DIFC COURTS - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Legal Director

Adam Bradshaw focuses on all aspects of international and domestic arbitration, offshore litigation and alternative dispute resolution and has experience in the UK, Middle East and Australia. Adam has dispute resolution experience acting for both private and public organisations in a wide variety of sectors, including information technology, construction and telecommunications.

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Member of Committee

Adrian is a commercial dispute resolution specialist. He has substantial experience handling a wide range of general commercial disputes through litigation, arbitration, or alternative dispute resolution (ADR). He regularly represents his clients as Counsel in arbitrations governed by various institutional rules including DIAC, DIFC-LCIA, ICC, and LMAA. He has also been appointed as a Sole Arbitrator by DIAC for several arbitration matters. He is a member of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA). Adrian has developed particular experience handling multi-jurisdiction enforcement of judgments and arbitration awards including directly through the UAE Courts or through the DIFC Court as a conduit court for enforcement in onshore Dubai. He has appeared as an expert witness before Courts and Arbitration Tribunals including, before the Sudanese Courts on enforcement of foreign court judgments in England. For a considerable part of his legal career Adrian specialised in handling shipping and international trade matters in London (with Waterson Hicks, a boutique specialist shipping and international trade practice) and in Hong Kong (with Clyde & Co) and this remains an important part of his work load. He handles both contentious and non-contentious shipping work. As well as dealing with charterparty and bill of lading disputes he has considerable experience of shipping finance, newbuilding and vessel repair and ship sale/purchase transactions.

Job Titles:

• CEO
• Founder
• Founder & CEO of Ahmed Al Raeesi Advocates & Legal Consultants

Ahmed Al Raeesi is the Founder & CEO of Ahmed Al Raeesi Advocates & Legal Consultants, and he brings experienced and masterful guidance in navigating the legal landscape of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He has a distinguished track record of representing clients before the courts of the UAE, including the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts and the Abu Dhabi Global Market Courts. For over a decade, he has been serving as a member of the Technical Committee for Legislations in the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, acquiring expertise in drafting and revising the laws and regulations of Dubai and the UAE. Ahmed Al Raeesi was also the Senior Legal Counsel and Head of Government Legal Affairs at Dubai World Corporation (DW). Further, he became the Head of the Information Security Committee in DW. Alongside these titles, he was appointed as the Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Development and Planning Dept. - Trakhees at Port, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), from its inception in 2009. During his time in General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), he was awarded on multiple accounts; with a first-degree medal for 10 years of excellent service from Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum and a first-degree medal for 10 years of sincere service from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Ahmed Al Raeesi received further accolades at the GDRFA for being their Top Employee and a Certificate of Appreciation from the Dubai Government for participating in the design and implementation of the first-ever Dubai Strategic Plan (2007-2015). Besides his awards and accomplishments, Ahmed Al Raeesi is a certified Arbitrator at the Dubai International Arbitration Center (DIAC). He is also a certified Lecturer at the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development and the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid's Dubai Entrepreneurship Academy. His passion for Entrepreneurship has led him to be an Executive Board Member and Secretary General of the Emirates Entrepreneurs Association (EEA). He is an alumnus of the Dubai Police Academy. He has obtained a Bachelor of Law and a Higher Diploma in Public International Law there.

Job Titles:

• Legal Advisor

Ahmed Al Shamsi is a Legal Advisor in Telecommunication and Digital government Regulatory Authority. He oversees certain legal, regulatory and compliance matters across the Telecom sector and smart government projects. Previously he served as a Senior Legal Officer with ICT Fund the funding arm of TDRA. Before joining TDRA, Al Shamsi worked as a Head of procurement and contracts in Sharjah Finance Department.

Job Titles:

• Member of Committee
• Raeesi Founder and Director General

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Member of Committee

Legal Expert for ship finance matters, Alessandro Tricoli‘s broad knowledge further encompasses many areas of the firm's contentious work, with a particular emphasis on charter party and cargo disputes in which he advises a number of the firm's shipping clients and P&I Clubs. Consequently, Alessandro regularly deals with foreign counsel and drafts counter expert reports for the UAE Courts. Given his finance background, Alessandro's clients naturally include ultra-high net worth families and individuals, and their family offices or private investments companies, for whom he regularly advises on wealth structuring and management as well as wealth and legacy protection. Before joining Fichte & Co Alessandro practiced in Italy with a top-tier insurance law firm, during which time he also assisted the Chair of Maritime Law at the University of Bologna. He then moved to the UK to enhance his knowledge of Maritime Law, studying at the University of Southampton and gaining international work experience in London. Alessandro Tricoli is named as a recommended lawyer in the Legal 500 EMEA since 2011, who "gives sound, relevant, advice on the matter at hand." He is included in the Who's Who Legal (Transport), and was recognized as Shipping & Maritime Lawyer of the Year (UAE 2016). He is a regular speaker at presentations and seminars as well as a habitual contributor to different journals on various legal topics.

Job Titles:

• Senior Corporate Counsel, UAE Lead Corporate, External & Legal Affairs

Ali is the Corporate, External, and Legal Affairs Leader for Microsoft's UAE operations. He obtained his law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University, in Toronto, and is admitted to the Law Society of Ontario, Canada, as Barrister and Solicitor. Ali has approximately 17 years of experience as a lawyer, working for international law firms and multinational organizations in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates. He is a trusted advisor to senior business executives, across various industries in the Middle East, Europe, and Canada, including public sector, health care, manufacturing, and technology. Prior to joining Microsoft, Ali was General Counsel Middle East and Africa at 3M Company.

Job Titles:

• Senior Judge of Court of Appeal and Head of International Relations of Judicial Affairs

In 2022, H.E. Justice Ali Al Madhani was appointed by the Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, as a Deputy Chief Justice of the DIFC Courts. Justice Al Madhani also served as a Senior Judge of Court of Appeal and Head of International Relations of Judicial Affairs at the DIFC Courts, during which, he expanded his expertise within the complex commercial, financial, and civil cases, and oversaw the DIFC Courts international connectivity with civil and commercial jurisdictions across the globe. H.E. Justice Ali Al Madhani's journey with the DIFC Courts began in 2005, where he was first appointed as a Senior Judicial Officer. In January 2008, H.E. Justice Ali was sworn in as a Judge of the DIFC Courts, and in April 2008 he was appointed and sworn in as a Court of Appeal Judge. He was later appointed as a member of the Joint Committee of the Dubai Courts. H.E. Justice Al Madhani is the Current Chairman of the Middle East Board for Courts Administration under the International Association for Court Administration (IACA). In December 2021, Justice Ali Al Madhani graduated from ‘Dubai Leaders Program' at the Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Leadership Development. His Excellency served as a Public Prosecutor for Dubai Public Prosecution from 1994 to 1998. In 1998, he was appointed by the Ruler of Dubai to serve as a Judge in the Dubai Courts. During his tenure at Dubai Courts, he adjudicated over a large number of commercial, criminal and civil cases. In late 2004, H.E. Justice Al Madhani joined the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) to provide expertise on domestic issues and the application of UAE and Dubai legislation to DFSA. In 2007, H.E. Justice Ali has received his Master's Degree from SOAS University of London.

