FIRE Middle East 2024

Sara is one of the first Saudi women licensed to practice law in Saudi Arabia. 

Sara graduated with honours, among the first class of Saudi women to study law in at a Saudi University, from King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and she earned her LLM from Boston University School of Law (“BUSL”), Boston, MA, USA.

Memberships

1. Sara is the Vice Chair of the ICC National Committee of Saudi Arabia (ICC Saudi) and delegate to the ICC Commission on Arbitration & Dispute Resolution,
2. She is a member of the Makkah Region Lawyers Committee under the Saudi Bar Association (“SBA”), appointed by his Eminence the Saudi Minister of Justice and Chairman of the SBA’s Board of Directors, and
3. she is also an officer of the Arab Regional Forum of the International Bar Association (“IBA”).

Sara is a partner at AlGhazzawi & Partners.  She has over 15 years of experience.  Her practice focuses on commercial law and litigation, dispute resolution, construction disputes and arbitration.

In acknowledgement of her achievements, Sara was featured in BUSL’s 150th Anniversary Commemorative Book, among the School's notable 150 alumni with influential achievements around the world.  Sara was also featured in the BUSL International Newsletter, and on the website of the Women Lawyers Division of the Law Society of England and Wales, and local news and television for being among the first Saudi women licensed to practice law in Saudi Arabia. 

Bushra Ahmed is a highly accomplished and experienced barrister with over 20 years of experience in commercial litigation and international arbitration. She is currently a Partner at KBH, a law firm with offices in the DIFC (Dubai), Bahrain and Kuwait, where she is the Head of Dispute Resolution since 2014, specialising in a wide range of complex commercial, corporate, employment, financial services, and regulatory matters in the United Kingdom and the Middle East. Bushra was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2001 and has since established herself as a reputable and skilled advocate and litigator in the legal community.

Bushra has also been appointed as a presider and co-arbitrator under various arbitration rules and forums, including the ICC, LCIA, DIFC-LCIA, and DIAC, and has handled a wide range of international commercial and construction disputes. She is also a CEDR accredited mediator since 2005.

James is a partner specialising in dispute resolution in the Middle East, with a focus on commercial litigation, insolvency, international arbitration, ADR, regulatory matters, and internal and external investigations, often involving cross-border elements. He boasts 27 years of experience in cross-border dispute resolution and arbitration, with involvement in cases under ICC, UNCITRAL, DIAC, LCIA, ICSID, SIAC, and ADCCAC in locations such as London, Paris, Greece, and the GCC, encompassing infrastructure and financial services disputes.

Licensed as an advocate to handle court proceedings before the DIFC Court, he sits as an arbitrator and is recognised as a leading individual in dispute resolution and corporate investigations in Chambers Global and the Legal 500.

Christian P. Alberti is the Chief of ADR and General Counsel of the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA) and based in Riyadh and Dubai. Prior to joining the SCCA in 2019, he was the Assistant Vice President of the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (AAA-ICDR). He taught as Adjunct Professor at New York University School of Law (NYU) on International Arbitration and International Sales Law between 2017 and 2019. He is a Member of the Global Advisory Board of the New York International Arbitration Center (NYIAC), a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators as well as a member of various international ADR associations. He is certified to practice law in Germany and New York State.

Dr. Habib is one of the UAE’s most highly respected legal authorities. He has over 40 years’ experience in UAE laws. He is a frequent commentator on the legislation and economy of the UAE and is often consulted to draft and advise on Federal and Emirate level laws.

Dr. Habib focuses his practice on litigation and arbitration. He was Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC). He is also a member of the Board of the Dubai International Chamber.

He was the architect of the legal framework establishing the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the first financial free zone in the UAE. Dr. Habib was the first Chairman of the Board of the Dubai Financial Services Authority, which is the regulator of the DIFC and also served as Chairman of its Legislative Committee.

Dr. Habib has held numerous government positions over the years, including being a member of the UAE Federal National Council, the federal parliament of the UAE, member of the Legislative Committee, in charge of reviewing federal legislation, member of the Economic Committee, Director and board member of the Supreme Institute of Advanced Legal and Judicial Studies, in charge of training judges and prosecutors in the Emirate of Dubai and Chairman of the UAE Jurists Association.

He has published many books and articles on the UAE law and economy, including a two parts book on his life’s work titled “Life’s Harvest”, a definitive selection of his writings on the laws, politics, and economy of the UAE over the last 26 years. He is also a regular commentator in the media and a prominent speaker at many events and conferences within the UAE and internationally.

In recognition of his achievements Chambers awarded him the status of UAE Lifetime Achievement award at Chambers Middle East Awards in 2022

And has been given the title of Senior Statesperson for UAE: Dispute Resolution by Chambers & Partners in 2022

Dr. Habib holds an LL.B. in Shari’a and Law from the UAE University, a Master of Law from Harvard Law School, and a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge. He is fluent in Arabic and English.

Hana Al Khatib is a highly accomplished Partner with a strong legal background. She became a member of the Jordanian Bar Association in 2012. Hana’s expertise also extends to Legal Project Management, earning her certification through the IILPM in Australia in 2022. Throughout her career, she has excelled in litigation, arbitration, and general advisory services, skillfully guiding clients through various civil and commercial litigation matters and has acted on several high-profile, high-value cases in the UAE.

Hana is highly experienced in employment related matters, and helps clients from various sectors with their day to day issues arising in the workplace, including onboarding processes, Emiratization rules, applicability and interpretation of employment laws and regulations, termination procedures, non-compete and non-disclosure agreements, pensions, end of service, and arbitrary dismissals, in addition to supporting HR and legal departments in developing policies and handbooks in line with the applicable laws.

Hana has extensive experience in bankruptcy and insolvency, working on high level complex cases in the Middle East.

Hana is also the MENA Regional Coordinator at the International Association for Young Lawyers (AIJA) and delivered several trainings and seminars in UAE and outside UAE on Labor laws, MeToo movement, unlawful competition by employees, UAE Labor law amendments in 2022, and discrimination in the workplace.

Hamdan is a UAE national, educated at the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom and has nearly a decade of successful litigation experience across the United Arab Emirates. He started his career in the Banking & Finance department of Al Tamimi & Co in the DIFC office. Furthermore, whilst being part of the Banking & Finance department he also participated in many cases in other departments out of his interest to learn more. In this time he qualified as a practitioner in the UAE and therefore represents clients in the UAE courts including Dubai.

He then joined the Infrastructure Department at Mubadala Development Company in Abu Dhabi. In Mubadala he got involved in the finance department taking part in large university and other infrastructure turn-key projects which involved real estate, construction and finance matters. After setting up Hamdan Alshamsi Lawyers & legal Consultants “HAS”, he decided to set up a full-fledged practice including advisory and transactional work and ever since overseen more than 500 litigation disputes in the UAE courts, DIFC courts and various different arbitration centers and has advised in more than 130 transactions and advisory matters.

Hamdan has built one of Dubai’s most reputable and respected Emirati law practices. He is widely regarded as a top litigator in the Dubai Courts with extensive experience in corporate, banking & finance, and insurance law.

Hamdan advises both local and international companies as well as governmental entities in cases involving complex transactional disputes.

Ahmad is a Saudi qualified lawyer, certified arbitrator, and a former judge in Riyadh's General Court.

He holds a B.A in Shari'ah law, Master in Comparative Jurisprudence, LLM in Advance Legal Studies and a PhD in the area of Islamic Finance and Financial Regulation from University of Warwick. He has extensive experience in litigation, arbitration, family business, capital market, Islamic finance, construction and real state law. He has various publications, most important of which is his recent book titled "Creative Compliance in the Islamic finance industry, and "Disputes between Stockbrokers and Investors in The Saudi Capital Market".

Anas is a US qualified attorney and has practiced in Saudi Arabia for over 13 years where he advises local corporate and foreign investors on a wide array of corporate, commercial, employment, regulatory, and cross-border matters.

Anas’ practice ranges across multiple sectors and industries including, insurance, healthcare, manufacturing, aviation and FMCG, where he leverages his language skills, knowledge of local market practices, and deep understanding of the Saudi legal and regulatory framework to provide clients with pragmatic legal advice and streamlined solutions to complex matters.

