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.
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Sheila Shadmand is the Partner-in-Charge of the Firm’s Middle East Region and leads its Global Disputes and International Investigations practices in the Middle East and Africa. Sheila is a U.S. lawyer who has been resident in Dubai for over 15 years. Over her nearly 30 years’ of practice, she has represented a number of the world’s largest global companies in a multitude of complex investigations, commercial litigation, and arbitration matters. She has led and defended investigations in over 40 countries throughout the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region, conducting hundreds of investigative interviews across multiple languages and cultures. She has also defended clients in matters involving US enforcement agencies, including the DOJ, SEC, OFAC, BIS, and FinCEN. She also represents clients in U.S. state and federal courts and has full rights of audience in the DIFC and ADGM Courts.
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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.'
‘A market-leading team - subject matter expertise, excellent client service, known leaders in the field, creative thinkers. An impressive offering.’
‘The partner, Philip Devenish, the senior associate, Chris Norris, and the associate Jacky Khoueiry all have been very good at their respective jobs. From the strategic guidance at partner level from Philip, to the technical expertise and attention to detail of Chris, and the research and administrative support provided by Jacky, the team has been outstanding.’
‘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.