Job Titles:

• Chief
• Registrar

Amna Al Owais is the Chief Registrar of the DIFC Courts and provides high level support to operations, the administration of the Registries, as well as the delivery of a comprehensive suite of ancillary court public services. Amna spearheads special projects across DIFC Courts operations, particularly in the field of technology and innovation, harnessing digital transformation for core courts services, including major partnerships under the Courts of the Future initiative with the Dubai Future Foundation, such as Court Tech Lab and the Courts of Space, in addition to Court of the Blockchain with Dubai Digital Authority and the creation of the Digital Economy Court specialised Division. In addition to her role as Chief Registrar of the DIFC Courts, Amna is also Chairperson of the DIFC Courts' Users' Committee, Chairperson of the DIFC Courts' In-House Counsel Committee, and a member of the Consulting Council for the University of Sharjah College of Law. In 2014, Amna was appointed to the Advisory Board of the International Bar Association's Access to Justice and Legal Aid Committee. In September 2019, Amna was also appointed to the College of Law Advisory Board of the University of Dubai. In 2014, Amna was selected to join the Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Leadership Development (MBRCLD) - the Young Leaders category, and furthermore in 2018 after the relaunch of the MBRCLD, under the Dubai Executive Office and after an extensive selection process, Amna was selected to join the first batch of the MBRCLD Impactful Leaders Programme. Amna successfully graduated in December 2018. Amna has played a key part in the establishment and development of the DIFC Courts and creation of the Dispute Resolution Authority in 2014. She also spearheaded the establishment of the DIFC Courts' Pro Bono Programme, launched in 2009, which is the first scheme of its kind in the Middle East. In 2011 Amna was recognised by the International Bar Association as one of the Top 3 young lawyers in the world and was listed in the Top 50 Most Influential Women in the Arab World and in the Top 100 Influential People Helping to Shape the Emirate of Dubai by Arabian Business in 2018. Amna was also awarded Legal Services CEO of the Year at the Arabian Business CEO magazine Awards in 2018 and listed among the Top 30 Most Influential Women in the Arab World by Arabian Business magazine in 2019, The Middle East's 100 Power Businesswomen by Forbes Middle East in 2020, and the CEO Women of Influence in 2021, and 50 Inspiring Female Business Leaders in 2022 by Arabian Business. Amna was also featured in Arabian Business' 50 Inspiring Women Leaders in 2023. Lexis Nexis also recognised Amna in 2022 as Legal Services Innovator of the Year at the Women in Law Awards and received honourable mention for the Professional Achievement Award. Amna was also included in the 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen 2023 by Forbes Middle East. In 2019, Amna was invited to join the Dubai Future Councils, a new initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Dubai Future Foundation. Consisting of 13 councils, its main mandate is to Foresight the future agenda of Dubai in strategic sectors and launch initiatives with both private and public sector partners to create the foundation for that future. Amna will specifically play an active role in the membership of the Dubai Future Council on Entrepreneurship & Innovation Ecosystems. Launched in 2019 by His Highness Sheikh Nahayan Al Nahayan, Minister of Tolerance, Amna has also been selected by the University Leadership Council and Université Paris II to be in the first cohort of the International Business Law LLM. In September 2019, Amna was also appointed to the College of Law Advisory Board of the University of Dubai. In 2021, Amna was accepted to join the selective Strategic Leadership and Public Governance course provided by the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP). The Programme is provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Singapore in collaboration with the international embassies, who then coordinated with the Singaporean consulate in each country to nominate qualified personnel. In 2023, Amna was selected to join the Dubai Future Fellowship, an initiative launched by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF). The programme aims to engage current and future economic leaders to contribute towards shaping Dubai's policies, regulations, and business practices and further enhancing the city's leading regional and global role as an incubator for the most promising innovators of the future. Previous to her employment at the DIFC Courts, she practiced as a lawyer in the litigation department with Hadef Al Dhahiri and Associates now known as Hadef & Partners. Amna holds a bachelor's degree of Law from the University of Sharjah and obtained a Masters (LLM) with Commendation in International Commercial Law from Kingston University, London. Amna Al Owais is currently the Chief Registrar of the DIFC Courts and oversees operations and quality management, supervising the Courts' Judicial Officers and Registry personnel, as well as the delivery of a comprehensive suite of court public services. In addition to her role as Chief Registrar of the DIFC Courts, Amna is also Registrar of the Special Tribunal Related to Dubai World, Chairwoman of the DIFC Courts' Users' Committee, Chairwoman of the DIFC Courts' In-House Counsel Committee, and a member of the Consulting Council for the University of Sharjah College of Law. In 2014, Amna was appointed to the Advisory Board of the International Bar Association's Access to Justice and Legal Aid Committee. In 2014, Amna was selected to join the Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Leadership Development (MBRCLD) - the Young Leaders category, and furthermore in 2018 after the relaunch of the MBRCLD, under the Dubai Executive Office and after an extensive selection process, Amna was selected to join the first batch of the MBRCLD Impactful Leaders Programme. Amna successfully graduated in December 2018. She also spearheaded the establishment of the DIFC Courts' Pro Bono Programme, launched in 2009, which is the first scheme of its kind in the Middle East. In 2019, Amna was invited to join the Dubai Future Councils, a new initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Dubai Future Foundation. Launched in 2019 by His Highness Sheikh Nahayan Al Nahayan, Minister of Tolerance, Amna was also selected by the University Leadership Council and Université Paris II to be in the first cohort of the International Business Law LLM and graduated summa cum laude in 2020. In September 2019, Amna was also appointed to the College of Law Advisory Board of the University of Dubai. Amna has also successfully completed the magnificent Director Development Programme for Corporate Governance (4 modules) provided by the prestigious Hawkamah Institute in 2019. Previous to her employment at the DIFC Courts, Amna practiced as a lawyer in the litigation department with Hadef Al Dhahiri & Associates, now known as Hadef & Partners. Amna holds a Bachelor's Degree of Law from the University of Sharjah and obtained a Masters (LLM) with Commendation in International Commercial Law from Kingston University, London.

Job Titles:

• Member of Committee

Job Titles:

• Registrar
• Member of Committee

Ayesha was appointed as a Registrar of the DIFC Courts in November 2022. She currently oversees case progression at the DIFC Courts, as well as sitting as a judge and mediator with the Small Claims Tribunal (SCT). Ayesha also hears applications in the Court of First Instance, Court of Appeal and the Enforcement Department. Ayesha also oversees the day-to-day function of the DIFC Courts Wills Service. Ayesha joined the DIFC Courts in the role of Case Progression Officer in March 2015 and was promoted to the role of Assistant Registrar in 2018. In 2019, Ayesha was appointed as the Deputy Registrar of the Small Claims Tribunal and in 2020 Ayesha was appointed Deputy Registrar of the DIFC Courts. Ayesha holds a Bachelor's Degree in Law and Political Science from University of Saint Joseph Dubai and studied on a scholarship from the Edad Leadership Programme. She is also qualified to appear before the local and federal courts in the UAE.

Job Titles:

• Member of Committee
• Naagar General Counsel

Job Titles:

• Advocate Mediator
• Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

Colin practises as an independent arbitrator, advocate and mediator under Colin Seow Chambers LLC (www.colinseowchambers.com). He brings with him more than twelve years of judicial and adjudicatory experience in the Singapore Judicial Service dealing with a broad spectrum of commercial disputes. Colin is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb), a Fellow of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators (FSIArb), a Fellow of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (FACICA), and an accredited mediator with the Singapore Mediation Centre (SMC) and Singapore International Mediation Institute (SIMI). He is a member of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Singapore Arbitration Group, the European Chinese Arbitrators Association, the Polish Arbitration Association, and the Hungarian Arbitration Association. He is admitted as a Panel/List arbitrator in several international arbitration centres, including the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), the British Virgin Islands International Arbitration Centre (BVI IAC), the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA), the Beihai Asia International Arbitration Centre (BAIAC), the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA), and the Brunei Darussalam Arbitration Centre (BDAC). Colin is qualified to practise Singapore law as an Advocate and Solicitor, and English law as a Solicitor in England and Wales. He is also registered as a Part II Legal Practitioner at the DIFC Courts with full rights of audience.

