Dispute Resolution | Global

Al Tamimi is a market-leading regional law firm with strong experience in international disputes. Its expertise spans a range of fields and the team is licensed to practise in the jurisdiction's international arbitration centres. Centred in Dubai, the firm represents domestic clients in investment-related cases in the Middle East, Africa and further afield, and is able to leverage its unparalleled regional presence in its handling of cross-border work. The firm has a leading practice in the DIFC Courts, where it acts for a slew of international clients including major financial institutions.

A&O Shearman has maintained a highly regarded disputes department in the UAE for many years, fielding a group of lawyers who are very 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. On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.

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. Typical clients originate from a diverse range of sectors, including manufacturing and telecoms.

Hadef & Partners has a highly developed dispute resolution department that is well respected by clients and peers. It has a wealth of arbitration experience in the region, and benefits from a diverse team of Emirati and international lawyers. Hadef is especially known for its financial services expertise and regularly acts as co-counsel alongside international law firms on multi-jurisdictional disputes. The firm acts for both claimants and respondents on debt recovery and liquidation actions and is also active in employment and shareholder disputes.

Clifford Chance is especially applauded for its DIFC litigation work. In this field it is well known for representing leading investment banks in mis-selling claims, as well as handling numerous other cases in the financial services sector. In addition, the firm is increasingly active on high-value professional negligence and insolvency proceedings. The Dubai team continues to develop its arbitration offering, with a particular emphasis on the construction and oil and gas sectors.

DLA Piper's expanding 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.

Norton Rose Fulbright has a strong disputes practice in Dubai. The firm is acknowledged for its broad-ranging experience in arbitration, especially in regard to high-profile mandates in the energy and natural resources sector. It also has complementary expertise in corporate investigations and contentious financial regulatory matters. Lawyers within the team are well versed in a variety of financial services, TMT and insurance cases.

Pinsent Masons maintains a strong global reputation as a go-to construction law firm, but its Dubai team is also active on general commercial disputes, including high-profile cross-border actions. The firm has noteworthy expertise in tax cases, and also provides a variety of regulatory and compliance advice in relation to anti-corruption, white-collar fraud and other corporate crime matters.

Addleshaw Goddard operates an up-and-coming disputes team that is noted for its strong presence in the DIFC Courts, as well as those of the ADGM. It demonstrates pronounced strengths in debt recovery proceedings and broader financial services claims, as well as shareholder and commercial contract disputes. 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 for high net worth individuals and other major clients.

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 ADGM and DIFC. It also regularly assists with the enforcement of overseas 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 shipping and financial services disputes as well as demonstrating further capability in real estate and construction. It acts on matters across the GCC, representing a variety of clients, including international financial institutions and major manufacturers. It has broad experience representing South Asian clients in UAE-related and domiciled matters.

HFW is a growing disputes player in the Middle East and often acts for financial institutions. The firm's Dubai office is noted for its specialist aviation knowledge, and its disputes lawyers are regularly called upon to handle cases in this sector. HFW is also 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.

Jones Day has a compact team in Dubai which demonstrates a broad range of skills in the disputes arena. It is adept at handling international arbitration cases and is equally well versed in appearing before the DIFC Courts in general commercial disputes. Further expertise spans corporate investigations and related issues, including white-collar fraud and anti-money laundering matters.

KBH is noted for its presence before the DIFC Courts, where it represents clients in cases ranging from recovery claims to employment cases as well as shareholder and joint venture disputes. The team handles a variety of significant commercial litigation cases and is also very active on arbitration matters.

Reed Smith is a respected full-service law firm with well-established offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Its expanding commercial dispute resolution team in the UAE handles a variety of DIFC Court cases as well as arbitration matters. Its key areas of experience include shareholder and insolvency disputes, and the team is also able to leverage the reputation of the firm's much-respected construction disputes team.

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. The team acts for property developers and major industrial clients, among other notable names.