Anas has authored numerous articles on Saudi Arabian legal topics and is regularly recognized by leading international legal directories and publications such as Chambers and Partners, that recognize Anas for his “significant experience [assisting] both national and international clients with cross-border transactions and regulatory matters”.

Prior to joining the firm, Anas served as the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of a publicly listed insurance company in Saudi Arabia and as a Partner at Dentons, having founded and managed its Jeddah office.

Walid is a Partner in the Dispute Resolution department in Dubai. He specialises in complex Commercial and Corporate arbitration and litigation, often with cross-border elements.

Walid joined Hadef & Partners in 2005. During that time, he has developed specialist knowledge of managing large scale, multi-jurisdictional disputes and has acted on a number of high-profile banking and real estate matters. Walid advises a diverse group of clients; including publicly traded and multi-national companies, as well as high net worth individuals on various contentious matters.

Walid also specialises in local and international asset tracings and recovery, advises on financial crimes as well as on anti-corruption and anti-bribery issues. He further advises on extradition and mutual legal assistance as well as on sanctions and anti-money laundering matters.

Walid has a Juris Doctorate and is admitted to the Massachusetts State Bar. Prior to joining Hadef & Partners, he practiced in the US, in both Chicago and Boston. He routinely lectures, and sits on various panels that deal with a variety of issues relating to regional legal trends and developments. Walid is fluent in English, Arabic and French.

Amr is a founding partner at NHB Legal. Having navigated both common law and civil law systems due to his education in the United Kingdom, he was admitted as an attorney in New York and has amassed 17 years of practice in the UAE. Amr was deeply involved in litigation and arbitration across diverse sectors, encompassing real estate development, banking, construction, and family offices. He has led high-stakes disputes involving shareholders, intricate jurisdictional matters, cross-border whitecollar investigations, and asset recovery. He is a trusted advisor to numerous international law firms, both in Dubai and abroad. He frequently serves as a UAE law expert in arbitration and court proceedings spanning Dubai, the United Kingdom, Canada, and France.

Fatima Balfaqeeh is a UAE-certified lawyer specializing in arbitration, mediation, and business consulting. Her critical thinking skills and ability to provide innovative solutions are matched by her commitment to building strong and trustworthy relationships with clients on a personal level.

Fatima is an Adjunct Lecturer in Law in Middlesex University Dubai and has over 20 years of experience working in government and semi-government entities in Abu Dhabi, where she led contract and procurement functions with a focus on dispute avoidance and corporate governance. She has extensive experience in commercial, legal, and operational matters across various sectors, including construction, finance, and banking.

After pursuing a law degree, Fatima became a certified independent arbitrator and commercial mediator. She is a Chartered Arbitrator of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), a member and Chartered Facilities Management Surveyor of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply Chain (CIPS). Fatima is a highly respected advisor in the ADR, legal, and governance fields and holds many posts with national and international organizations.

In 2018, Fatima founded her consultancy, which later evolved into a law firm. Her goal was to establish a trusted practice known for transparency, reliability, and honest advice. As an advocate for Green Arbitration, she is a signatory to the UN Global Compact and promotes sustainability across all areas of her business. Today, as one of the few independent female arbitrators and mediators in the UAE, Fatima is a role model for young women seeking to enter this field.

Charlotte is head of the dubai office and the Middle East Dispute Resolution team.

Charlotte specialises in complex international arbitration and commercial litigation across all of our sector areas including aviation, energy, infrastructure and maritime. She has full rights of audience before both the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) courts and the higher courts of England and Wales.

As part of her practice, Charlotte also regularly assists clients in relation to mediation, expert determinations and managing dispute risk and avoidance. She also has extensive expertise in data protection laws and regulations.

Charlotte regularly sits as an arbitrator (sole, co-arbitrator and Chair) in ad hoc, ICC, LCIA and DIFC-LCIA arbitrations.

She is recognised as a leading dispute resolution and international arbitration lawyer in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by legal directories Legal 500 EMEA and Chambers Global. In 2022, Legal 500 said that she is “a star of the commercial disputes scene in Dubai and the UAE” and Chambers Global described her as an “outstanding lawyer”.

Antonia Birt acts as counsel and advocate in commercial and construction arbitrations for state, national and multi-national clients, with a focus on commercial, distribution, corporate, energy, oil and gas, infrastructure, and engineering disputes. She advises on the full cycle of complex, high-value disputes, from settlement negotiations, mediations, and other alternative dispute resolution methods, to formal dispute resolution proceedings and enforcement. Antonia has represented clients under the major arbitral rules, including the ICC, LCIA, DIFC-LCIA, DIAC, ADCCAC, ICDR and UNCITRAL Rules.

Antonia also acts as arbitrator, having previously sat as sole, presiding or co-arbitrator in ICC, LCIA, DIFC-LCIA and DIAC arbitrations.

Since 2019, Antonia teaches the International Arbitration Practicum to LLM students at the Pantheon Assas University Paris II, UAE. Antonia is a member of the IBA Commercial Arbitration Case Law Sub-Committee responsible for the UAE, having previously co-authored the original and updated editions of the IBA Guide on Arbitration, UAE law chapter. She also acts as co-chair for the Equal Representation in Arbitration Pledge MENA committee.

Antonia completed an LLM at the University of Cambridge, and is admitted as a Solicitor of England and Wales, Part I and II practitioner of the DIFC Courts, and a foreign practitioner in Dubai, having been based in Dubai for 14 years.

Aakash is a Principal for Dispute Support, with responsibility to lead, manage and develop our practice across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Based in London, Aakash has more than 15 years of experience leading investigative mandates focussed on fraud, white collar crime and arbitral award enforcement. He also has extensive experience in managing international asset recovery assignments including sovereign asset traces, litigation support on complex multinational disputes and internal fraud investigations. 

Aakash has been recognised in the Who’s Who Legal’s Asset Recovery Guide for 2024. The listing recognises the foremost asset recovery lawyers and experts from both onshore and offshore jurisdictions.

Aakash is also the host of Control Risks’ Podcast series, Dispute Diaries which explores the world of disputes and investigations.

Nick is a dispute resolution partner in HFW's Dubai office, and has worked in the UAE since 2012. He has a broad commercial disputes practice with a focus on fraud and insolvency, as well as shareholder and joint venture disputes. He has significant experience litigating in the DIFC, ADGM and UAE onshore Courts, as well as major arbitral venues in the UAE and internationally. Nick was ranked as a "Rising Star" in Legal 500 2020 which stated that he "is seen as a trusted and experienced advisor in the market." In previous years, he was referred to by Legal 500 as "impressive and dependable." Nick is qualified in England and Wales.

Jonathan qualified in 2007. He is a commercially minded trial lawyer who trained and then qualified into corporate law so has exposure to transactional work.

His work focuses on litigation and dispute resolution work, frequently for banking and other lender clients in high value and complex disputes in the common law courts in the UAE and across the region including the DIFC, ADGM and QFC. He has helped clients recover significant losses (multi-million), both in ADR and at trial. Jonathan also advises clients in respect of asset recovery and the use of interim injunctions to prevent dissipation.

The Legal 500 mentions that “The organised and proactive… Jonathan Brooks is singled out for his strong grasp of the law’ and ‘excellent client-care skills.”

Jonathan has particular experience in cases involving Fraud / Deceit, Injunctions and enforcement or recognition (including Worldwide Freezing Orders, Search and Seizure Orders and Norwich Pharmacal Orders), issues around Disclosure / Electronic Disclosure, ADR, Arbitration and Mediation.

Prior to joining Al Tamimi & Company, Jonathan practised in England for 10 years within a leading tier one banking litigation firm.

Tariq Baloch’s practice encompasses international arbitration (international investment treaty claims and international commercial arbitration), public international law and commercial litigation. He is highly sought after for international arbitration and arbitration related court cases, and on three occasions has been recognised by his peers and the major directories as the International Arbitration junior of the year (2019, 2022 and 2024).  He is regularly instructed by parties and states as a lead advocate to conduct advocacy in high stakes cases most recently in a series of cases in the English Courts for the Kingdom of Spain and in multi-billion dollar arbitrations. His most recent victory was in the Court of Appeal (before Vos (MR), Flaux (Chancellor) and Snowden LJ) where as lead advocate he successfully defended an application to make Spain’s appeal conditional on paying into court c 120 million euros [2024] EWCA Civ 52.