Job Titles:

• Advocate Mediator
• Arbitrator Advocate Mediator
• Member of Committee

Job Titles:

• Member of Committee

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Head of the Commercial Litigation and Compliance Team
• Member of Committee

Damian is head of the Commercial Litigation and Compliance team in the Middle East region. He is based in the Dubai office but is regularly instructed on disputes across the region. Damian is a senior litigation partner with over 20 years' dispute resolution involving a number of local and international courts as well as various arbitral institutions including the LCIA, ICC, DIAC and UNCITRAL. He has been acting for Middle East based clients for over 15 years on both regional and international disputes. He advises on a broad range of commercial disputes including M&A and finance disputes, fraud and asset tracing, shareholder and joint venture disputes, insurance disputes including claims and coverage disputes, IT and Telecoms disputes and sports law (both contractual and media related). He is a registered lawyer before the DIFC courts and is experienced in all forms of alternative dispute resolution including mediation. He has been recognized as a leading individual for Dispute Resolution in the Legal Directories for a number of years: Chambers comments that 'Damian's experience and charm are a proven winning formula, and clients applaud his track record in big ticket dispute work.'

Job Titles:

• Member of Committee

David Russell KC commenced legal practice in 1974. He is admitted to practise in Australia, England and Wales (Lincoln's Inn), the Courts of the Dubai International Financial Centre, New York (as a Legal Consultant), New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. He currently practises in Dubai, London, and Abu Dhabi (Outer Temple Chambers), Sydney (Ground Floor Wentworth Chambers) and Brisbane (Sir Harry Gibbs Chambers). He has lectured at the University of Sydney for the Master of Taxation course, the University of Queensland for the Master of Laws course and served as an Adjunct Professor of the University of Queensland. He is the co-editor of the Oxford University Press Journal Trusts & Trustees. He was the Inaugural Chairman of the STEP International Client Special Interest Group, was Deputy Chair and a director of STEP and a member of its World Wide Council and various Committees, and is a co-chair of the United Arab Emirates Chapter of the International Section of the New York State Bar Association, and a member of the Executive Committee of the Section, an Academician of The International Academy of Estate and Trust Law, a Member of the Middle East and North Africa Branch Committee of the Chartered Institute of Taxation (UK), a member of the Worshipful Company of Tax Advisers, a Freeman of the City of London and an Honorary Member of the Taxation Institute of Hong Kong. In 2016 he chaired the DIFC's Wealth Management Review Working Group.

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Member of Committee

Deirdre Walker is a dispute resolution lawyer based in Dubai. Deirdre has experience in all forms of dispute resolution including litigation, mediation and arbitration as well as general commercial dispute resolution with a particular specialism in commercial fraud and interlocutory applications. She has extensive experience of urgent applications for freezing injunctions and ancillary relief and in the recovery of assets. Deirdre was called to the Bar in 1986 and following a period of 18 months at the Department of Trade & Industry she joined the corporate department of the London practice in 1989. In 1991 she transferred to the dispute resolution department and in 1997 she became a partner. Deirdre is recommended in The Legal 500 for her expertise in fraud matters and in Chambers and Partners as a leading litigator; she is also an accredited CEDR Mediator.

Job Titles:

• Managing Partner
• Managing Partner of KBH
• Member of Committee

DK Singh is the Managing Partner of KBH. He has over 25 years of experience in top tier multinational firms and leads KBH's Dispute Resolution, Corporate and Commercial teams. He has extensive experience of working in the United Kingdom, India and the Middle East and has a reputable client led practice focusing on cross border business ventures and international dispute resolution. He has assisted clients in arbitration centres including London, USA, Singapore, Paris and Dubai. He is also actively engaged in advising companies in the financial services, hospitality, retail, upstream and downstream petrochemical sectors throughout the Middle East, North Africa and CIS countries. DK Singh regularly contributes articles on arbitration law, mergers and acquisitions and dispute resolution in UAE and India. DK is often relied upon by the clients as a legal and commercial advisor and regularly negotiates contracts and commercial deals on their behalf.

Job Titles:

• Executive Director - Legal
• Member of Committee

Dominic qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales in 2008 and transferred to the UAE in 2012, specialising in all aspects of construction and engineering law dispute resolution, including; arbitration, litigation, adjudication, expert determination and mediation. Since moving to an in-house role 2017, Dominic has overseen and managed a centralised and specialist arbitration and dispute resolution department. Dominic is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb).

Job Titles:

• Associate General Counsel
• Associate General Counsel: MEA
• Member of Committee
• Regional Legal Counsel

Dr. Abobakr Dafalla is a highly educated, experienced, multicultural, and bilingual executive Corporate and Commercial law specialized legal counsel, with specialized expertise in Project Finance, PPP, M&As, and Government Procurement laws. With over 18 years of industry knowledge and experience, Dr. Dafalla brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. In addition to his broad legal expertise, Dr. Dafalla has a special interest in Middle Eastern laws. He has dedicated significant time and effort to studying and understanding the legal frameworks and nuances of the Middle Eastern region. His in-depth knowledge of Middle Eastern laws allows him to provide tailored legal counsel and strategic guidance to organizations operating in this region. Having obtained three LL.M degrees and a Ph.D. from internationally recognized universities, including being a Chevening Scholar, Dr. Dafalla has consistently demonstrated his commitment to academic excellence and continuous learning. Moreover, his experience as a university professor has further solidified his understanding of legal principles and his ability to impart knowledge to others. What sets Dr. Dafalla apart is his proven ability to provide not only sound legal counsel but also contribute significantly to vital operational and business decisions as an integral part of the organization's senior leadership team. Throughout his career, he has actively participated in strategic planning and decision-making processes, leveraging his insights and perspectives to shape the direction and success of the organizations he has worked with. By bridging the gap between legal and business perspectives, Dr. Dafalla has successfully navigated complex legal landscapes, ensuring compliance with regulations, mitigating legal risks, and facilitating smooth business operations. His ability to integrate legal considerations into the broader business context has been instrumental in driving positive outcomes and fostering organizational growth. Furthermore, Dr. Dafalla has played critical roles in business expansions, using his expertise to support rapidly evolving businesses. He has built and led a distinctive, business-oriented team of legal professionals who provide valuable support to organizations. Under his leadership, the team has effectively addressed unique legal challenges and facilitated business growth.

Job Titles:

• Founding Partner
• Founding Partner at Dr. Mahmood Hussain Advocates & Legal Consultancy LLC

Dr. Mahmood Hussain is the Founding Partner at Dr. Mahmood Hussain Advocates & Legal Consultancy LLC (MHLF) and has amassed over 20 years of experience in the public and private sectors. As a litigator at Dubai Courts, Dr. Mahmood has achieved many favorable judgments in several high-profile cases. His niche practice of being an arguing Counsel before the Honorable Judges at UAE Courts, has set up a benchmark for effective representation involving complex legal issues. The Legal 500 has mentioned Dr Mahmood as a Key lawyer or dispute resolution as well as a standout litigator. Dr. Mahmood is a Part II registered practitioner at the DIFC Courts and has rights of audience before the DIFC courts. He has also led the corporate team of MHLF into dealing with DIFC corporate financial agreement and syndicate loans. He has been accredited as International Arbitrator to both DIAC and Abu Dhabi Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration Center and has acted in more than 50 International Arbitration proceedings under the ICC, LCIA, ADCCAC and DIAC rules. A Client testimonial obtained from Whos Who Legal (WWL) stated that Dr. Mahmood has an "excellent understanding of multinational concerns and perfect explanation of local laws".

