Keating Chambers

Richard Harding KC has been described as “without a doubt the leading English barrister practising in the field of international arbitration of construction disputes in the Middle East and Gulf regions.” He acts as counsel for governments, private employers, contractors and professionals, and is regularly appointed as an arbitrator in international commercial matters. He has extensive experience of arguing and deciding cases involving delay to large infrastructure projects.

Richard has a working knowledge of Arabic and some Persian, having studied Arabic and Persian at Oxford University and in Egypt, as well as German, Spanish, French. He regularly acts in cases, as either counsel or arbitrator, under the laws of the Middle East. He has particular experience of the laws of the UAE, Egypt, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan, and a keen interest in disputes relating to Iran.

As counsel, Richard is instructed by law firms (predominantly from the UK, Europe and the Middle East) and directly by in-house counsel and professionals.

He is the Founder and current Chairman of the Society of Construction Law in the Arabian/Persian Gulf, and is also an acclaimed conference chairman and speaker.

Richard Harding KC’s cases have related to:

• Oil, gas and power, including on and offshore projects.
• Transport infrastructure, including railways, airports, and roads.
• Water infrastructure, dredging, marine structures and ports.
• Property, including commercial, residential, high-rise buildings, and a theme park.
• Factories and process engineering.
• Mining.
• IT systems.
• Professional negligence.

وُصف ريتشارد هاردينغ كيه سي بأنه، دون أدنى شك، أبرز محامٍ إنجليزي في مجال التحكيم الدولي في منازعات الإنشاءات في الشرق الأوسط ومنطقة الخليج. درس اللغة العربية والفارسية في جامعة أكسفورد وفي مصر، ثم أصبح محاميًا مرافِعًا في إنجلترا. مثّل حكومات، وأصحاب أعمال، ومقاولين، ومهنيين، وغالبًا ما يُعيَّن محكَّمًا في قضايا تجارية دولية. يتمتّع بخبرة واسعة في الترافع والفصل في القضايا المتعلّقة بتأخّر مشاريع البنية التحتية الكبرى
لديه اهتمام واسع بجميع جوانب الشرق الأوسط، ولا سيما التاريخ والعمارة في العصور الوسطى، والشعر العربي والفارسي الكلاسيكي، بالإضافة إلى الشؤون الجارية في المنطقة
يرجى ملاحظة أنه يقرأ الوثائق والنصوص القانونية باللغة العربية، غير أنه يدير إجراءات التحكيم باللغة الإنجليزية فقط

Called 1992; Middle Temple; chairman Society of Construction Law (Gulf); QC 2009.

Arabic, German, Spanish, French, Persian (Farsi)

TECBAR; COMBAR; LCLCBA; Society of Construction Law (UK); Society of Construction Law (Gulf); list of arbitrators of: ICC, LCIA, Tehran Regional Arbitration Centre, ACIC Tehran.

Latymer Upper School; Pembroke College, Oxford (1990 MA Oxon Oriental Studies (Arabic, Persian)); University of Alexandria, Egypt; Common Professional Examination (1991).

Richard Harding takes a close interest in all aspects of Middle Eastern culture, economics and politics, and follows cricket, rugby and motor sports.