In commercial arbitration, he has represented or advised private parties under all the major arbitral rules in a wide range of sectors. His experience includes acting for some of the world’s largest companies in high value complex arbitrations involving disputes around the world. His cases are often multi-jurisdictional and raise complex procedural and substantive private law questions, calling upon his expertise in the fields of restitution, contract and remedies (having taught the subjects and written a leading text on them). He is often instructed on technical cases to conduct the cross examination of the experts, including on quantum.

Alex Canfor-Dumas joined strategic advisory firm Hakluyt in 2021. He advises clients across industries, helping to inform decision-makers in a range of situations including disputes. Prior to Hakluyt, he was a partner at Flint Global, the policy and regulatory consultancy. Earlier in his career, he worked in the office of the prime minister of Uganda; at Bain & Company, where he supported corporate and private equity clients; and for former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Alex is a graduate of the University of Oxford

Richard Clarke is an English barrister focused on resolving international commercial disputes, typically involving cross-border claims, civil fraud and insolvency. He advises multinational corporations, investors and individuals on the monetization and defence of claims, financial instruments, judgments and arbitral awards. Mr. Clarke often assists clients facing atypical events with the potential to impact the future course their business, including in M&A, joint venture and shareholder disputes.

Mr. Clarke has acted in complex litigation in the High Court and Court of Appeal in London, DIFC Courts, ADGM Courts and Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). His arbitration portfolio includes awards rendered in accordance with major institutions and rules, including ICC, LCIA, DIAC, ICSID, HKIAC, UNCITRAL and LMAA.

He has been based in the Middle East for over eight years, and has been recognized by Chambers & Partners as "a star of the future," and the Legal 500 as having “made a major impact in the region.”

Martin Cubasch has over 10 years’ experience in legal practice, covering Banking and Finance, Derivatives, Asset Management, Financial Services and Digital Assets. After a law degree in London and several years there in private practice and in-house, he moved to Dubai in May 2022 to join Binance and immerse himself in the world of Digital Assets. 

Initially in a global, product-focussed role at Binance, he gained in-depth experience of the legal issues affecting the full product suite of Digital Asset exchanges, including Spot, Margin, Derivatives and Custody. Since April 2023, Martin has been Head of Legal MENA for Binance, overseeing all legal matters across the Middle East and Africa, including in particular the successful application for a VASP licence from VARA in Dubai.

Rebecca is a partner based in the Dubai office. She is the Head of both the Litigation and Dispute Management team and the Corporate Crime and Investigations/Financial Services Disputes and Investigations team in the Middle East. She is described by Legal 500 as "exceptionally astute", "reassuringly commercial" and a "noted name".

She is experienced in both common and local civil law systems, managing high profile and high value claims in the English, UAE, Bahraini and Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) courts. She was recently appointed to the DIFC Court Rules Committee, responsible for drafting the DIFC’s common law procedural rules and protocols. She supports clients on the entire cycle of litigation work including advisory work, injunctive relief, asset tracing and enforcement action. She has also managed numerous complex jurisdictional challenges both in the UAE and across the globe. She is commended by Chambers & Partners for her work on “financial disputes” being described as a lawyer who “focuses on understanding the business and devises tailored strategies to maximise prospects of recovery and minimise costs."

Hana Doumal is an independent arbitration practitioner based in Paris, focusing on work as counsel on commercial and investor-State arbitration and French court litigation, as well as appointments as arbitrator.

She has served in the arbitration sector at leading international firms and arbitral institutions in the British Virgin Islands, Hong Kong, Washington, D.C. and Paris. Before starting her own arbitration practice, Hana worked at the UNCITRAL Secretariat in Vienna, servicing Working Group III on the reform of investor-State dispute settlement. She has experience in commercial arbitration and investor-State arbitration, working in English, French and Spanish.

Ammar is the Founder and the Managing Partner of Incept Legal with offices in Dubai and Cairo. He brings 17 years of outstanding legal experience in the Middle East. Before setting up Incept Legal, he established and managed Khodeir and Partners in the UAE. He also worked at international firms, notably Stephenson Harwood (“SH”), and have advised and acted for multinational corporate clients and high-net-worth clients across contentious and non-contentious matters including clients in management consultancy, oil and gas, insurance, health and pharmaceutical, real estate development, government bodies, industrial, hospitality, media, entertainments, banks, payment solutions and finance.

Before joining SH, Ammar worked over nine years with Hadef & Partners. Hadef is a tier one litigation firm recognised by both Legal 500 and Chambers Global.

Ammar is an approved legal trainer for the Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department, delivering training to other law practitioners in both English and Arabic. Ammar provided legal training on topics including damages in focus, civil procedural law, enforcement of arbitral awards, legal project management, and empathy. Ammar’s sessions have been received very well by peers in the UAE. Examples of the feedback received include: "Honestly - the best session I have had in 3 years!" "Engaging and informative. Well versed in relevant experience. Well done!" "Thanks a lot for such an informative course.".

Ammar is a licensed Mental Health First Aider by Lighthouse Arabia (a leading mental health clinic in the UAE). He runs corporate events for his clients and to public on mental health, emotions, and behaviour in the workplace. Dubai Eye (radio station) have invited him several times to cover this topic and other topical issues in the UAE.

Ammar was the lead lawyer in a number of ground-breaking cases at l which resulted in the Dubai Court of Cassation and the UAE Federal Supreme handing down new legal precedents relating to topical legal issues in the UAE in addition to high profile cases,

James is Managing Partner of Dubai and Head of Dispute Resolution in the Middle East. He joined DWF in 2017 from a Band 1 listed firms Abu Dhabi office where he was Head of Dispute Resolution. 

James practices commercial litigation, arbitration and ADR and has specific expertise in complex litigation, high value asset recovery, enforcement and financial services litigation.

He has resolved business critical disputes before the DIFC, onshore UAE and English Courts and under the rules of the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), the Abu Dhabi Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration Centre (ADCCAC), the ICC Court of Arbitration, the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), and the DIFC-LCIA.

James represents banks, global IT companies, high profile funds and litigation funders. He also advises defence and security companies in the region on most areas of their business, including contracts with GHQ, the Presidential Guard, Tawazun Economic Council, issues with local agents and offset obligations.

James has more than 12 years’ experience in the Middle East and has rights of audience before the DIFC Courts. He is a member of the IBA Arab Regional Forum and the ADGM Court advisory group.

Jennifer is the head of the dispute resolution team in the Cayman Islands office. She is recognised in all the leading directories and has been practising in the Cayman Islands since 2009 (and in the BVI since 2008) and has substantial experience of all contentious issues coming before the Cayman Islands courts. Her practice spans all aspects of complex commercial litigation, fraud and asset tracing including crypto disputes, contentious insolvency and restructuring, and contentious private client work

Marijn Flinterman is responsible for the recovery and work-out of non-performing loans (NPLs) in connection with the EMEA focused Distressed Asset Recovery Program (DARP). In addition, Marijn works with insolvency practitioners, liquidators and creditors to help them unlock value captured in insolvent companies, by funding the pursuit of claims globally, by funding the estate and/or by purchasing complex claims.

Marijn has extensive expertise in the recovery of complex NPLs across the globe, including in bankruptcy scenarios, court-sanctioned restructurings, wind-downs and fraud cases. He holds a combined experience of more than 15 years as international debt and recovery specialist, both as lawyer (private practice and in-house) and as banker.

Marijn is an officer of the International Bar Association’s Asset Recovery Committee. He regularly speaks on recovery, funding and purchase of complex, cross-border claims, as well as on the application of litigation funding in insolvency scenarios.

Marijn holds an MBA degree from INSEAD France & Singapore (Dean’s List) and a Master’s degree in civil law from Erasmus University Rotterdam. He is fluent in Dutch and English and he understands German, Spanish, as well as basic French.

Majed Mohammed Garoub is a distinguished legal expert with extensive experience in sports law. He has served as a former member of the Legal Committee for the International Federation for Football Association (FIFA) and has been actively involved in various prestigious legal and sports organizations, including the International Association of Sports Law (IASL), the International Association of Lawyers (UIA), and the International Athlete Rights Association (IARA). He is also a former member of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee (SOAC) and the Paralympic Committee of Saudi Arabia (PCSA).