Job Titles:

• Founding Partner
• Member of Committee

Job Titles:

• Counsel
• Legal Counsel

Job Titles:

• Assistant General Counsel
• Member of Committee

Job Titles:

• Assistant General Counsel

Mr. Falda joined ADCB in April 2012 after having worked in international law firms for over 10 years in the banking and finance sector. At ADCB Gabriele heads the Corporate & Investment Banking Legal Team which is responsible on legal matters relating to corporate lending (conventional and Islamic), corporate restructuring and trade finance, as well as liaising with other departments of the Bank. Mr. Falda obtained his law degree in Italy and is qualified to practice law in Italy. He is also a Certified Islamic Finance Executive.

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Member of Committee

Graham Lovett is one of the foremost disputes practitioners in Dubai and is top ranked by both Chambers and The Legal 500. He has extensive, market-leading commercial litigation and international arbitration experience covering a wide range of sectors and disputes and frequently represents clients before the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts. In October 2021, His Highness the Ruler of Dubai appointed Mr. Lovett as a director of the board of the recently expanded Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), the largest arbitration center in the Middle East. Mr. Lovett is the only non-Emirati to serve as a DIAC board director. With a practice that is a mix of litigation and arbitration, Mr. Lovett handles complex, sensitive disputes involving joint ventures, shareholders, banking and finance, and fraud, as well as more technical matters involving high-end infrastructure disputes, project work, energy disputes and more.

Job Titles:

• Senior Judge of Court of Appeal and Head of International Relations of Judicial Affairs

Job Titles:

• Director

H.E. Justice Omar Al Mheiri was appointed as a Senior Judicial Officer at the DIFC Courts in August 2005. H.E. Justice Omar Al Mheiri brings to the DIFC Courts an in-depth knowledge of the workings of the Dubai judicial system. In 1994, H.E. Justice Omar Al Mheiri was appointed as a Prosecutor for Dubai Public Prosecution and served as Prosecutor until 1998. In 1998, he was appointed by the Ruler of Dubai to serve as a Judge in the Dubai Courts. During his tenure as a Judge, H.E. Justice Omar Al Mheiri dealt with a large number of major criminal, commercial and civil cases. As of November 2018, H.E. Judge Omar Juma Al Mheiri has been appointed Deputy Chief Justice of the DIFC Courts by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai.

Job Titles:

• Pro Bono Programme Leader

Hayley was appointed as the Assistant Registrar of the DIFC Courts in January 2023. She currently oversees and manages the DIFC Courts' Pro Bono Programme as well as sitting as a judge and mediator in the Small Claims Tribunal. Hayley also hears applications in the Court of First Instance, Court of Appeal and the Enforcement Department. Hayley joined the DIFC Courts in 2013 having served the positions of Registrar's Associate and Case Progression Officer. In 2017, she was appointed as a Member of the Small Claims Tribunal, and in 2020 was appointed as the Pro Bono Programme Leader. Hayley has experience working for the Crown Prosecution Service and prior to moving to Dubai she worked as a Judicial Clerk at the Royal Courts of Justice in the UK. Hayley has completed her law degree (LLB) from the University of Southampton.

Job Titles:

• Member of Committee
• Regional Counsel
• Senior Lead Counsel, KSA, North Africa & Levant, and EMEA Cybersecurity Legal Lead

Crafting a career driven by her passion for innovation, Heba Hamdy is a dynamic legal professional in the technology and cybersecurity fields. With a solid educational foundation and a wealth of professional achievements, she brings a unique blend of legal expertise and forward-thinking mindset to her work. Her dedication to excellence and outstanding reputation have earned her recognitions, including being listed in the prestigious Legal 500 GC Powerlist and receiving the In-House Community Counsel of the Year award. Equipped with her dual qualifications as a solicitor of England and Wales and an attorney in Egypt, along with her LL.M. from Indiana University and LL.B. from Alexandria University, Heba brings a unique perspective that combines a deep understanding of the complexities of common law and civil law systems. Her commitment to staying at the forefront of her profession is showcased through her continuous learning in diverse fields strengthening her multidisciplinary approach. Her expertise also extends to crucial areas such as privacy and cybersecurity, backed by certifications such as CIPP/E, Cisco Security White Belt and Data Green Belt. Throughout her professional journey, Heba has achieved remarkable milestones. Currently serving as Cisco's Legal Leader for KSA, North Africa and Levant, as well as Legal Cybersecurity Lead for Europe, Middle East and Africa at, she navigates complex legal landscape, ensuring compliance and providing strategic counsel. Prior to her current roles, Heba worked with Cisco's Global Strategy Team and served as Principal Counsel for Egypt, KSA, Levant and Turkey. Before joining Cisco, Heba gained valuable experience as a Corporate Counsel at Lenovo and Olive Group Capital. Her early career also saw her in private practice with Crowell & Moring LLP in Egypt, further honing her legal skills and expertise. The diversity of her backgrounds and experience from different continents and legal cultures is a key component of her strengths that equips her to deliver a broader perspective for practical problem-solving. Perspectives which ultimately make for more rounded thinking, deeper understanding and better solutions. Heba takes pride in her ability to understand her clients' business requirements and provide top-quality, pragmatic, and fit-for-purpose legal services.

Job Titles:

• Member of Committee
• Nicholas Braganza Partner

Job Titles:

• General Counsel
• Member of Committee

Jacques Visser heads the Legal, Registrars and Regulatory Compliance departments of the DIFC Authority and its wholly owned subsidiary, DIFC Investments Ltd. In his service to the DIFC, he is also entrusted with the following appointments: • Supervisory Board Member of the DIFC Employee Workplace Savings Plan (DEWS)

Job Titles:

• Head
• Partner
• Member of Committee

James Abbott is head of the disputes practice in the Middle East. James specialises in commercial litigation, arbitration and ADR. James has significant experience of cross-border banking and financial litigation, including fraud and asset tracing, regulatory investigations, sanctions issues, joint venture and shareholder disputes. He has advised on a number of major infrastructure and construction projects and represents insurers and reinsurers. James has experience of arbitration under the ICC, LCIA, UNCITRAL, ICSID and DIAC Rules.

Job Titles:

• Senior Associate
• Senior Associate in the Dispute Resolution Team of Herbert Smith Freehills

Janine Mallis is a senior associate in the dispute resolution team of Herbert Smith Freehills. Janine trained with the firm and qualified in 2015, having worked in both its Dubai and London offices. Janine works on a wide range of complex commercial disputes for local and international clients. Her experience includes dispute resolution through litigation in the English, DIFC and regional courts and international arbitration in LCIA, ICC, DIFC-LCIA, DIAC and ad hoc arbitrations, with a particular focus on disputes in the hospitality and financial services sectors, shareholder disputes and employment-related claims. Janine is recognised as a leading litigation lawyer and "future leader" for the UAE in Who's Who Legal Litigation from 2018 to 2022 and was also named the DIFC Academy of Law's Young Lawyer of the Year in 2016. Janine holds a Bachelor of Laws with Honours from the London School of Economics and Political Science and also has a Masters in International and Comparative Commercial Law from the School of Oriental and African Studies. In 2018, she obtained her Higher Rights qualification, entitling her to represent clients before the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court in England. Janine has a keen interest in helping those within her community. She is a member of the Herbert Smith Freehills' Dubai Pro Bono & Citizenship Committee and has also done volunteer work with refugee children in Jordan and Lebanon.

