HFW remains a prominent force in the Middle East shipping market, advising across the full spectrum of maritime work. The firm’s client base includes shipowners, charterers, P&I clubs, underwriters, government entities, and a wide range of operators in the transport and logistics spaces. Yaman Al Hawamdeh leads the team, often acting in high-value and complex disputes across the GCC. Richard Strub, a long-standing member of the firm’s English law shipping practice, continues to represent clients in high-court proceedings and arbitrations. On the non-contentious side, Tien Tai routinely advises on major transactional mandates in the region, particularly high-profile finance and commercial shipping matters. Robert Lawrence handles offshore and marine insurance issues, as well as complex maritime casualties, while Ian Chung advises on M&A and financing within the maritime and private equity sectors.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Profile
Work Department
Shipping
Position
Partner
Career
Yaman is the UAE Managing Partner and heads HFW’s shipping and logistics team in the Middle East. He has more than 20 years of experience and has built a strong regional practice across the GCC and Middle East.
Yaman is highly regarded for both his shipping and logistics experience. His practice focuses on regional marine and transport disputes across the region. This includes collisions and other types of marine casualties including salvage and pollution. He represents a number of International Group P&I Clubs, local banks, shipowners and Port & Terminal’s operators in the Middle East region.
Yaman also regularly advises on non-disputes shipping and logistics’ regulatory and contracts issues within the transport sector.
In addition, Yaman has extensive experience of handling proceedings involving corporate fraud and various finance disputes related to commodities and trade.
Highly regarded for his local litigation experience, Yaman also specialises in regional disputes across the Middle East. He has successfully litigated a substantial number of disputes and acted in high profile cases within the Middle East throughout the last two decades.
Yaman is a regular conference speaker, presenting papers locally and internationally on laws and regulations of the UAE and other civil law states within the Middle East.
Publications include The Law Reviews, the Shipping Law Review United Arab Emirates.
Yaman is qualified in Jordan.
Languages
English & Arabic
Content supplied by HFW
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
'The team combines deep sector knowledge with responsiveness, honesty, and a collaborative style that makes them stand out from other firms. Their ability to integrate seamlessly into our decision-making process and support us through complex and time-sensitive matters has been invaluable.’
- 'Tien Tai is a thorough professional who brings both depth of legal expertise and a strong commercial understanding. He is thorough, pragmatic, and always willing to go the extra mile to ensure that the advice we receive is not only legally robust but also strategically aligned with our business objectives.'
Key clients
- Al Seer Marine
- BGN Energy