Jones Day leverages its global disputes practice to lead major UAE offshore litigation and arbitration matters, and is noted for its ‘experienced, extremely diligent and uniquely dynamic’ advocacy in commercial litigation before the DIFC courts. Team head Sheila Shadmand brings a focus on investigation and compliance-related disputes, while Philip Devenish acts on major pieces of financial litigation and arbitral award recognitions and enforcements. Pierre Heitzmann leads on commercial and construction arbitration proceedings, including investor-state disputes.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘The Jones Day team are highly energetic and demonstrate a strong commitment to client care. They consistently pay close attention to the details of each case.’
- ‘When you work with Chris Norris, you feel as though he treats your case as if it were his own. He is highly detail-oriented, professional, and gives you the confidence that you are in good hands.'
- ‘The dispute resolution team at Jones Day are truly exceptional. The team is very experienced, extremely diligent and uniquely dynamic. Unlike many other firms, they are both technically proficient and able to take an ‘out-of-the-box’ approach to each of their matters. The team always leaves no stone unturned, which means they consistently deliver outstanding results.'
- ‘Philip Devenish is quite simply a superb litigator. He has vast legal knowledge and experience, brilliant strategic insights and an exceptional work ethic. Philip also maintains an unwavering commitment to excellence and an unmatchable level of client care. Heather Martin has it all: sharp as a tack, great judgment and a master tactician. Her client care is also impeccable: from the very beginning, clients know they can trust her to deliver, even in the most difficult and complex cases.'
- ‘Heather Martin, Jacky Khoueiry and Jodie Martyndale-Howard are brilliant lawyers. They are super responsive, to the point, and great to work with. Super well equipped to handle cross-border disputes.'
- ‘Pierre Heitzman is an extraordinary lawyer with deep knowledge of international arbitration and the Middle East. Philip Devenish is a very astute counsel able to handle complex areas.’
Key clients
- Gold Pool JV Ltd.
- Narada Power Source Co. Ltd
- Orange SA
- AS Windoor
Work highlights
Acts for Orange SA, a shareholder in Iraq Telecom Limited and International Holdings Limited, in the recognition and enforcement of a USD 1.65 billion ICC arbitral award across multiple jurisdictions, including the UAE, UK, France, and the Netherlands.
Represents Gold Pool JV Ltd. in a high-value investor-state arbitration against the Republic of Kazakhstan concerning a gold mining investment, brought under the Canada–USSR BIT on the novel basis that Kazakhstan succeeded to the treaty following the Soviet Union’s dissolution.
Successfully represented Estonian construction company Windoor AS in an ICSID arbitration against the Republic of Kazakhstan, securing a USD 55 million award for expropriation after Kazakh courts refused to enforce a prior EUR 23 million SCC award.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Sheila Shadmand
Other key lawyers
Philip Devenish; Pierre Heitzmann; Chris Norris; Heather Martin; Jacky Khoueiry; Jodie Martyndale-Howard