The ‘practical' and 'knowledgeable’ dispute resolution division at Charles Russell Speechlys LLP boasts a strong portfolio of clients encompassing the financial, insurance, telecommunication, real estate, and retail industries. Patrick Gearon directs the team alongside the very ’very knowledgeable’ Paula Boast. Gareth Mills, ‘a man of experience and knowledge’ according to clients, is retained in various regulatory mandates and international arbitrations, while Mazin Al Mardhi is highly active in the insurance, hospitality, manufacturing, and construction sectors, alongside matters requiring expertise in GCC jurisdictions. Thomas Catto is recommended for his broad abilities in white-collar crime, recovery claims, and cross-Bahraini and English commercial disputes.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Very adaptable firm. Having engaged me as an expert, the team was very proactive in realigning its case strategy with the expert's findings and ensured this was properly communicated with the client.'
- ‘Paula Boast is very knowledgeable and understands the role of independent experts to ensure that the client also understands the importance of that role. Invested a lot of her time on the commission with the associates and was always available to make the decisions when needed.'
- ‘Thomas Catto is a very safe pair of hands for any litigation or arbitration involving Bahrain. He is bright and thoroughly knowledgeable on the interplay of the legal and court systems of the relevant GCC jurisdictions, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia. He is well networked with the Dubai office of CRS and its lead disputes partners.’
- ‘CRS dispute resolution team are practical, knowledgeable and possess excellent drafting skills. They are always available and respond in a very timely manner.’
- ‘Gareth Mills is a man of experience and knowledge.'
Key clients
- Arab Shipbuilding Repair Yard
- Fadhel Al Najjar & Abdulshaheed Ali
- Arabian International Contractors
- Bahrain Middle East Bank B.S.C.
- Cebarco Bahrain W.L.L.
- Central Bank of Bahrain
- Diyar Al Muharraq W.L.L.
- Energy Central Company
- Gulf Air B.S.C. (c)
- Kuwait Finance House (Bahrain)
- Lowe Refrigeration LLC
- NASS Contracting Co W.L.L.
Work highlights
Advised on the USD2bn Awal Bank insolvency.
Advising Gulf Air on a complex worldwide USD19m fraud committed by a network of seven separate defendants, with one defendant having been employed by the national airline at the time of the alleged fraud.
Defend a client against USD18.5m worth of claims made by estranged family members in a complex intra-family and multijurisdiction dispute relating to the property of a Deceased Bahraini HNW who died in England in 2017.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Patrick Gearon; Paula Boast
Other key lawyers
Gareth Mills; Mazin Al Mardhi; Thomas Catto