PastIn Person

Litigating in the Middle East

by International Bar Association (IBA)

The "Litigating in the Middle East" conference, organized by the International Bar Association (IBA), took place from February 9 to 10, 2025, at the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. This event brought together legal professionals to discuss the evolving landscape of litigation within the Middle East region.

Key topics addressed during the conference included the comparison between onshore and offshore commercial courts in the Middle East, the growing trend of compulsory Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), and the role of dispute boards in commercial disputes. Sessions also covered practical considerations in international litigation, hot topics in litigation, and the future of litigation in the Middle East.

The conference featured notable speakers such as Dr. Mahmood Hussain, Founding Partner at M&CO Legal; Stavros Pavlou, Executive Chairman of Patrikios Legal; and Keith Oliver, Head of International at Peters & Peters. These experts provided valuable insights into the complexities of litigating in the Middle East.

This event was particularly beneficial for legal practitioners, arbitrators, and corporate counsel seeking to enhance their understanding of the Middle Eastern legal environment and to network with peers in the industry.

Speakers(12)

Ahmad Alshorbagy

Al Yaqout and Al Fouzan Legal Group

Angelika Hellweger

Rahman Ravelli

Arno Janssens

Legal Counsel at Abu Dhabi International Arbitration Centre

Arno Janssens serves as Legal Counsel at the Abu Dhabi International Arbitration Centre and as UAE National Representative at the IBA Young Lawyers' Committee. He is qualified as an attorney in the State of New York and is recognized for his expertise in international arbitration and public international law. Prior to joining the Centre, Arno acted as tribunal secretary and counsel in complex international arbitrations under a wide variety of rules. He regularly publishes on developments in international law and international dispute resolution, and serves as Assistant Editor for the MENA region at Kluwer Arbitration Blog. In addition, Arno is active in emergency relief projects with a particular focus on the Horn of Africa. He is the former Chairman of the Al Hasanaat Foundation and took part in several humanitarian missions across the Horn. He has published extensively on the triggers and drivers of conflict and displacement in the region.

Chrysostomos Nicolaou

Patrikios Pavlou & Associates LLC

Claudia El Hage

Al Marri & El Hage Law Offices

Hend Al Mehairi

Karim Nassif

Nassif Arbitration

Mahmood Hussain

Founding Partner at M&CO Legal

Dr. Mahmood Hussain is the Founding Partner at M&CO Legal with over 20 years of experience in the public and private sectors. He is a professor at the University of East Anglia, UK, teaching UAE Sharia law – Islamic Arbitration, and at Pantheon-Assas University Paris II, where he educates students on UAE Labour and Employment law. His expertise in the telecommunications sector includes chairing a Tribunal in a dispute involving a telecommunications regulatory body. As a litigator at Dubai Courts, Dr. Mahmood has achieved many favorable judgments in high-profile cases, and he is recognized for his effective representation of complex legal issues. Dr. Mahmood is a Part II registered practitioner at the DIFC Courts and has the rights of audience before the Federal Supreme Court of UAE. He has been acknowledged by The Legal 500 for his standout litigation skills and strategic approach. He has acted in over 50 international arbitration proceedings under various rules and is accredited by DIAC and ADCCAC. Recently, he joined the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA) Roster as an Arbitrator. Dr. Mahmood is a member and current Chair of the ICC-UAE Commission in Arbitration and ADR and a member of the ICC Commission in Paris on Arbitration and ADR. He played a key role in establishing the DIFC Courts, serving as its first Deputy Registrar. He has been involved in significant committees, including the Special Committee for the Rehabilitation and Compensation of former Camel Jockeys and the DIFC Courts Working Group for the DIFC Courts Code of Conduct Complaints Regime. Additionally, he has held board positions, such as being a Board Member of CBC TV Station, Egypt.

Roberto Lipari

Dentons

Stavros Pavlou

Executive Chairman at Patrikios Legal

Stavros Pavlou is the Executive Chairman of Patrikios Legal with over 35 years’ experience in corporate and commercial litigation, arbitration as well as a legal consultant and widely regarded as one of the top litigators in Cyprus. He represents major local and international clients in complex dispute resolution matters in courts, tribunals and arbitration centres in Cyprus and abroad. Stavros is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) and Asian Institute of Alternative Dispute Resolution (AIADR), a practicing Barrister before the Commercial Court of the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) and a member of many international associations including the IBA, STEP, LCIA and ICCA. He actively participates in international seminars, webinars and conferences as a speaker or panelist and he authors numerous articles in international publications relating to dispute resolution and arbitration matters.

Event Details

Date
February 9-10, 2025
2 days
Location
🇦🇪 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)
Audience
Legal practitioners, arbitrators, corporate counsel