Garoub has held prominent positions as a legal consultant for the Football Association and the Professional League and has chaired the Legal Committee of the Football Association and the Saudi Automobile Association. With a remarkable career, he has participated in handling over 400 cases at both local and international levels before FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). His contributions have been instrumental in the adoption of the first constitutional system for the football federation and sports judiciary.

Patrick is Head of Charles Russell Speechlys LLP's Middle East practice (conducted from offices in Bahrain, Dubai and Qatar). Patrick is also Chair of the Global Markets Group, which co-ordinates the firm's international activities.

He specialises in all areas of dispute resolution with particular emphasis on banking, intellectual property, insolvency, professional negligence and company disputes.

Patrick has conducted litigation and arbitration in Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Italy, France, Ukraine, the USA and in all the GCC states as well as in all the courts within the English jurisdiction.

Patrick leads the award-winning Middle East Disputes team which won the ‘Bahrain Dispute Resolution Law Firm of The Year’ award at the Chambers Middle East Awards 2019. He is also a leading partner in the firm's International Arbitration Group which won the ‘International Arbitration Team of the Year’ award at the Legal Business Awards 2018.

Additionally, Patrick leads the Firm’s successful Bahrain office which won the ‘Bahrain Law Firm of The Year’ award at The Oath Legal Awards in 2018, 2019 and 2022 as well as the Firm’s UAE office which won the ‘UAE Law Firm of The Year’ award at The Oath Legal Awards in 2022 and the Firm’s Qatar office which was awarded ‘Qatar Law Firm of The Year’ at The Oath Legal Awards in 2023.

Patrick is one of the lead partners acting in the administration of Awal Bank B.S.C. which has involved over 75 different litigation and arbitration cases in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the USA and the Cayman Islands.

In addition to acting as Counsel in Arbitrations Patrick also sits as an Arbitrator and is included in the Legal 500 Middle East Arbitration Powerlists 2022 and 2023.

Patrick is admitted to practice in England and Wales and was awarded a CIArb Diploma in International Arbitration in July 2018.

He became a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in September 2018.

Peter is an experienced lawyer and adviser. With over two decades’ experience in resolving complex disputes and advising on white-collar crime matters, Peter is also frequently asked to advise on non-conentious matters. Peter also provides assistance for projects in a number of sectors across Africa.

After graduating from the University of Cambridge, Peter trained at the Bar. In 2000, he commenced his practicing career at LeBoeuf Lamb (later Dewey & LeBoeuf) in the City of London. In 2010 Peter moved to Dubai, where he headed up the regional disputes departments at two international firms, before establishing Kingsgrove Partners in 2015. Seeking to combine deep regional knowledge with an international mindset and provide clients with exceptional UAE legal services, he established ADG with Mohammed Al Dahbashi in 2017.

Much of Peter’s career has been focused on the Middle East and Africa. Whilst a firm believer in using the latest technology to improve processes and communication, Peter recognises that personal relationships are the foundation of business in the region. As such, Peter spends a great deal of time traveling throughout the Middle East and Africa to help clients achieve their goals. Always seeking innovative and proactive solutions for clients, Peter has a reputation for taking the time to understand his clients’ businesses and for being “commercially minded and cost sensitive”.

Peter has served on various committees, including the DIFC Courts Users Committee, Dubai Conservatives (Chairman), CIArb YMG Committee and the British-ChinaLaw Association. He is a long-standing committee member of the Oxford and Cambridge Society in the UAE. He has been published in leading journals and is often a keynote speaker at international conferences (including C5 and the Cambridge Symposium on Economic Crime).

In 2012, Peter helped found the HTC Advice Clinic in Dubai, a free service providing legal, careers and other advice. Together with Mohammed Al Dahbashi, he ensures that ADG remains committed to pro bono work. 

Ali Haidar is the Microsoft UAE, Corporate, External & Legal Affairs Lead Microsoft UAE, based in Dubai. In this role Ali covers a wide range of legal, regulatory, and government affairs matters. He also advises on strategic initiatives and partnerships that drive Microsoft's digital transformation vision in the UAE.

Ali is committed to fostering a culture of responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI), and regularly engages with customers, regulators, academics, and civil society, to promote responsible AI best practices and principles that align with Microsoft's core values of trust, accountability, and inclusivity.

Ali has over 18 years of multijurisdictional experience in the legal field, working in private practice, with firms such as Clifford Chance LLP in London, and in-house with multinationals in Canada and the UAE.

Ali holds a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from Osgoode Hall Law School, in Toronto, and a degree in Economics from Western University.

Gregg Hammond is a Legal Director at Pinsent Masons LLP in Dubai, UAE.  He has been practicing law in Dubai since 2020 and is a registered practitioner of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts.

He is a specialist commercial disputes lawyer who covers several lines of business, with a specific focus on contentious and non-contentious insurance.  He has over 10 years’ experience in advising insureds, insurers, reinsurers and intermediaries across the UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Gregg advises on a number of complex and high-profile disputes in both court and arbitration. He has extensive experience in (off and on-shore) insurance litigation, investigations and claims for and against financial institutions, contractors’ Professional Indemnity, management liability, cyber, commercial fraud and regulatory defence work, typically involving complex and cross-border matters.  He has extensive experience in coverage advice and defence for property and third-party damages arising from most lines of business.  He also has experience in energy, infrastructure, environmental and general liability claims. 

In having been identified as one of the Middle East and Africa’s insurance experts, his approach is focused on advising on and resolving disputes quickly and effectively with as little disruption to business as possible.  The confident and personable manner in which he engages clients ensures that he is able to build rapport and establish himself as an integrated extension of his clients’ business.

Robin Hickman is the Head of Region in Addleshaw Goddard for the Middle East.  He has been based in the region for over 15 years and specialises in conventional and Sharia compliant finance and debt restructuring matters and advises local and international banks, government / semi-government entities and blue-chip enterprises across a full spectrum of industries, including construction, infrastructure, energy and utilities, renewables and TMT. Robin has worked on many of the region's largest and most complex financings and high profile debt restructurings and is consistently ranked as a leading lawyer in the Middle East.

Henzie Healley is an accomplished and skilled, common law qualified lawyer living in Dubai but servicing clients from all around the world. Henzie studied Business Management in Canada, before going on to study lawin New Zealand. She qualified with an LLB with Honors in New Zealand and was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 2014. She then moved to Dubai in 2014 after being offered a permanent role at an international law firm she interned for during her school vacations. Early 2019 she founded her own legal consultancy. Her firm is a legal consultancy and registered ADGM Corporate Service Provider which is seeking to disrupt the status quo of traditional law firms by giving clients direct and ongoing access to senior legal counsel and improve on the provision of legal and corporate service provider services and the way that such services are provided. While the other lawyers that are a part of her team focus on different areas of law, Henzie saw a need for a good startup lawyer five years ago and has not looked back since. A seasoned entrepreneur herself and fintech enthusiast, Henzie has a passion for nurturing innovative startups by providing them the legal guidance and support that they need from seed to inception, to series rounds, all the way to IPO or exit. With over five years of hands-on experience in the startup industry, Henzie has played a pivotal role in the growth and success of many companies in the Middle East region. Recently having won the award for Pioneer in Digitalization, during the Impact Leadership Awards(2024), Legal Excellence Award during the Global Legal Summit (2024) and Startup and Investment Firm of the Year, UAE from the Global Legal Association (2024), Henzie and her fims have been recognized in the community for their contribution. As a trusted legal advisor and mentor, Henzie is committed to empowering the next generation of fintech pioneers, sharing their wealth of knowledge and expertise to inspire others to turn their bold ideas into reality. With a proven track record of success and a genuine passion for driving positive change through technology, Henzie continues to be a driving force in the fintech ecosystem, shaping the future of afinance one startup at a time. 