Job Titles:

• Head of Legal
• Head of Legal ( Corporate & Institutional Banking )

Jenny is Head of Legal (Corporate and Institutional Banking) for Emirates NBD, admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in England and Wales and the British Virgin Islands. She has almost 20 years of experience in the legal profession, specialising in banking and finance. She advises in relation to a broad spectrum of transactions including syndicated and bilateral lending, refinancing, real estate, project and leveraged finance, using conventional and Islamic structures. Before joining Emirates NBD, Jenny was Senior Legal Counsel with Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank and Legal Counsel with Standard Chartered Bank.

Job Titles:

• Founder
• Managing Partner
• Member of Committee

Ludmila Yamalova is the founder and Managing Partner of the law firm in Dubai, which she founded and has been managing since 2009. Ludmila has been actively practicing law for over twenty (20) years, in the U.S.A. and the U.A.E., six (6) of which were in the Silicon Valley, California. There, she worked at DLA Piper and as an Associate General Counsel (AGC) for Finisar Corp (FNSR). In the U.A.E., Ludmila is a licensed by the Dubai Legal Affairs Department (Ruler's Court), Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) Courts, and registered as an arbitrator at the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC). Over the years, Ludmila has gained the reputation of a go-to legal expert in the industry, in the region. She is often quoted and featured by mainstream national and international media. At an international level, these include the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, New York Times, Washington Post, Bloomberg, Associated Press, Reuters, etc. Ludmila has also apepared on BBC, CNC, ABC and EuroNews. In the region, she is often quoted by The National, Gulf News, Khaleej Times, LovinDubai, Zawya, Arabian Business and many others. Ludmila's active and informative social media presence has led her to be considered as a news outlet by, among other things, the U.A.E. Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization (MOHRE). Ludmila often hosts legal webinars and training for various private, government and semi-government entities. She has been a regular participant at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation (MBRF). She also conducts legal webinars for Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC).

Job Titles:

• Attorney at Law
• Head of Legal and Member of the Middle East Executive Team at Zurich International Life Limited Middle East
• Head of Legal, Middle East
• Member of Committee

Majd Nemeh is the Head of Legal and Member of the Middle East Executive Team at Zurich International Life Limited Middle East (Zurich), part of Zurich Insurance Group. Majd joined Zurich in 2017 as Senior Legal Counsel before being appointed as the Head of Legal. Majd is an attorney at law. His diverse practice includes legislative drafting, drafting and reviewing of a wide range of insurance and re-insurance contracts, corporate law, M&A deals and data security. He also has extensive experience in litigation. With thirteen years of experience in the legal sector, and eight years of experience in the insurance industry, Majd has extensive experience in delivering strategic initiatives like setting up entities, leading licensing discussions, structuring legal aspects in newer business models and propositions, setting up and formalizing distribution arrangements and bancassurance partnerships. At Zurich, along side the day-to-day management of the legal team in the Middle East, Majd also plays a crucial role in thought leadership in regulatory reforms, while maintaining strong relationships with relevant regulators in the region. Majd started his career as an Associate at the IBLAW Firm, based in Jordan and prior to joining Zurich, he was Senior Legal Counsel at Gulf Film and Novo Cinemas. He has previously worked for Dubai Properties Group and held the role of Legal Manager. Majd holds a Bachelor of Law and an LLM in International Business Law.

Job Titles:

• Member of Committee

Job Titles:

• Khashashneh Senior Legal Director
• Member of Committee

Malek is a Jordanian qualified lawyer since 1997, he has been with Majid Al Futtaim Group since 2006, working on a large variety of legal matters including inter alia significant corporate, commercial, real estate, employment, and Treasury matters.

Job Titles:

• Senior Legal Director

Malek is a Jordanian qualified lawyer since 1997, he has been with Majid Al Futtaim Group since 2006, working on a large variety of legal matters including inter alia significant corporate, commercial, real estate, employment, and Treasury matters.

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Member of Committee

Mohamed is a Founding and Co-Managing Partner of OGH Legal. He has more than 20 years' experience working in the Middle East and has been involved in disputes in numerous jurisdictions primarily in the UAE (including DIFC and ADGM), Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Mohamed is a highly regarded Court litigator in the UAE and Egypt. He has acted on more than 500 cases before the local courts. He also regularly acts as counsel and arbitrator in a broad range of complex and transnational disputes in various sectors, including construction, real estate, energy, IT, hotels and tourism, as well as banking and finance. Mohamed has also handled cases under most of the major arbitration rules, including LCIA, DIAC, ICC, CRCICA, and UNCITRAL. Mohamed has also handled cases under most of the major arbitration rules, including LCIA, DIAC, ICC, CRCICA, and UNCITRAL. Before founding OGH Legal, Mohamed was Director (and Registrar) of the DIFC-LCIA Arbitration Centre and the acting head of Hogan Lovells' Middle East Disputes' practice. He was previously a member of the AAA ICDR Arabic Rules Committee. Mohamed is a has been recognised by a number of industry publications including Legal 500 and Chambers since 2012 onwards

Job Titles:

• General Counsel
• General Counsel and Secretary to the Board
• Head of Legal Affairs
• Member of Committee

Ms Dandan joined the DFSA in September 2015 as General Counsel and Secretary to the Board as well as Head of Legal Affairs. She is responsible for advising the DFSA's Board of Directors and its various committees on all legal issues touching upon their functions and responsibilities, as well as governance matters. She also oversees the Board Secretarial function, ensuring the effective management of the affairs of the Board and its committees. Ms Dandan also heads the DFSA's Legal Division, which is responsible for managing the DFSA's legal risk and providing legal advice and support for all aspects of the DFSA's functions, as well as drafting the administrative laws and rules forming the DFSA's regulatory framework. Prior to joining the DFSA, Ms Dandan spent five years as Head of Legal for the corporate and retail banking businesses of Barclays Bank PLC across the Middle East. Before that she served for several years as Senior Legal Advisor for HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, advising on all aspects of HSBC's operations across the Middle East and North Africa, including their corporate, commercial, private wealth, retail and investment banking business lines. Ms Dandan obtained her law degree in the United Kingdom and is qualified to practice law in England and Wales, as well as in Hong Kong. Prior to returning to her Middle Eastern roots, Ms Dandan spent over ten years working for international law firms in both London and Hong Kong with a focus on advising large financial institutions and global corporates.

