AlDhabaan & Partners in association with Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP

John is an international disputes lawyer now based in Riyadh. He qualified as a solicitor with Eversheds in 1995 and became a partner in the firm's London office in 2006. In 2008, he relocated to Abu Dhabi, when Eversheds set up its first office in the UAE, before returning to London in 2012.

Whilst back in the UK, a significant proportion of his practice remained in the Middle East and Africa. In 2018, he became head of Eversheds Sutherland's Africa Group and, in April 2023, John relocated to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to become the Senior Office Partner of Mohammed AlDhabaan & Partners Eversheds Sutherland.

For nearly 20 years, his practice has been focused on managing disputes across the Middle East and Africa.

His experience in the Middle East and Africa includes: - advising international companies in defending proceedings with a total value of US$7 billion in the courts of the UAE, Qatar, Egypt and Iraq; and - advising on a +USD 200m ICC arbitration, seated in the DIFC in Dubai, relating to a project in Iraq. The matter has also involved proceedings in the DIFC Courts; and - advising extensively on the enforcement of judgements and arbitral awards across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

In the UK, his practice has focused primarily on the real estate sector. He has also developed a particular specialism in the retirement living sector. In addition to advising on dispute related matters, John provides "front-end" advice on lease structures which accord with best practice in this sector.

Partner

Basic French and German