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Sarah Pearson-Baird

Senior Associate
About

Sarah Pearson-Baird is a Senior Associate in the Litigation, Arbitration and Investigations Group at DLA Piper and is based in Dubai. Sarah advises clients on complex, multi-jurisdictional disputes (including in an insolvency context), as well as on fraud, compliance and investigation matters.

Sarah has experience in the UK, Hong Kong and the Middle East. She advises clients in a range of sectors including commodities, information technology, technology, pharmaceutical and finance.

Professional QualificationsSolicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales

EXPERIENCE

  • Defending a pharmaceutical company and its shareholders in ICC proceedings relating to alleged breach of a non-compete agreement.
  • Defending an oilfield services company in ICC arbitration proceedings
  • Representing a consortium of financial institutions in relation to a potential fraud and embezzlement on a number of trade finance transactions. The estimated exposure is $530 million, and may involve litigation in Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Germany and the United States.
  • Pursuing enforcement of arbitral awards in several jurisdictions across Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
  • Providing strategic commercial advice to a manufacturing company in respect of the termination of its offtake and supply agreements.
  • Advising the Liquidators of one of the world's largest commodities traders with a debt burden in excess of USD 1 billion. Advising on the recovery of receivables, in particular enforcement of arbitral awards, realization of assets and commencement of multi-jurisdictional litigation.
  • Representing the Joint Administrators of NMC Health Plc (a former FTSE 100 healthcare company in administration that has been the subject of a multi-billion USD fraud) on actions within the UAE, including on what is thought to be the first recognition of foreign representatives and administration in the Abu Dhabi Global Market Court.
  • Advising a charity (pro bono) in its investigation by the FBI following receipt of a donation from a sanctioned individual.
  • Advising an information and communications technology company in its investigation of allegations of related party transactions, overcharging and bribery in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  • Advising a global biopharmaceutical company in an internal investigation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia concerning widespread allegations of bribery, overstocking and breach of corporate policies.
Languages
  • English
Education
  • University of Durham, Bachelor of Laws (LLB), First Class Honours
  • BPP University, Legal Practice Course

Memberships And Affiliations

  • Law Society of England and Wales.
  • Secretary of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators' UAE Branch Committee.
  • Sarah is the regional lead (Middle East) for LAW, DLA Piper's Gender Balance Network.

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