Richard is a litigation specialist focusing on commercial, capital markets and banking, insolvency, civil fraud and company litigation. Ranked as a leading silk across six different practice areas by Chambers and Partners UK Bar 2022, he has appeared in some of the most important cases in the Commercial Court and Chancery Division in recent years, including as the leading silk in Travelport and Ors v WEX, a landmark case on the interpretation of material adverse change clauses, and (alongside Robert Miles QC) in Autonomy and Ors v Lynch and Anor (widely described in the press as the UK’s biggest ever civil fraud trial).

Richard also has extensive experience of international and commercial arbitration tribunals, including ICSID (acting for both State and investor in arbitrations in 2021), ICC, UNCITRAL and LCIA. His work regularly features cross-border issues and large teams (often including lawyers from the US and other jurisdictions).

Richard has gained a reputation in recent years as an exceptional trial advocate, with a particular ability to master the complex and technical. He handles some of the largest trials, leading extensive teams. 

Richard was awarded Company/Insolvency Silk of the Year at the 2015 Chambers UK Bar Awards and Banking Silk of the Year at the 2018 Chambers UK Bar Awards.

Sophia has a broad commercial and chancery practice, encompassing a range of commercial litigation, fraud and asset recovery, banking and financial services, company, insolvency, and contentious trusts litigation.

Much of Sophia’s work has an international dimension; she is called to the bar in BVI and registered in DIFC and has a substantial practice before the courts of offshore jurisdictions and arbitral tribunals. She frequently advises on issues of jurisdiction and enforcement raised in cross-border disputes.

Sophia’s current and recent work includes acting in a complex cross-border banking fraud, and as part of the claimant team in Toucan Energy Holdings Ltd & Anr v Wirsol Energy Ltd & Ors [2021] EWHC 895 (Comm), a substantial Commercial Court dispute in the renewable energy sector.

Sophia is a contributing author to Gough on Company Charges and has delivered seminars and appeared on panels on a variety of topics, including at the ICC FraudNet 33rd conference, and the Private Client Global Elite Rising Leaders’ Forum 2021.

Dr. Mahmood Hussain, Founding Partner at M&CO Legal, has over 20 years of legal experience. He teaches UAE Sharia Law and Islamic Arbitration at the University of East Anglia, and UAE Labour and Employment Law at Pantheon-Assas University Paris II. A prominent litigator in Dubai Courts, he has secured numerous high-profile judgments and leads M&CO Legal’s corporate team on DIFC financial agreements. 

With rights of audience before the DIFC Courts and the UAE Federal Supreme Court, Dr. Mahmood is also an accredited International Arbitrator by DIAC and the Abu Dhabi Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration Center. He has overseen over 50 international arbitration cases and is a member of the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration. He chairs the ICC-UAE Commission on Arbitration and ADR and contributes to the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR in Paris. Dr. Mahmood was instrumental in establishing the DIFC Courts, serving as its first Deputy Registrar. 

Rita Jaballah is a Partner in Al Tamimi & Company’s Dispute Resolution practice and leads its International Litigation Group.

Rita has extensive experience of handling complex, high value local and international disputes. Prior to joining Al Tamimi & Company, Rita practised in a leading law firm in Melbourne and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in London, where she specialised in large scale and multi-jurisdictional litigation with a particular focus on financial services, regulatory disputes as well as general commercial litigation in the English Courts.

At Al Tamimi & Company, Rita specialises in advising and representing clients with respect to a wide range of commercial and DIFC related disputes and claims with a particular focus on DIFC Courts litigation and regulatory proceedings in the banking and financial services sector. In this regard, Rita has acted for prominent investment banks and financial institutions in a number of high profile and significant disputes in the banking and regulatory arena. She has been involved in the development of the DIFC Courts and currently sits as a member of the DIFC Courts’ Rules Sub-Committee. In addition, Rita advises and represents local and foreign businesses and financial institutions in a wide range of commercial, property, company and banking disputes under UAE, DIFC, English and International law.

Nicola specialises in insolvency-related disputes in the UAE and beyond, and in commercial and financial disputes before the DIFC Courts. Nicola has been in the Middle East since 2009.

Nicola acts for creditors, debtors and insolvency practitioners on a wide range of insolvency-related matters before the DIFC, ADGM and onshore UAE Courts, including advising office holders in their capacity as such, and utilising the procedures available in the UAE Courts to support the ultimate aim of the appointment, and to facilitate recoveries for creditors. Nicola advises on the various insolvency and restructuring-related processes in the UAE, and relevant stakeholder rights and duties, and is part of the Charles Russell Speechlys team acting on the liquidation of Awal Bank BSC(c).

Nicola also specialises in commercial and financial disputes before the DIFC Courts and in particular, freezing orders and matters relating to jurisdiction challenges. Nicola has acted on a number of high profile and/or seminal cases in this regard, including Credit Suisse v Goel, the first ever “Courts of Dubai” ‘opt-in’ case under Article 5(A)(2) of the Judicial Authority Law, and AIG v QIC and UIC v IPMR, which continue to develop the line of jurisprudence relating to jurisdiction challenges in the DIFC Courts.

Counselor Dr. Marian is the first Executive Director of the Egyptian Centre for Arbitration and Settlement of NonBanking Financial Disputes – ECAS.
Dr. Marian is recognized for her legal excellence having held several positions throughout her career at the Egyptian Administrative Prosecution Authority and the Ministry of Justice including being a Counselor at the General Department for Arbitration and International Disputes. Dr. Kaldas is also a registered arbitrator at the Ministry of Justice and served as member of the Legislative Committee at the National Council for Women.

She is the first Egyptian woman featured on the University of Montreal’s website in recognition of her successful and inspiring career. Dr. Kaldas is also a lecturer at the National Anti-Corruption Academy in Egypt, the Egyptian Institute of Directors (EIOD) as well as the Financial Services Institute (FSI) at the Financial Regulatory Authority.

She holds a Ph.D. in Law from the University of Montreal in Canada with the highest distinction “Exceptional”, a Master's degree in Law from Indiana University, a Bachelor's degree in business administration from the American University in Cairo and a Bachelor's degree in Law from Cairo University.

Dr. Kaldas is the recipient of The Law Award for the most influential women of the year 2023.

Ali is a founding associate of AS Legal Consultants, a boutique firm with full rights of audience in all courts of the UAE, and with multiple sector focusses. Called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2015, and now a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales, Ali leads on web3, AI and cybersecurity matters – both contentious and non-contentious – across the firm and operates the corporate governance offering through their partner firm, Senebria. His regulatory focus is on emerging technologies across the UK, Europe and the UAE, and he sat on the focus groups for the development of VARA in December 2022.

Yousr Khalil is a Partner at FRA and heads the Paris Office. She is a forensic accountant with over 20 years’ experience in matters involving fraud and corruption, government contracts litigation & disputes, internal investigations in the US, Latin America, Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Asia. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF).

Yousr led the FRA team supporting Airbus in a multi-year forensic accounting and eDiscovery review within the context of the company’s multinational investigation, reporting to four investigative authorities: UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO), the US Department of Justice (DOJ), the US Department of State (DOS) and French Parquet National Financier (PNF). FRA’s work involved the analysis of large volumes of financial data to satisfy the demands of dozens of teams of instructing lawyers and reporting to authorities. Yousr managed a global team of more than 70 professionals across FRA offices and departments. She liaised with a wide range of stakeholders within the client company from finance staff to the C-suite as well as working with international legal teams to answer multiple regulators requests.

Prior to FRA, Yousr worked for Kroll in Dubai as a senior director and was a key member of its Middle East financial investigations practice. Yousr has also worked as a managing consultant for Navigant Consulting advising on complex financial reporting and financial restatements accounting issues and FCPA investigations, and as an auditor for Arthur Andersen.

She has experience supporting clients in addressing their Sarbanes Oxley (SOX) and government contracts compliance issues in a wide range of industries, including: professional services; oil and gas; manufacturing; biotechnology; engineering; and information technology. 

Robert is the Regional Head of Disputes and Government Investigations Legal (Africa & Middle East) at Standard Chartered Bank. He studied law at the London School of Economics (2003, LLB Hons first class), was called to the Bar of England & Wales in 2004, and practised in London before moving to Dubai in 2009. He spent seven years in the disputes team at Al Tamimi & Co., and during his time in private practice handled a number of complex commercial disputes and contentious regulatory matters, appearing regularly before the DIFC Courts and arbitral tribunals as an advocate. He joined Standard Chartered Bank in 2017 and regularly speaks on topics concerning investigations, dispute resolution, and sanctions.