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Member of Committee
• Nicholas Braganza Partner

Nick Braganza is based in the Dubai office and is also working closely with the BVI office. He has significant experience litigating in the DIFC, ADGM and UAE onshore Courts, as well as major arbitral venues in the UAE and internationally. In addition, Nick has experience in advising on white collar crime matters and conducting internal and regulatory investigations in the Middle East. Nick has advised clients and conducted investigations on a range of topics including cases of theft and fraud, bribery and corruption, defrauding government authorities, antitrust infringements, sanctions breaches, and money laundering. Nick was ranked as a "Next Generation Partner" in Legal 500 2021, 2022 and 2023 which stated that he "is seen as a trusted and experienced advisor in the market." In Chambers & Partners he has been ranked as "Up and Coming". Nick is qualified in England and Wales. Nick is a Dispute Resolution Partner in HFW's Dubai office. He has a broad commercial disputes practice with a focus on shareholder and joint venture disputes, fraud and insolvency. Nick trained and qualified as an English solicitor in London, before moving to Dubai in 2012. He joined HFW as a partner in January 2021. Nick has significant experience litigating in the DIFC, ADGM and UAE onshore Courts, as well as major arbitral venues in the UAE and internationally. Nick leads the firm's DIFC Courts' practice and is the designated representative for HFW on the DIFC Court Users' Committee. Nick also has extensive experience in advising and representing parties (including conducting oral advocacy) in arbitrations in the Emirates, in particular, those under the ICC, DIAC, DIFC-LCIA, ADCCAC Rules, and seated in the DIFC, Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

Job Titles:

• Legal Director

Peter is a barrister with experience of a wide range of civil and commercial disputes and sectors, including arbitration, banking and finance, company, construction, employment, insolvency, insurance, media, real estate, technology, and professional negligence. He is a Legal Director with Charles Russell Speechlys LLP and a door tenant at Outer Temple Chambers. In the Legal 500 (UAE Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and International Litigation), he was recommended as a ‘Rising Star' in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, and was described as "notable" in 2019. He was included in the inaugural Legal 500 Arbitration Powerlist Middle East in 2022, and again in 2023.

Job Titles:

• Barrister
• Fichte & Co Legal Consultancy
• Member of Committee

Philip Punwar is an English qualified practitioner with more than twenty-five years' arbitration experience. He has been resident in Dubai since 2005 and received his Dubai Golden Visa in 2021. During the course of his practice in the UAE, Philip has been leading counsel in multi-million and multi-billion US dollar arbitrations. His recent arbitral engagements have concerned real-estate Mega Projects in the Gulf, investment treaty claims arising out of the MENA and South Asia regions, aircraft charter agreements, concession agreements in the water sector and technology disputes in the finance and healthcare sectors. Philip has appeared as counsel before all levels of court in England and the Dubai International Financial Centre, up to and including the Courts of Appeal of each jurisdiction. He was the first practitioner resident in the UAE to be registered as a DIFC Courts advocate, and the first DIFC Courts practitioner to be appointed by the DIFC Courts to the role of Supervising Legal Representative (SLR). Philip has significant experience of the laws and practices of both civil and common law jurisdictions gained as counsel and arbitrator in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. He has a proven ability to work collaboratively as part of a team and when necessary to assemble and lead interdisciplinary teams of geographically dispersed professionals in the prosecution and defence of complex and high value disputes.

Job Titles:

• Vice President

Job Titles:

• Member of Committee
• Partner & Head of Litigation

Rebecca is a Partner and Head of Litigation for the Middle East. She also leads the Corporate Crime and Investigations team in the Middle East. Her practice includes high value and complex litigation work in both the DIFC, UAE and English courts. She devises tailored strategies to maximize prospects of recovery, minimize costs and navigate challenges around service, jurisdiction and enforcement. She has an array of experience in making interim applications for freezing orders, attachment orders, travel bans and advising on criminal aspects to civil claims. Rebecca has conducted a variety of global investigations. These have included investigations arising from whistleblowing allegations of embezzlement and corruption against companies based in the Middle East, Europe and Far East Asia. Rebecca has led various e-disclosure reviews as part of her investigation work, managing those projects in tandem with ES Locate - the in house e-disclosure platform within Eversheds - Sutherland. Rebecca has also conducted various investigations on behalf of French based companies in the Middle East following the implementation of Sapin II. Rebecca's risk management expertise provides extra support to clients as she regularly provides proactive compliance services to help improve systems and controls, to avoid breaches and identify issues by raising risk awareness. Her services include conducting risk assessments, drafting policies, procedures and contractual documents, conducting due diligence, undertaking investigations, undertaking root cause analysis, delivering training and advising on remediation and ‘lessons learned' measures when breaches are identified. Rebecca has an established track record and is recognised by Chambers UK and Legal 500, with Legal 500 describing her as "exceptionally astute", "reassuringly commercial" and a "noted name". Rebecca has gained the Higher Rights of Audience qualification in England.

Job Titles:

• Partner

Representing Middle East and global entities regionally and internationally, Rebecca's clients include companies involved in the construction, infrastructure, finance, industrial, technology, transport, general trading, education, healthcare, and pharmaceutical sectors. She is a Solicitor of the High Court of Australia and a Registered Foreign Lawyer with the Law Society of England and Wales with rights of audience in the DIFC. Rebecca has been based in the UAE since 2005 and her practice focuses on resolving international litigation and arbitration, and crisis management for clients exposed to internal and external investigations. She manages complex cross-border arbitration, representing parties involved in arbitrations through the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC); the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA); the Abu Dhabi Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration Centre (ADCCAC); and the International Court of Arbitration - International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). Rebecca also advises public and private corporations on corporate governance and regulatory compliance. She counsels clients involved in regional and international criminal and quasi-criminal investigations and prosecutions, conducts fraud investigations, and files international criminal and civil proceedings to recover misappropriated assets worldwide. Rebecca advises companies on how to address and comply with anti-money laundering, anti-corruption, and bribery legislation including the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and the UK Bribery Act 2010. Actively involved in law reform in the region, Rebecca advises clients on Occupational Health and Safety (OSH) obligations and legal challenges in the UAE and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC ). She has one of the only dedicated OSH practices in the Middle East and was appointed to the UAE's Federal Ministry of Labour Technical Committee responsible for the development of the UAE building and construction sector's OSH legislation. Rebecca is recognised as a leading disputes and corporate investigations lawyer and has been ranked in Chambers Global, The Legal 500 and the Global Investigations Review.

Job Titles:

• Chief Operating Officer
• Representative

Reem Al Shihhe joined the DIFC Courts in January 2011 as the Head of Human Resources and Business Excellence. In 2014, Reem became the Chief Operating Officer, overseeing all the operational departments of the DIFC Courts. Following her success in 2015, Reem graduated from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Leadership Development - the Young Leaders category. In 2016, Reem became the ICCE Representative for the DIFC Courts and Member of the Executive Committee following the DIFC Courts proudly becoming a member of the International Consortium for Court Excellence (ICCE). Since then the DIFC Courts and Reem have been working actively to assist judiciaries across the world to adopt the International Framework for Court Excellence. Launched in 2019 by His Highness Sheikh Nahayan Al Nahayan, UAE Minister of Tolerance, Reem was also selected by the University Leadership Council and Université Paris II to be in the first cohort of the International Business Law (LLM) and graduated summa cum laude in 2020.

Job Titles:

• Group General Counsel
• Group General Counsel for the Emirates Group

Rick Ward is Group General Counsel for the Emirates Group and leads the team providing all legal and privacy support for Emirates, dnata, and their associated companies globally. He was in-house counsel for the Emirates Group from January 1998 to October 2001, and returned in 2007. He was appointed to his current role in February, 2012. Rick is also a member of the Board of Governors of the Emirates Aviation University and Chair of the Audit, Risk & Compliance Committee. Rick started his career in private practice with the law firm Phillips Fox (now DLA Piper) in Australia and has also worked as corporate legal counsel for Deloitte, based in the Asia-Pacific regional legal office in Sydney and the global head office in New York. Rick is a graduate of the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons). He also holds a graduate diploma in applied corporate governance and is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia. Rick is qualified to practice law in Victoria, New South Wales and New York.

