Dentons‘ team ’provides an excellent service and has a number of experienced lawyers’ in international litigation and arbitration for clients in banking, manufacturing, and real estate development. Work covers shareholder disputes, debt and asset recoveries, and construction arbitrations. Managing Partner Dean Ryburn is highly experienced in relevant legislation in commercial and construction cases, while Christopher Brennan brings experience in compliance and investigations on disputes. ‘Technically superb and very easy to work with’, Suzannah Fairbairn is a key contact in projects-related matters. Faris Shehabi also comes recommended.
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Profile
Work Department
Construction and Engineering, Litigation and Dispute Resolution
Position
Dean Ryburn is the managing partner of Dentons' Dubai office and the Head of Middle East Construction and Dispute Resolution practice. He has 20 years' experience advising clients on risk management, and dispute avoidance and resolution. He regularly acts for clients in all common forms of dispute resolution (including litigation, arbitration and mediation) to protect and enforce their legal rights in relation to their most important projects and transactions. He has an in-depth understanding of local laws, practices and dispute resolution frameworks having been based in the region full-time for more than 15 years. Dean brings a commercial background and understanding to disputes from previous roles as senior in-house counsel for a leading regional power developer and a secondment to a government-owned company to advise on negotiating the close-out and resolution of disputes for a US$4 billion project.
He regularly acts for clients in resolving disputes relating to variations, delay and disruption, early termination, defective works and related issues. He is noted for his ability to quickly grasp and distil complex technical and legal issues, and provide and deliver on a clear strategy to achieve clients' commercial objectives in a cost-efficient manner. He acts for all project participants but has particular expertise advising main contractors on resolving complex interconnected disputes with employers and subcontractors.
Dean has been highlighted as WWL's recommended lawyer in 2024 for construction and named as one of 10 consultants in the 2025, 2023 and 2022 Construction Week Power 100 ranking of the Middle East's most influential construction leaders in recognition of his particular expertise in complex and high-value construction arbitrations. Dean is also ranked in Chambers and as a leading individual in Legal 500.
Career
Barrister, High Court of New Zealand, 2006
Solicitor, High Court of New Zealand, 2006
Languages
English
Memberships
New Zealand Law Society, Society of Construction Law (Gulf)
Education
Victoria University of Wellington, 2005, Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Arts (Economics, Politics)
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
'Dentons is a heavyweight in international arbitration in the Middle East. The team regularly handles some of the most complex and high-value disputes work that there is. Dentons' team is small enough to be nimble and able to react to all developments as they arise and their strategic approach is always the right one.'
'Dean Ryburn is a stellar partner. Brilliant with clients, he has excellent commercial and strategic vision and consistently achieves good outcomes. Suzannah Fairbairn is technically superb and very easy to work with.'
‘The team showed excellent knowledge in the dispute resolution area.'
‘The team was very responsive and also demonstrated a great sense of commercial acumen, not acting like typical private practice lawyers. The interest and efforts were put more on settling with controlled fees and not on having the matter drag on for a longer time.’
‘Faris Shehabi is another rising star in this field.’
‘The team at Dentons provides an excellent service and has a number of experienced lawyers.’
‘Chris Brennan is a stand-out star solicitor. He is brilliant in every way and stands out for his ability to identify and press the winnable but difficult points that can save a client’s case.'
Key clients
- The State Bank of Mauritius
- Haulotte Middle East FZE
- Khalili Family Trust
Work highlights
Successfully obtained an immediate judgment against the Defendants for US$30m in debt in May 2021, followed by a finding in fraud before the DIFC Court in December 2021. The Defendants appealed the fraud finding, and the appeal hearing took place in September 2023. The DIFC Court of Appeal handed down its judgment in March 2024 and the team were successful in persuading the Court to dismiss the appeal.
Acting for a syndicate of leading Middle Eastern banks in an LCIA arbitration seeking recovery of more than AED2.5 billion under the Financing Documents for a landmark Middle East infrastructure project.
Representing Haulotte Group and its Middle Eastern subsidiary, Haulotte Middle East FZE, in several ongoing litigation proceedings against its distributor, United Gulf Equipment Rentals LLC (UGER), in the Dubai Courts.