OGH Legal

Firm Details:
Website: www.oghlegal.com
Tel: +971 4 380 8838
Fax: +971 4 380 8839
Managing Partners: Mohamed ElGhatit
Number of partners: 5
Number of lawyers: 14
Languages: Arabic, English, French and Farsi

Firm Overview:
OGH Legal is a boutique dispute resolution firm, delivering local law expertise with international service standards. Founded by expert UAE litigation practitioners, they provide legal services across a diverse range of sectors, with a focus on high quality client service.

The team are local court practitioners providing unique expertise alongside a true understanding of working with regional and international corporates, SMEs and international law firms. Having worked at leading international and local firms before founding OGH, the partners understand how to juggle client demands and provide a seamless service.

The firm's experience spans a number of sectors, with expertise in construction, real estate, hospitality, general commercial, and banking. Specialist lawyers also work in TMT, distributor/agent & principle relations as well as aviation, shipping and oil & gas. Finally, the firm additionally has a criminal and family law desk.

As a boutique firm, OGH Legal prides itself on providing clients with a personal service, never compromising on quality. With a wealth of expertise and proven commercial awareness, the firm is able to offer innovative legal solutions to complex business issues.

Dispute Resolution
5 partners, 11 fee-earners
■ Acting on behalf of a European Government on a multi-jurisdictional case lead by a London City firm. It is the largest value claim currently being heard by the UAE Courts.
■ Acting on behalf of a US Investment fund in a USD 500 million UAE court case against a local UAE bank in a complex and multi-party matter.
■ Acting on behalf of a North African sovereign wealth fund on a number of local court disputes arising from substantial investment portfolios in the UAE, valued at over AED 1 billion.
■ Acting as local counsel on an Investment Treaty claim brought against an Arab state.
■ Acting for UAE PJSC, in relation to a dispute arising out of a USD 350 million property investment situated in the UAE.
■ Acting on behalf of a contractor in defending an AED 1.6 billion insurance claim.
■ Acting for a contractor on a USD 2 billion dispute with the employer of a mega project in Saudi Arabia.

Contact Name: Sherif Hikal
Tel: +971 4 380 8838
Email: [email protected]

Arbitration
1 partner, 4 fee-earners
■ Acting as co-counsel on UAE law and led by international law firm in respect of an ongoing Investment Treaty arbitration, arising out of a USD 100 million investment in a GCC state.
■ Acting as co-counsel on UAE law and led by international law firm in respect of AED 300 million construction arbitration, LCIA rules;
■ Acting as co-counsel on UAE law and led by international law firm in respect of dispute arising out of an aviation agency contract in an ICC arbitration;
■ Acting UAE expert in a USD 500 million construction claim arising out of a major transportation contract in the GCC;
■ Acting as local counsel assisting a leading international law firm in an ongoing Investment Treaty arbitration, arising out of a USD 100 million investment in a GCC state.
■ Advising on a CRCICA arbitration between a multinational mobile telecommunications network operator and a local company, value of dispute USD 250 million (Cairo seat, and Egyptian law).
■ Co- counsel in an adhoc arbitration between a state owned enterprise and foreign investor involving a EGP 1.2 billion (then valued at USD 300 million) real estate dispute.
■ Acting for European oil and gas company with its local Sharjah partner in relation to an ICC arbitration value of claim approx. USD 10 million.
■ An Egyptian construction conglomerate in an ICC arbitration involving a joint venture for the development of a major real estate project in Alexandria.
■ Acting for a US petroleum services company in a CRCICA arbitration with its local, Egyptian, partner on profit distribution valued at USD 55 million.

Contact Name: Mohamed ElGhatit
Tel: +971 4 380 8838
Email: [email protected]

Employment
1 partner
■ Advising a major GCC state-owned energy company in relation to major complex and multijurisdictional high-profile employment litigation.
■ Acting on behalf of a Spanish contractor in a local UAE court case against an employer.
■ Acting on behalf of an Italian logistic company in respect of a class action type claim by employees.
■ Acting on behalf of a UAE listed investment funds in respect of a class action type claim brought by existing management board.

Contact Name: Mohamed ElGhatit
Tel: +971 4 380 8838
Email: [email protected]

Corporate Investigations
2 fee-earners
■ Acting for HSBC as preferred external litigation counsel with regards to white collar crimes, including fraud, and misappropriation of loan funds.
■ Advising a Saudi company in relation to the receipt of falsified payment receipts. This criminal complaint is being dealt with in multiple jurisdictions.
■ Acting for two Arab sovereign wealth funds in respect of investment relationships where there are suggestions of possible misconduct and fraud and assisting in formulating exit strategies.
■ Acting on behalf of a UAE infrastructure company in respect of a fraudulent real estate transaction and related investigation.

Contact Name: Sherif Hikal
Tel: +971 4 380 8838
Email: [email protected]

WORKING WITH INTERNATIONAL FIRMS:
The firm works and has excellent relationships with many of the global firms based in the UAE, as well as firms who do not have a regional or local presence. It acts both as local counsel on UAE Court litigations as well as local law counsel in arbitration. This year, OGH Legal was involved in more than three dozen high value cases in local courts lead by international law firms. Half of these are in excess of AED 1 billion. The firm’s work showcases how OGH Legal works efficiently alongside international firms as local counsel and also ‘behind the scenes’ as local law experts.