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Member of Committee

Rita Jaballah is a Partner in Al Tamimi & Company's Dispute Resolution practice and leads its International Litigation Group. She has extensive experience of handling complex, high value local and international commercial disputes. Rita specialises in advising and representing clients with respect to a wide range of commercial and and regulatory disputes and claims with a particular focus on DIFC Court and ADGM Court 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. Prior to joining Al Tamimi & Company, Rita practised in leading magic circle firms in Melbourne and London, where she specialised in large scale and multi-jurisdictional litigation with a particular focus on commercial, financial services and regulatory disputes. Rita is ranked in Band 1 in Chambers Global 2022 Dispute Resolution and as a "Leading Individual" in Legal 500 Dispute Resolution UAE. Rita is also recognized in Who's Who Commercial Litigation (2022) and as one of the MENA Super 50 Lawyers for 2021 in Asian Legal Business.

Job Titles:

• Member of Committee
• Regional Head of Disputes
• Senior Group Counsel
• Senior Legal Counsel

Robert is the Regional Head of Disputes and Government Investigations (Africa & Middle East) at Standard Chartered Bank. Robert 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 arbitration team at Al Tamimi & Co. handling complex commercial disputes and appeared regularly before the DIFC Courts and arbitral tribunals as an advocate. He joined Standard Chartered Bank in 2017. Robert has published widely, contributing articles to Global Arbitration Review, the International Arbitration Law Review, and chapters on the DIFC as a seat for arbitration.

Job Titles:

• CEO
• CEO of Regulatory & Governance at Dubai 's Department of Economy & Tourism
• CEO Regulatory & Governance
• Member of Committee

Sahia Ahmad is the CEO of Regulatory & Governance at Dubai's Department of Economy & Tourism. She has over 25 years of experience in the Private Sector having worked at Allen & Overy and Reed Smith, where she was a partner and in the Public Sector with Dubai World and Emirates Investment Authority, in Abu Dhabi. She is an experienced General Counsel and policymaker who has led significant international transactions and projects such as the construction of Palm Jumeirah and Atlantis, the issue of the first Dubai Offshore Companies legislation and Freehold law and the creation and IPO of DP World. Sahia holds a number of board positions including the Executive Board of the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority and the Global Board of the Association of Corporate Counsel. Sahia is the first Emirati to be a member of the UK Bar. She joined the Management team of Dubai Tourism in 2014.

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Member of Committee

Sara Sheffield is a dispute resolution lawyer based in our Dubai office with extensive experience in complex cross-border commercial litigation and international arbitration as well as fraud and asset recovery litigation. Sara has over 19 years of experience as a commercial disputes, white-collar crime and regulatory disputes lawyer between Australia, England & Wales and the UAE. She joined the Litigation and Dispute resolution team in Dubai in 2020, having been permanently based in the region since 2013. Sara previously worked for the federal prosecution agency in Australia and the Serious Fraud Office in the UK. Sara acts in complex commercial litigation in the Dubai International Financial Centre and the Abu Dhabi Global Market Courts in the UAE, and in the English High Court, as well as in arbitration matters before local and international centres. Sara is admitted to practice in Australia (Queensland), England & Wales, the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts and the Abu Dhabi Global Markets Courts in the UAE, and the Astana International Financial Centre Courts in Kazakhstan.

Job Titles:

• CEO and International Disputes Counsel
• Member of Committee

Sarah Malik is an award-winning lawyer who founded SOL International Ltd, a boutique legal consultancy registered at the ADGM in 2018. In its first year SOL was awarded ‘Emerging Law Firm of the Year' and ‘Recognized Leaders in Dispute Resolution' in 2019. Sarah achieved ‘Litigator of the Year' (2022) at the first GCC Women in Law Awards and received an honourable mention as ‘Law Firm Leader of the Year' category at the same awards. In March 2022, SOL was named by Legal 500 EMEA as ‘A Firm to Watch in Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and International Litigation' and in 2023 Sarah has been listed as ‘A leading practitioner in ‘The Arbitration Powerlist: Middle East' Legal 500 EMEA. Sarah was recognised as one of ‘Asia's 100 Women Power Leaders 2023' by White Page International in May 2023. She has also been featured in the special edition of the UAE Managing Partners Report for two consecutive years published by LexisNexis for International Women's Day and was interviewed by CIArb Global on International Women's Day in 2021, and by The Worlds Times in 2023. In March 2023, Sarah was appointed to the inaugural Advisory Committee for the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) and the Advisory Board for ThoughtsLeaders4 FIRE Middle East Summit 2023. She was also appointed to the Advisory Board for Juris Centre for Excellence in Legal Education and Training at Middlesex University, Dubai in January 2023. Prior to founding SOL, Sarah practiced as a Barrister at a leading set of Commercial Chambers in London for fifteen years, worked as employed Counsel at a prominent UK law firm for two years and headed the Advocacy and Investigations team of an international law firm in Dubai for three and a half years. She is a member of the SIAC Users Council in the Middle East and is one of 20 appointed on the Lagos Panel of Arbitration Neutrals. Sarah is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and accepts appointments to sit as an Arbitrator. Sarah undertakes international commercial arbitrations as Counsel (DIAC, ADCCAC, DIFC-LCIA, ICC) and practices commercial litigation at the DIFC and ADGM Courts. Sarah also advises clients in the UAE and internationally on all aspects of employment and labour law issues and is currently instructed as Counsel on the first race discrimination claim against a multi-national bank before the DIFC Courts which goes to trial in Summer 2023. She is often used as external counsel and advocate by law firms and in-house clients and acts as personal advisor to Ultra High Net Worth private clients. Sarah partners with numerous academies worldwide including AIAC, AIFC, ADJD and DIFC to provide best practice and training for students, legal professionals, corporate and government organisations. She is regularly invited to speak at conferences within the UAE, GCC and internationally for various organisations including the ICC, CIArb and IBA. In addition to practice, Sarah is appointed as a visiting lecturer on the LLM programme at Middlesex University, Dubai, in International Commercial Litigation and Arbitration and and co-devised a UAE and DIFC Employment Law module for the LLM for both postgraduate students and industry. Sarah is also a published author of two legal texts - one on arbitration and one on employment law.

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Member of Committee

Ranked as Next Generation Partner in the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners, Seema has extensive experience of advising clients on complex, multi-jurisdictional commercial litigation and international arbitration proceedings in various sectors, including technology, telecoms, energy, oil and gas, real estate, hospitality and financial services. I also advise clients on cyber and data matters as well as cross-border investigations arising from bribery and corruption and other misconduct issues. Seema is admitted as a Solicitor of England and Wales, she sits on the MENA Sub-Committee of the Campaign for Greener Arbitrations. She is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and ArbitralWomen. Prior to joining Pinsent Masons, Seema practised at a Magic Circle firm, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, and a US firm, Mayer Brown. Seema relocated from London to Dubai in 2014.