James Lloyd is a London-based barrister and the Deputy Head of Regulation and Professional Discipline at Mountford Chambers, specialising in regulatory compliance and cases involving technology, fraud, and asset recovery. His recent work in artificial intelligence and technology law has involved advising on regulatory compliance, privacy issues, and the legal ramifications of AI implementation. He has represented corporates and individuals in disputes where technology intersects with law, both before tribunals and in providing guidance on data protection and cybersecurity breaches, as well as the ethical considerations of AI use in business practices.

In the realm of fraud and asset recovery, James has been involved in several high-profile financial crime cases, including complex frauds involving cryptocurrencies and other digital assets, and acted in one of the first criminally-prosecuted frauds in the UK involving the use of AI to impersonate victims and facilitate identity theft. He has acted in some of the longest-running investigations into serious fraud conducted by the UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO), and in one of the largest cases involving the appeal of enforcement notices issued by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) brought before the UK Upper Tribunal in recent years. He is often instructed in confiscation and asset recovery proceedings, working with regulatory bodies including the FCA and the SFO, having acted both in criminal and civil recovery matters. His current caseload includes civil recovery proceedings against a UK government body.

Marcelo Lucidi is a partner of DFA (Brazil), specialising in cross-border insolvency, asset recovery and distressed M&A. He has experience both in the transactional area, in projects of reorganisation and purchase of publicly and closely held companies, and in commercial litigation with a focus on insolvency. He has advised investors in the purchase of assets of companies in judicial reorganisation or bankruptcy. In the area of international recovery of assets, he advises financial institutions, trustees and a variety of creditors in identifying and recovering assets diverted as a result of bankruptcy fraud as well as fraud in the capital markets.

Dr Amel Makhlouf is an independent counsel and arbitrator (Paris/London), specialising in international arbitration, banking and finance, Islamic law and finance, and laws of the Arab Middle East. She has gained extensive experience in cross-border disputes and arbitral proceedings based in the MENA region.

She has acted in arbitral proceedings conducted under the auspices of the ICC, HKIAC, DIAC, BCDR-AAA, as well as ad-hoc proceedings under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules across a wide range of sectors. She has experience of international arbitrations governed by various laws, notably those of Algeria, Bahrain, France, England and Wales, Hong Kong, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

Her diverse expertise encompasses mediating disputes involving consumers and traders in various sectors, including telecommunications and e-commerce. She has served as mediator in over 350 mediation proceedings.

Dr Amel Makhlouf is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb since 2019), a research associate at the Centre of Islamic and Middle Eastern Law (CIMEL) of SOAS University of London and belongs to the Management Committee of the SOAS Arbitration and Dispute Resolution Centre (SADRC). She is also a lecturer in both, international arbitration and banking and finance, at the Paris Bar School (EFB).

Dr Amel Makhlouf holds a PhD in Islamic law and finance from the Sorbonne Law School and was a Visiting Researcher at the Islamic Finance Project at Harvard University. She is the former Managing Editor for the Country Surveys of the Yearbook of Islamic and Middle Eastern Law (Vol. 21 & 22), the leading English language journal covering contemporary Islamic laws and laws of the Middle East.

In June 2023, she submitted a report to the Qatar Financial Centre addressing the challenges faced by the rise of FinTech and cryptocurrency in the MENA region. She is a national of Algeria and France.

Sarah Malik is an award-winning lawyer who achieved Litigator of the Year (2022) at the first GCC Women in Law Awards and received an honourable mention as the Law Firm Leader of the Year category at the same awards. She set up SOL, a boutique legal practice in the UAE in 2018. SOL has since become a household name both in the UAE and worldwide, and has been listed as a ‘Firm to Watch in Dispute Resolution’ by Legal 500 EMEA. Sarah is a published author of two legal texts, a visiting lecturer in law, an arbitrator, acts as Counsel in multi-jurisdictional disputes and is an international public speaker who trains governments and judiciaries worldwide. 

Sarah is also retained as personal advisor to UHNW, acts as external GC, and undertakes sports, fashion, and entertainment law.

Sebina is a UK qualified solicitor working between the UK and UAE. She began her legal career at a city law firm in the UK over fifteen years ago and now works cross-border bridging the gap for international clients between UK and UAE for corporate, civil, commercial and criminal matters (removal of travel bans/deportation/arrest warrants etc...), real estate and arbitration law matters. International clients receive legal solutions for their needs and challenges.

Sebina has international experience in dealing with a mixture of litigation, dispute resolution, negotiation, company set-up (VARA, DIFC, ADGM, RAKDAO), commercial contracts (reviewing, drafting, negotiating), and sports and entertainment law contracts.

She is a member of the Manchester and London Chambers of Commerce and advocates for equality and diversity focusing on underrepresented groups to correct misconceptions and cross-cultural differences breaking away from conventional norms. Sebina embraces inclusivity, paving the way for a more diverse future with supportive systems.

Roberto has over 13 years of experience managing corporate intelligence engagements, including integrity due diligence investigations, asset-tracing engagements and large-scale corruption, fraud and financial crime investigations. He joined Accuracy in October 2019 and is based out of their Paris and Dubai offices.

Prior to joining Accuracy, Roberto worked for Deloitte in New York and Dubai. A Middle East analyst at heart (as an Arabic and French speaker), Roberto’s experience across the three financial hubs of Dubai, New York City, and Paris has given his career a more global focus, and he now spends most of his time leading teams in complex, cross-jurisdictional investigations.

Roberto is a Certified Fraud Examiner and a graduate of Kings College London and the American University of Beirut. 

Alex is the head of Enforcement and Asset Recovery at Deminor Litigation Funding, where he helps clients monetise judgments and arbitral awards. Alex has close to 20-years’ experience in tracing and recovering assets misappropriated through economic crime, pursuing recalcitrant debtors, such as high-net-worth individuals and nation states, legal finance and complex cross-border investigations. Alex started his career as a case manager for the UK’s Revenue & Customs Prosecutions Office, Asset Forfeiture Division. In 2006, he was called to the Bar of England & Wales and then worked for leading City of London law firms specialising in complex cross-border commercial disputes. Immediately before joining Deminor, Alex led the disputes practice at a global risk consultancy.

Patrick Meaney joined the DFSA in January 2018 and has 30 years of experience in regulating financial markets and services.

Prior to joining the DFSA, Mr. Meaney was a Manager in the Wholesale Enforcement Department of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for almost seven years focusing on misconduct on listed and OTC financial markets.

Prior to the FCA, Mr. Patrick worked in senior legal, regulatory enforcement and forensic investigation roles in Australia, Hong Kong, and Japan. This included serving as General Counsel and Head of Enforcement at the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority and Head of Listing Enforcement at Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited.

He is admitted to practice Law in Australia and has postgraduate qualifications in Law and Applied Finance.

Zara practises across the full range of work undertaken by Chambers, including: insolvency, company law, commercial litigation and arbitration, civil fraud, and banking and financial services.

She is ranked in the Legal 500 as a Leading Junior in Insolvency Law and a Rising Star in Company Law, and by Chambers and Partners as an ‘Up and Coming’ Junior in Company Law. She is also ranked in the Legal 500: EMEA as a Leading Junior in the Middle East: the English Bar/Commercial.

Zara regularly appears as both sole and junior counsel in the High Court, and has cross-examination experience. As a member of the Attorney General’s ‘C’ Panel of Counsel, she also undertakes civil work for the UK Government in addition to her private practice. In addition to her UK-based work, Zara is a registered Part II practitioner in the DIFC Courts, and regularly acts in matters in the DIFC and ADGM.

Before coming to the Bar, Zara read Classics and Modern Languages at the University of Oxford, spending her year abroad in Paris. After her degree, she spent time living and working in Kazakhstan and Hong Kong. She has maintained her interest in both jurisdictions: she has rights of audience in the AIFC Court in Kazakhstan and was awarded the 2018 Inner Temple Pegasus Scholarship to Hong Kong.

Karim is a Partner in the Hadef & Partners Dispute Resolution team in Dubai. A US qualified attorney, Karim is a Part II qualified Practitioner with the DIFC Courts and appears regularly before arbitration tribunals. 

