production was on time.’
‘Individuals were available and articulate, able to guide the clients and clarify their understanding of the legal issues.’
Key clients
Fortescue Future Industries International
National Bank of Fujairah
Abu Dhabi Ports Group
Envision Energy International Trading Limited
Palestine Power Generating Company
Helios Investment Partners and West Africa LNG
Shams Ma’an Power Generating P.S.C.
Work highlights
- Advising on the development of a future project, whereby they will develop, build, own and operate a large green hydrogen project in Oman.
- Advising the largest LNG to Power project aiming to supply gas and energy to mining operations in West Africa.
- Advised the National Bank of Fujairah on a long-term debt refinancing for a group of 31 solar photovoltaic projects that have been developed by Yellow Door Energy in Dubai.
United Arab Emirates > Banking and finance: Corporate finance (including Islamic lending) Tier 5
Work highlights
Watson Farley & Williams > Firm Profile
Watson Farley & Williams is a leading international law firm advising clients operating in the energy, infrastructure and transport sectors. With a network of offices spanning Asia, Europe and the USA, we bring together technical excellence and deep industry knowledge to deliver unparalleled advice on complex transactions and disputes.
In all our core sectors, we provide integrated and commercially focussed advice across a broad range of capital markets, corporate, finance, dispute resolution, employment, real estate, regulatory and tax matters.
- Senior Partner: George Paleokrassas
- Managing Partner: Lindsey Keeble
- Energy (Mining; Oil and Gas; Power and Renewables; and Commodities and International Trade) – key contacts: Henry Stewart; María Pilar García Guijarro; and Clarinda Tjia-Dharmadi
- Infrastructure (Airports; Digital and E-Infrastructure; Ports and Terminals; Roads, Bridges and Tunnels; and Social Infrastructure) – key contacts: Florian Kutzbach and José María Anarte
- Transport (Aviation and Aerospace; Maritime; and Rail) – key contacts: Jim Bell and George Macheras
We leverage the wealth of experience across our global network to support industry players across the whole mining life cycle, including in the emerging sectors of seabed and space mining, as well as investor-state dispute settlement.
We are the go-to advisors for all mining participants from owners/licensees, developers and sponsors to financiers, contractors and governments. Operating globally and in areas beyond national jurisdiction enables us to advise on complex, multi-jurisdictional matters in all the major mineral-producing areas of the world, from Africa and Australasia to Asia and the Americas.
We have over 30 years’ direct industry experience advising clients across the whole of the oil and gas value chain, covering upstream, midstream and downstream. We also have in-depth knowledge of new fuels and gases such as LNG, hydrogen, ammonia and SAF to help support the industry’s energy transition.
Clients include exploration, development and production companies, traders, offshore services, storage and distribution companies, refinery developers and operators, funds and investors, banks and governments.
With an international offering of sector specialist lawyers, we are the natural choice for clients across the power and renewables space. We have long been at the forefront of new technology and developments in the industry and have a successful track record advising on all aspects of the value chain and life cycle of projects from conventional power to renewables such as onshore and offshore wind, solar, biomass, and waste to energy.
By leveraging our regulatory, transactional, ESG and dispute resolution experience, we offer an unrivalled full service in sector to clients including developers, investors, sponsors, financiers, contractors and both governments and government entities.
We offer a comprehensive sector offering covering disputes, structured trade finance, sanctions and regulatory, ESG, project development & finance, and corporate matters.
Our historical focus on the energy, infrastructure and maritime sectors, which each have strong synergies with commodities and international trade, give us a unique 360-degree perspective, allowing us to support our clients operating in these sectors across all key service lines.
Clients include major corporates, trading houses, mining majors, energy traders, banks, independent trade financiers, investment funds and agricultural and food companies.
With the global demand for infrastructure rapidly increasing, we support our clients on major projects around the world.
We act for a broad range of participants across transport-relevant infrastructures ranging from airports, ports and terminals, rail and roads, bridges and tunnels. We also work on energy-relevant projects ranging from transmission and storage, water and waste management and renewable energy assets, as well as social infrastructure to emerging sub-sectors such as smart and digital infrastructure.
Our multi-disciplinary team, based across our global network of offices, provides first-rate advice and guidance to all participants in the infrastructure sector.
Always abreast of trends within the aviation and aerospace sectors, we have over 40 years’ experience advising key industry stakeholders. These include aircraft and engine leasing companies, banks and financial institutions, funds and investors, export credit agencies, airlines, tour operators and manufacturers.
What propels our service beyond that of our competitors is our active involvement in making impactful changes to the industry at a global level. This includes being the principal advisors to the Aviation Working Group (AWG) and the prime choice for legal advice focussing on the decarbonisation of the industry, alternative fuels and emissions reduction.
With the largest dedicated maritime legal practice worldwide, we have been helping clients address the industry’s ups and downs for over 40 years.
Our unrivalled shipping experience attracts clients including shipowners, charterers, ship managers, P&I and FD&D insurers, investors, banks and financiers with substantial shipping portfolios. Areas of special expertise include maritime infrastructure, commercial shipping, container shipping and logistics, offshore oil & gas, cruise, commercial contracts, sanctions, disputes and regulatory, loan portfolios and restructuring.
We are at the forefront of the industry move towards decarbonisation, including having advised on the development of the Poseidon Principles to support the IMO’s goal to reduce shipping’s annual greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% by 2050.
Lawyer Profiles
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Rita Al Semaani Jansen | Rita is a highly experienced corporate and commercial law specialist with experience… | View Profile |
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Charlotte Bijlani | Charlotte is an experienced dispute resolution lawyer with full rights of audience… | View Profile |
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Khalid Hamed | Khalid has over 30 years’ experience advising multinational shipping, financial, insurance, manufacturing… | View Profile |
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Alastair Holland | Alastair has over 20 years of experience advising clients throughout the Middle… | View Profile |
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Natalie Jensen | Natalie specialises in contentious and non-contentious matters in the shipping, international trade… | View Profile |
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Charlotte Knight | View Profile | |
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Mhairi Main Garcia | View Profile | |
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Michael Savva | View Profile | |
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Emily Widdrington | Emily specialises in shipping finance with over 12 years’ experience advising and… | View Profile |