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Head of Our GCC
• Head of Our Middle East
• Member of Committee

Shane Jury is the head of our Middle East commercial disputes practice and is based in our Dubai office. He has been practising in the region for over a decade. Shane specialises in complex commercial disputes, including JV, shareholders and tech disputes, banking and financial disputes and investigations, fraud claims and multi-jurisdictional asset tracing and enforcement. He also has particular expertise in restructuring/insolvency related claims and professional negligence claims against solicitors and auditors. Shane is ranked as a Next Generation Partner by the Legal500 for Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and International Litigation (2023, 2022), and as a Leading Individual by Chambers & Partners for Dispute Resolution: United Arab Emirates (2023). He is also ranked in Who's Who Legal 2023: Professional Negligence. Shane's practice also includes litigation in the DIFC and ADGM Courts. He has full rights of audience in the DIFC Courts and has conducted (as Lead Counsel) the hearing of appeals and applications before the DIFC Courts. Prior to joining Addleshaw Goddard, Shane has practiced in the Dubai offices of a global US law firm and a magic circle law firm. Shane Jury is the head of our GCC commercial disputes practice and is based in our Dubai office. He has been practising in the Middle East region for over a decade. Shane specialises in complex commercial disputes, including joint venture disputes, shareholders' disputes, banking and financial disputes and investigations, fraud claims and multi-jurisdictional asset tracing and enforcement. He also has particular expertise in restructuring/insolvency related claims and professional negligence claims against solicitors and auditors. Shane is ranked as a Next Generation Partner by the Legal500 for Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and International Litigation (2023, 2022), and as a Leading Individual by Chambers & Partners for Dispute Resolution: United Arab Emirates (2023). He is also ranked in Who's Who Legal 2023: Professional Negligence. Shane maintains a busy arbitration practice, advising clients on general commercial arbitrations under all of the major institutional rules. His arbitration experience includes breach of contract claims and shareholders'/governance disputes, including earn-out disputes and breach of warranty claims. In recognition of the high profile nature of the team's arbitration work, Shane's team won Arbitration Team of the Year at the 2023 Middle East Legal Awards. Shane also sits as an arbitrator and has recently concluded a sole arbitrator appointment on DIFC-LCIA proceedings. Shane's practice also includes litigation in the DIFC and ADGM Courts. He has full rights of audience in the DIFC Courts and has conducted (as Lead Counsel) the hearing of appeals and applications before the DIFC Courts. Shane has been involved in many of the landmark commercial disputes in the DIFC Courts (both at first instance and on appeal). His experience includes the key cases which established the extent of the DIFC Court's jurisdiction. He is a member of the DIFC Courts Rules Committee and was also recently elected to the DIFC Courts' Users Committee. In addition to his extensive DIFC Courts and arbitration practice, Shane also has experience acting in the ADGM Courts (where he acted on the first injunction issued by the Court). Shane has also advised on potential claims in the ADGM Courts arising out of the NMC administration. In recognition of his ADGM market profile, Shane is a member of the ADGM Courts Private Law Firms Liaison Group. Shane is one of the leading practitioners in dealing with restructuring/insolvency related disputes in the UAE. His experience includes advising a Syndicate of Banks in relation to claims in the DIFC Courts against KBBO, involving parallel restructuring proceedings in the onshore Abu Dhabi Courts, including the interrelationship between the UAE Bankruptcy Law and DIFC Insolvency Law. Shane oversawhas been overseeing our team in coordinating the strategy in the DIFC claim and advising (together with our restructuring practice) on the conduct of the parallel restructuring proceedings in Abu Dhabi. Shane also acts as strategic/supervisory counsel in respect of claims in the onshore UAE Courts together with local UAE counsel. Shane's experience includes acting for a major UAE State owned entity in connection with a variety of claims for and against that entity, including civil and criminal proceedings Prior to joining Addleshaw Goddard, Shane has practiced in the Dubai offices of a global US law firm and a magic circle law firm.

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Member of Committee

Sheila leads investigations and counsels multinational companies on compliance with anti-corruption/bribery (FCPA), anti-money laundering, sanctions, and anti-boycott laws and defends companies facing enforcement by U.S. agencies, including the DOJ, SEC, and OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control). She has led and defended investigations in more than 35 countries throughout the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region. In addition, Sheila has served as counsel or arbitrator in numerous high-value ICC, LCIA, DIFC-LCIA, and DIAC arbitrations and as an advocate with full rights of audience in the DIFC Courts. She was lead counsel in International Electro-Mechanical v. Al Fattan, which set the often-cited pro-arbitration foundational precedent in the DIFC Courts. Sheila is recognized as a leading disputes and investigations lawyer for several years running in Chambers, The Legal 500, Who's Who, the Global Arbitration Review (GAR), the Global Investigations Review (GIR), and The Best Lawyers in the UAE. She has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, Bloomberg, and a number of other news-related broadcasts and print media in connection with her work. Sheila is a member of the DIFC Courts Rules Committee, the DIFC Academy, and has served as a member of an advisory board of the Dubai Judicial Institute.

Job Titles:

• KC Barrister
• Member of Committee

Tom has a heavy commercial disputes practice in both arbitration and litigation. His work includes banking, joint ventures, fraud, insurance and reinsurance and disputes arising out of construction projects. Tom has been involved in some of the highest value and most significant cases before the DIFC Courts. Tom also regularly appears in the English Courts. Tom drafted the Rules of the DIFC Courts, Dubai World Tribunal and the Courts of the Astana International Financial Centre Courts, where he sits as a judge. He is a member of the English Civil Procedure Rules Committee. He is co-editor of DIFC Courts Practice (2020), the leading work on DIFC law and procedure. He contributes 4 chapters to Foskett on Compromise on arbitration, international dispute resolution, insurance and construction.

Job Titles:

• Counsel

Zara is Counsel and global investigations lawyer at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP in Dubai. Zara focuses her practice on crisis management as well as white collar defence. Zara represents businesses and individuals in global investigations involving allegations of financial crime, bribery, fraud, money laundering, tax evasion, terrorist financing, sanctions violations and anticompetitive activity. She provides strategic advice to clients to help them manage fraud and corporate crime risks. Zara is dual qualified as a Barrister and Solicitor in Ontario and a Solicitor in England and Wales. In addition to Dubai, Zara has worked in Toronto and London. Zara is Chambers ranked and she is winner of the Chambers 2022 Middle East Associate of the Year Award.

Job Titles:

• General Counsel
• General Counsel and Head of Legal of Expo Dubai 2020
• Member of Committee

Ziad started providing consultancies and legal support to the UAE Embassy in Beirut and its staff since 2000. In 2011, Ziad was officially appointed as legal counsel to the UE Embassy and has ever since provided legal support in more than 400 cases related to UAE Nationals, institutions, and official entities in Lebanon. Ziad has provided since 2011 legal services for all UAE humanitarian foundations and entities, including Zayed Foundation, Khalifa Foundation, Mohammed Bin Rashid Foundations, Emirates Red Crescent, and many others. In 2006, Ziad joined the UAE team to assist and support the UAE candidacy to host the headquarter of IRENA in Abu Dhabi, which lead to a brilliant success. In 2011, Ziad was called to be part of the UAE delegation to work on Dubai's candidacy to host Expo Dubai 2020 prior, during and post bidding phase on all aspects. A brilliant and honourable win by which Dubai was selected to organise the largest event in the Middle East and North Africa, whereas 190 countries have participated. In 2013, Ziad was discharged to prepare and draft all legal chapters of the "Registration Dossier" that was reviewed and approved by more than 36 member States. He was empowered as well to liaise and negotiate with the "Bureau International des Exposition (IBE)" in France on all legal matters relating to the Application Registration of the world exhibition "Expo Dubai 2020". He attended almost all official meetings held with the BIE, member States, and government's representatives since 2013 until present date. In 2013, Ziad was appointed General Counsel and Head of Legal of Expo Dubai 2020 and he was granted again the opportunity to handle all legal matters for the transition phase and the new entity that will be replacing Expo Dubai 2020.