His experience and skill in this area makes him an invaluable member of both the Dispute Resolution team and for our international client base.  His dynamic experience encompasses working for both multinational and local entities regarding all manner of disputes in the local UAE Courts, arbitration proceedings, and the DIFC Courts. His practice includes a broad range of commercial matters with particular expertise in shareholder, commercial agency, banking, and real estate disputes.

Ben Mellett is an international dispute resolution lawyer based in Dubai.

Ben joined the Norton Rose Fulbright London office in September 2013 where he completed his training contract. Upon qualification Ben spent two years in the commercial disputes team in London before moving to Dubai in October 2017.

Ben has extensive experience of high-value, cross-border disputes across a broad range of industry sectors. His experience comprises a mixture of international arbitration (including LCIA, ICC, DIAC, BVIIAC and UNCITRAL proceedings) and litigation before the DIFC, ADGM and English Courts. He has also represented clients in the BVI Commercial Court, Court of Appeal and Privy Council.

In addition to advising on general commercial disputes, Ben has particular experience in shareholder / joint venture disputes.

Ben read law at the University of Durham and completed the Postgraduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Law at the University of Oxford.

Richard Millett KC has a broad commercial practice covering a variety of different specialist areas, with an emphasis on advocacy in court and in arbitration and other tribunals. He specialises in banking and financial markets, hedge fund and private equity disputes, insurance and reinsurance, insolvency, energy, and media and entertainment. He regularly appears in the Chancery Division, Commercial Court, the Court of Appeal and numerous arbitrations, both in London and overseas.

Maria Mulla has a busy commercial chancery litigation practice with a particular emphasis on commercial disputes (domestic and international), civil fraud, joint venture disputes, all aspects of company and partnership law (shareholder remedies, director duties, derivative claims, corporate governance, CSR obligations), and corporate and personal insolvency.

Maria is registered in Part II of the Dubai International Financial Centre’s Register of Legal Practitioners and is presently instructed on several high value matters proceeding in the DIFC.

Maria also has a passion for helping individuals where there is a public interest element to their case. Maria is proud to be representing a large number of women in their fight for accountability and justice against Harrods.

Georgina has been based in the Middle East since 2013 and advises on commercial dispute resolution, cross border enforcement and both domestic and international arbitration.

Georgina advises on complex cross border disputes, cross-jurisdictional contractual disputes, issues arising under shareholder and joint venture agreements and wide-ranging disputes concerning commercial contracts. Georgina also assists clients in managing disputes and minimising the need to resort to formal legal proceedings where possible.

The majority of Georgina’s practice involves acting for corporates and financial institutions in international commercial arbitration across the MENA region and globally. She is experienced in advising and acting on cases involving multi-jurisdictional issues.

Prior to joining Al Tamimi & Company, Georgina was a senior associate at Charles Russell Speechlys where she gained vast experience in cross-border disputes, in both arbitration and litigation forums.

Georgina is recognised by leading legal publications as a Rising Star (Legal500) and is an Associate to watch (Chambers).

Aysha is a Partner at Mena Chambers Bahrain.  She has right of audience before the Cassation and Constitutional Courts of Bahrain.  She is an international arbitration practitioner and a litigation lawyer with 15 years of experience.  Ms. Mutaywea has been a member of the ICC Court of Arbitration (2018-2024).  She is the Chairperson of the ICC ADR and Arbitration Commission of Bahrain.  She is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of ICC Bahrain and is listed on the ICSID Panel for arbitrators and conciliators.  She is currently representing Bahrain in UNCITRAL Working Group 3 (Investor State Dispute Settlement Reform).  She sat as arbitrator in more than 20 cases and works as counsel in arbitration with a special focus on the Middle East region.a

Zoe O’Sullivan KC is ranked by the Legal 500 as a Leading Silk (Tier 1) for Middle East-the English Bar (Commercial) and by Chambers Global as a Leading Silk for Dispute Resolution (The English Bar-UAE).

She has appeared in some of the most important recent cases in the DIFC Court including Lateef v Liela (freezing orders in support of foreign proceedings), Horizon Energy LLC v Al Buhaira National Insurance Company DIFCA 015/22 (jurisdiction challenges) and Neel v Nadir [2024] DIFC CA 001(enforcing interim relief ordered by an arbitral tribunal). She represents the appellant in a current appeal (Carmon v Cuenda) where the appellant is asking the Court of Appeal to overrule its previous judgment in Sandra Holding rejecting jurisdiction to grant interim relief in support of pending foreign proceedings.

Zoe’s extensive commercial practice in the DIFC and London extends to such matters as freezing orders, anti-suit injunctions, jurisdiction challenges and arbitration applications. Her subject matter expertise includes fraud, shareholder disputes, hotel management, banking and finance, insurance and reinsurance, asset recovery, oil and gas and IT/outsourcing.

Clients say: “Zoe O’Sullivan KC is brilliant.   She is super responsive, really intelligent and very, very practical.  She is always available at the other end of the phone” and "Zoe’s strengths are a combination of her incredible sharp mind and the speed at which she can deliver comprehensive, thought-through advice to issues as they arise..”

Zoe is also regularly appointed as a sole, presiding and co-arbitrator in ad hoc and institutional arbitrations under the DIAC, LCIA, ICC, SIAC, HKIAC and UNCITRAL rules. 

William has more than 25 years of experience advising on matters ranging from seed series investments for start-ups, to complex, multi-billion dollar matters across numerous jurisdictions. His experience includes advising on M&A, joint ventures, private equity and venture capital transactions, restructurings and compliance matters.

William’s client base is very diverse and includes local and international clients across a broad range of industry sectors with a particular focus on technology, healthcare, retail, energy and real estate. He is regularly invited to speak at industry and legal events related to these sectors and various other areas.

Prior to moving to the Middle East in 2015, William was based in Moscow, Russia for ten years where he was a founding partner and head of the office of a major international firm. During his tenure in Russia, William advised on some of the largest and most complex M&A, joint venture and private equity investments and transactions in the Russian market. His international experience also includes work in Brussels, Belgium and Paris, France.

Amira has extensive experience with contentious matters ranging from local and international arbitrations, as well as a deep understanding of UAE local court processes. Having worked with some of the leading UK and US law firms in the UAE and the UK, Amira’s grasp of complex, cross-border, commercial litigations includes knowledge of the oil and gas, aviation, professional services, and general consumer industries. 

Currently, and after 10 years with private practice firms, Amira is a Legal Manager within PwC Dubai’s Office of the General Counsel, as an in-house practitioner. Amira’s focus remains on contentious matters, and her practice is still centered around dispute resolution.

Sharif is a Tier 1 Commercial Chancery Silk and a former economist and derivatives trader. The breadth and depth of his practice is such that he is recognised in eight practice areas in Chambers & Partners UK Bar, six practice areas in Legal 500 and five practice areas in Chambers Global. As a former investment banker, he has market-leading expertise in banking and financial services (including regulatory matters) and valuation disputes. He is well known in the market as a court advocate and arbitration counsel in commercial, banking and finance, company, insolvency, partnership and commercial fraud litigation. He has been involved in some of the largest commercial disputes in recent years (see in particular, the Hewlett-Packard/Autonomy and The Republic of Mozambique/Credit Suisse litigation). Sharif has a particular specialism in cross-examining experts on complex financial products or valuation issues.

Having completed successful spells in the public sector with the Financial Markets Authority of Tunisia, and the legal department of BNP Paribas Tunisia, Dr. Souhayel moved to Paris to be part of the in-house legal team in charge of derivatives transactions of BNP Paribas Corporate and Investment Banking (while simultaneously completing a Ph.D.) in Paris.

Following more than 10 years spent in Paris, Dr. Souhayel Tayeb felt the need to diversify his experience by doing corporate finance and project finance banking transactions and decided that moving to the Middle East in-house legal community would be the best opportunity for this; he therefore moved there in 2012. After one year as Senior Legal Counsel with Mashreqbank, he has been in place at Commercial Bank of Dubai since December 2013.

He has a number of notable project and corporate finance transactions to look back on fondly. He has also successfully managed and completed multiple hedging deals, complex restructuring transactions and recovery actions, all while taking care of the company secretariat and corporate governance aspects.

