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Ahmed Hammadi

Legal Director
Dubai
About

Ahmed has been working in the region since 2011, and during that time has worked on a number of finance, corporate, and litigation matters. He regularly appears in both onshore and offshore courts and acts in arbitrations seated across the region and further afield. His experience includes commercial, financial and regulatory matters, often involving parallel proceedings or multi-jurisdictional elements.

His approach is defined by clear analysis, disciplined case management and an ability to navigate the practical realities of contentious work in the UAE. Clients value his structured thinking, steady handling of pressure and straightforward communication.

Ahmed’s work frequently involves coordinating strategy across forums, translating complex legal issues into focused and workable solutions and ensuring that disputes progress with purpose. While his practice covers a wide range of sectors, he is particularly experienced in banking, technology, construction and shareholder-related matters.

Areas of FocusFinanceProjects and Project FinanceRestructuring
Professional QualificationsSolicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales

EXPERIENCE

  • Acting for a pan African bank in relation to allegations of abuse of process arising from proceedings initiated in Africa and subsequently pursued in Dubai (UAE law, Dubai Courts). 
  • Acting a leading global IT services provider and 15 of its engineers in defending allegations of unlawful interference with contracts and coordinated employee transfers from a competitor following the award of a major tender by a third party (UAE law, Dubai Courts).
  • Acting a leading global IT services provider in claims relating to the provision of a tailored customer relationship platform solution to a state-owned entity (UAE law, Abu Dhabi Courts).
  • Acting for a regional government entity in relation to three arbitrations relating to the interpretation of indexation provisions of long-term power and water purchase agreements (English Law, Bahrain seat, UNCITRAL Rules, Ad-hoc). 
  • Acting for an international contractor in respect of arbitration proceedings in connection with a settlement agreement (UAE law, Dubai seat, DIAC Rules). 
  • Acting for a listed international dining company in connection with disputes arising out a franchise agreement with a local franchisee (US law, UAE law, Dubai Courts). 
  • Acting for an international contractor in respect of payment order applications in the Dubai Courts in connection with a settlement agreement (UAE law, Dubai Courts). 
  • Acting for an international company in connection with a multi-million dollar fraud where certain proceeds were sent to the UAE, which included criminal and civil proceedings in Dubai (UAE law, Dubai Courts). 
  • Acting for a large Cayman fund and fund manager in connection with various claims under a loan agreement on matters of UAE law (Cayman law, UAE law, Cayman Courts). 
  • Advising and acting for a regional distributor on claims against its joint venture partner arising out of a joint venture agreement (and related agreements) for the distribution of products in the GCC, which included applications for interim relief in arbitral proceedings, arbitral proceedings (two arbitrations: UAE law, onshore Dubai seat, DIAC rules; one arbitration: Japanese law, Tokyo seat, JCCA rules) and court proceedings (UAE law, Dubai Courts). 
  • Acting for and advising a part-owner of a five-star hotel in Dubai in respect of the termination of the hotel management agreement, including dealing with injunctions, DIFC Court proceedings, applications for committal for contempt of court and three arbitrations, as well as onshore Dubai Court proceedings (Dubai Courts and DIFC Courts).
  • Acting for a regional contractor in an arbitration arising out the MEP works on a major educational facility (UAE law, DIFC seat, DIFC-LCIA Rules).  
  • Acting for a US Fortune 500 contractor in two ICC arbitrations taking place in parallel in respect of works on an international airport in the GCC (Qatar law, Qatar seat, ICC rules).  
  • Advising an international contractor on claims arising out of two related infrastructure contracts for two mixed used communities in Dubai (UAE law, onshore Dubai seat, RTA rules). 
  • Acting for a lessor of a mall in Dubai in a DIAC arbitration in respect of the head lease for the mall (UAE law, onshore Dubai seat, DIAC Rules). 
 
Languages
  • English
  • Arabic
Education
  • BPP Law School, Legal Practice Course, 2010
  • School of Oriental and African Studies, LLM (Merit), 2009
  • Durham University, LLB (Upper Second Class), 2008

Publications and media

  • DIFC court clarifies jurisdiction in contempt of court application, Feb 2019
  • A quick solution to contractor disputes, 24 Jan 2019
  • Time for Change: Construction in the GCC reaches a tipping point, 14 Nov 2018
  • The new Arbitration Law in Qatar, 16 Mar 2017

Memberships and Affiliations

  • Law Society of England and Wales 

Connect

Phone

+971 4 438 6100
(Work, Dubai)
+971 4 438 6101
(Fax, Dubai)
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