Martin van der Schyf

Practice Areas

Martin is a construction and projects lawyer with more than 18 years’ experience on major infrastructure, energy and mining developments in the UAE, South Africa and internationally. He has worked in the UAE construction market since 2008, advising on high-rise towers, large mixed-use developments, renewable energy projects and complex mining operations under FIDIC and bespoke contracts, while continuing to act for South African and wider African clients on significant projects and disputes.He leads TFT Legal, the Dubai practice of Tiefenthaler Attorneys Inc, as well as the firm’s Cape Town office in South Africa, focusing on front-end contract support, contract administration and dispute resolution for employers, contractors and specialist subcontractors. Working closely with project and commercial teams, he provides practical day-to-day support from tender and contract negotiation through to completion and close-out. His approach prioritises dispute avoidance and the achievement of prompt, commercially sensible outcomes, with minimal disruption to project delivery on site.Martin has acted as lead lawyer on numerous high-value disputes resolved by negotiation, adjudication, mediation, arbitration and court proceedings in multiple jurisdictions. His experience includes power stations (coal, gas and nuclear), high-rise and commercial buildings, infrastructure and transport schemes, as well as utility-scale wind and solar projects.He is admitted as an attorney of the High Court of South Africa, a lawyer of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Australia, and is registered as a Legal Consultant with the Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department. Recognised by Chambers and Partners (Global: Construction) for his construction expertise, he is also a Fellow of the Association of Arbitrators (Southern Africa) and is frequently appointed as an adjudicator or arbitrator in construction disputes.