Simon Taylor, CIPP/E, CIPM is a Partner in FRA's Dubai office and Head of MEA. He is a certified data privacy expert in FRA’s forensic accounting team with 20 years’ experience in investigations, financial crime and regulatory enquiries. He advises clients on the design, implementation and testing of compliance programmes across a range of industries and sectors, corporate governance and data privacy issues.

Simon’s areas of expertise include money laundering, bribery, corruption, sanctions abuse, tax evasion and corporate fraud. He works with both external and in-house counsel to corporations and financial institutions, bringing a multi-disciplinary approach to resolving complex matters. In addition to his investigatory expertise, Simon advises companies on the structure, design and testing of their compliance programs, helping them rise to best-in-class standards across key jurisdictions. His international experience extends to numerous geographies – including the UK, US, Switzerland, France, the Nordic region, Eastern Europe, Russia, India and China – and a variety of sectors.

Simon was part of the FRA team supporting Airbus in a multi-year forensic accounting and eDiscovery review within the context of the company’s multinational investigation, reporting to four investigative authorities: UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO), the US Department of Justice (DOJ), the US Department of State (DOS), and French Parquet National Financier (PNF). He supported the risk assessment and evaluation of the company’s global anti-bribery and corruption (ABC) compliance program.

Simon is a dual qualified lawyer (solicitor and barrister) and an editor of the leading academic textbook on the UK Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 – Mitchell Taylor & Talbot “Confiscation and the Proceeds of Crime” published by Sweet & Maxwell – in which he writes the “Investigations” chapter.

Prior to joining FRA, Simon gained invaluable experience as a trial lawyer with 15 years’ experience of jury, appellate and tribunal advocacy. He prosecuted cases on behalf of UK enforcement agencies, including the Serious Fraud Office, and defended corporates and individuals faced with complex white-collar crime, money laundering, tax and professional disciplinary matters. Simon has also served as head of Weil Gotshal & Manges’ London White Collar practice. Prior to qualifying as a lawyer, Simon worked in-house at a global investment bank.

Simon is based in FRA’s Dubai office. He also provides in-house support to the firm on compliance, forensic accounting and data governance practices.

Prior to joining Fichte & Co., she has worked for few major investment conglomerates in the region and gained valuable experience while heading the corporate and commercial practice of several law firms in Dubai. In her over 17 years career span, she acted across various jurisdictions in the European Union, having a recognized experience in advising high net worth individuals or working at the crossroads of multiple systems of Law. In addition, she has worked for governmental institutions and for intergovernmental organizations as well.

She holds a master’s and a PhD in International Law and has studied in prestigious institutions across Europe and Asia. Laura has a keen interest in niche areas of Law, such as the Law of the Sea, Outer Space Law or in the legal aspects of disruptive technologies such as blockchain or technology, where she is currently specializing.

She is a book author and university lecturer in the field of Law. She is also a habitual contributor to various legal publications and legal training programs.

She is fluent in English, French, Spanish & Romanian.

James is ranked in Tier 1 for Private Client: Trusts and Probate (Legal 500 (2021)) and is ranked as a leading practitioner in Legal 500, Chambers UK Bar, Chambers High Net Worth, Chambers Global, and Who’s Who Legal across a number of different fields, where he is described as a “brilliant lawyer” and a “superstar”.

James has acted in some of the most significant trust cases in recent years including: Wong v Grand View Private Trust Company and ors (Civil Appeal No. 5A of 2019 (invalidating decisions based on loss of substratum) ) (to be heard by the Privy Council in March 2022); Wong v Grand View Private Trust Company and ors (Case No.44 of 2018) (5 month trial of claims to set aside trusts with assets worth around $20 billion); Sofer v SwissIndependent Trustees Ltd [2020] W.T.L.R. 1075 (CA) (claim for fraudulent breach of trust); Schwartz v VGV (UK) Ltd [2020] EWHC 3500 (Ch) (committal proceedings against trustee and protector); Hartogs v Sequent (Schweiz) AG [2020] W.T.L.R. 505 (setting aside transfers for mistake).

David is Head of Dispute Resolution in the Middle East and Practice Partner of Ogier's Dubai office. He is a barrister with broad experience of commercial and financial disputes, with a focus on cross-border company, trusts, insolvency and restructuring matters. He has extensive advocacy experience at first instance and on appeal

Natalie is an English law qualified solicitor with over 16 years of private practice, in-house and advisory experience. Natalie has extensive experience in multi-jurisdictional disputes specialising in multi-billion dollar contract, fraud, investigative and unwinding disputes across the UAE, the BVI, the Channel Islands, England, Europe, Singapore and the United States. As part of her practice, she regularly advises on managing dispute risk and avoidance. Natalie also has experience as strategic counsel to a wide array of clients, from regional and multi-national corporates to start-ups, advising on implementing and documenting internal policies, investments and operations documentation, governance and regulatory compliance.

Matt is a Partner in the Finance and Restructuring team in London. Matt specialises in loan trading, portfolio sales (both performing and non-performing), and balance sheet transactions for financial institutions as well as buy-side participants and loan servicers in the secondary loan market and other types of debt purchase transactions.

Before his role at DWF, Matt was a corporate banker at a UK bank and was responsible for the design and execution of balance sheet deleveraging activities and regulatory capital solutions, and latterly the commercial lead for loan distribution.
Matt has acted on some of Europe's largest NPE/NPL transactions (buy and sell side) in both a commercial and legal capacity to an aggregate gross book value of over £50bn. These transactions include the strategic withdrawal by a UK bank from Ireland, Portugal, and Spain and the first-ever Cypriot NPE loan portfolio sale.
Matt has represented many other UK banks in multiple jurisdictions across a wide range of asset class disposals (in both debt and equity), driven by deleveraging and regulatory capital considerations, such as shipping, CRE, infrastructure, and corporate lending.

Robert has a broad commercial and financial dispute practice, with specialist focus in agreements arising out of property, infrastructure, finance, banking and shareholder disputes, as well as wider fraud.

He practised at Clyde & Co LLP in England in claims before the Commercial Court and Chancery Division of the High Court and Court of Appeal where he handled large loss claims for international blue-chip clients from a variety of commercial industries in complex, multi-party and cross-jurisdictional disputes.

He has substantial international experience before arbitral tribunals and in the courts of offshore jurisdictions, in particular, the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts (“DIFC Courts”). Robert’s work involves issues as to applicable law, jurisdiction and cross border enforcement including handling multi-jurisdiction enforcement of judgments and arbitral awards.

He regularly represents clients in arbitrations governed by various institutional rules including DIAC, DIFC-LCIA and ICC and has represented several high-profile individuals in the region in high-value employment disputes.

Commercial arbitrator, mediator and lawyer

• Dr Aseel Zimmo is the managing partner a dispute avoidance and resolution consultancy. She brings a wealth of experience in navigating complex dispute resolution mechanisms. She is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and served as an arbitrator in many proceedings both institutional and ad hoc proceedings under the UNITRAL rules and issued awards in Arabic and in English. She is also on the LCIA, DIAC, SCCA, CRCICA, Oman Arbitration Centre and ICADRP arbitrator panels as well as she registered arbitrator at the Bahraini Ministry of Justice.
• She also an experienced commercial mediator. She registered mediator at the Bahraini Ministry of Justice and a member of the advisory committee of the Mediation Hub. She was involved in the drafting of Bahraini mediation law and regulations.
• As the former senior advisor to the Bahraini Chief Justice and Minister of Justice, she has extensive experience in drafting laws and regulations.
• She has conducted professional training for lawyers and practitioners in negotiation, arbitration and mediation. She also sat on many panels at various arbitration events.

• Dr Zimmo is experienced in both Civil and Common law jurisdictions as she graduated with a PhD from the LSE in international commercial arbitration and with an LLM from Kings College, London. She is also a qualified lawyer in New York and Jordan. She also practiced law in London, New York and Amman, through which appeared before arbitration tribunal and worked as tribunal secretary. She has deep understanding of Bahraini law.
• She taught civil and commercial law at the London School of Economics, University of Bahrain, the Royal University for Women and American University of Bahrain. She also conducted many workshops and training for judges and lawyers.