Dispute Resolution | Global

Clyde & Co is recognised as one of the most prominent international law firms to invest resources in UAE dispute resolution. It offers a leading team in arbitration and is equally highly recognised for its handling of litigation before the DIFC Courts. In both these spheres it has acted on several landmark cases and has an impressive track record of success. Its sizeable team of lawyers offers a wide range of specialisations, with deep expertise in white-collar fraud and insolvency, as well as joint venture, partnership and other commercial contract disputes. The firm also has considerable experience assisting clients hailing from the hospitality, finance and technology sectors.

A&O Shearman maintains a highly regarded disputes department which is well acquainted with international matters. The team is a respected presence in the DIFC Courts, notably acting on financial services and white-collar crime cases. It advises an array of financial institutions and technology companies, among many other high-profile clients. It is also able to represent clients in arbitration.

DLA Piper's UAE disputes team is noted for its long experience in the Middle East. It has an enviable record in the courts of the DIFC and ADGM, and is acknowledged for its strong financial crime practice. The firm also has comprehensive arbitration abilities and is very active on cross-border disputes throughout the region and beyond. Lawyers within the team are regularly called upon to assist with a broad array of joint venture and other investment-related cases.

Freshfields maintains a prominent arbitration team in Dubai which often acts for industry leaders on multi-jurisdictional cases. Its lawyers are well versed in matters arising from contentious investment agreements, demonstrate further strengths in regulatory investigations and frequently represent international companies in disputes with national governments and state-owned institutions. The team's clients originate from a diverse range of sectors, including manufacturing and telecoms.

Clifford Chance's Dubai-based disputes team continues to develop its arbitration offering, with a particular emphasis on the construction and oil and gas sectors. It also regularly assists clients with cases arising out of commercial contracts, such as distribution agreements. A further stream of its practice involves providing guidance to global corporations on the potential regulatory risks of new business ventures in the Middle East.

Eversheds Sutherland has a comprehensive Middle East disputes practice that is particularly active in the region's arbitration centres. It represents a diverse clientele including a number of regional and international banks. The team maintains a strong contentious regulatory and investigations team and notably advises on major banking disputes. It also acts on energy and white-collar fraud matters, overseeing cases before the local courts as well as those of the DIFC and ADGM.

Norton Rose Fulbright has a strong disputes practice in Dubai. The firm is acknowledged for its broad-ranging experience in arbitration and also has complementary expertise in corporate investigations and contentious financial regulatory matters. Lawyers within the team are well versed in a variety of banking and insurance cases, with further noteworthy experience taking on major licensing and investment disputes.

Addleshaw Goddard operates an up-and-coming disputes team that is noted for its strong track record in the DIFC Courts, as well as those of the ADGM. The team acts for household names from a variety of industries, including telecoms, technology, and oil and gas. It is also respected for its arbitration practice, handling significant shareholder disputes.

Dentons is regularly noted for its broad global footprint, encompassing numerous offices throughout the Middle East. Its UAE disputes group is often instructed on cross-border cases. This includes arbitrations as well as shareholder and banking disputes heard before the commercial courts of the DIFC. It also regularly assists with the enforcement of overseas judgments and arbitral awards. Typical clients are active in sectors such as financial services, oil and gas, and hospitality.

Afridi & Angell supports numerous international and domestic clients in cross-border commercial litigation and arbitration. It continues to be noted for its work on financial services disputes as well as demonstrating further capability in real estate cases. It has broad experience representing South Asian clients in UAE-related and domiciled matters.

Akin is a prominent US law firm with an increasingly notable Middle Eastern disputes practice comprising lawyers based in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The team has extensive experience in very high-value arbitration, litigation and enforcement proceedings. It acts for a variety of clients, including governments and government-owned entities.

HFW is a growing disputes player in the Middle East and often acts for financial institutions. The firm's Dubai office is also noted for its specialist aviation knowledge, and its disputes lawyers are regularly called upon to handle cases in this sector. HFW is further noteworthy for its association with local Emirati law firm Salam Al Midfa Advocates, giving it the capability to oversee matters in the domestic UAE courts.

Stephenson Harwood is noted for its growing commercial disputes practice in the Middle East. This team is active on a range of banking litigation and professional negligence claims against auditors, in addition to handling major white-collar fraud, commodities and shareholder disputes. It is highly experienced in the DIFC and ADGM Courts and is equally well versed in arbitration and contentious regulatory matters.

Watson Farley has a robust disputes team in Dubai which leverages the firm's strong reputation in asset finance to assist with a variety of aviation-related disputes. This is complemented by a strong standing in the field of shipping disputes. In addition to this work, its lawyers offer considerable experience in shareholder and contractual disputes, with growing expertise in cybercrime cases.