The Curious Case Of Fake Cases: QFC Edition

In the ever-developing world of generative AI, and after cases concerning the citation of fake cases by lawyers emerged in the United States, England, Australia and other jurisdictions over the course of the last year or so, it was perhaps inevitable (albeit certainly avoidable) that such an incident would arise in the Qatar International Court, more commonly known as the QFC Court.

On 12 November 2025, the QFC Court handed down a judgment in contempt proceedings against a Dubai-based lawyer (who acted for the defendant in the underlying case, Jonathan David Sheppard v Jillion LLC) ("the Lawyer"), finding that the Lawyer had acted in contempt of court by citing fake cases in his submissions. Having found the Lawyer guilty of contempt, the QFC Court did not impose any penal sanction.