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Charlotte Leith

Senior Associate
About

Charlotte is a Senior Legal Associate in the Litigation, Arbitration and Investigations Group at DLA Piper, and is based in Manchester. Charlotte focuses her practice in the area of international arbitration, advising clients on multi-jurisdictional disputes. Charlotte has also acted on a number of high-value and complex commercial litigation matters.

Professional QualificationsSolicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales

EXPERIENCE

  • Representing two prominent Indian real estate entrepreneurs in an LCIA (India) Rules arbitration in relation to claims totaling USD1 billion, relating to several large-scale real estate projects in India and interests in companies incorporated in the UK, BVI and Mauritius
  • Representing a prominent Indian real estate entrepreneur in a USD400 million dispute involving entities incorporated in the Isle of Man, BVI, Mauritius, India and the US. Advising the client in relation to parallel proceedings in the London Commercial Court and an LCIA arbitration seated in Singapore
  • Advising an international luxury brand company on a shareholder dispute with its local partner in the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar. In particular, on the strategy they should follow in their dispute with their local partner, taking into account an LCIA arbitration in London and local proceedings in the Dubai courts
  • Representing a Fortune 50 company in relation to an FCPA investigation by the US Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission which spans several countries in the Middle East and involves several companies in the same industry
  • Acting for the minority shareholder in a dispute relating to the operation and management of the Viceroy hotel in Dubai. This involved advising on an injunction obtained by Viceroy in the DIFC Courts, claims in the Dubai Courts, proceedings conducted by the Dubai Joint Judicial Committee and the impact of related proceedings in the Los Angeles Courts
  • Advising the minority shareholder in a Saudi food delivery app in relation to a shareholder dispute. The majority shareholder was ultimately owned by a European holding company which was preparing for an IPO
  • Representing the European subsidiary of a NYSE-listed company in a major dispute with a minority shareholder in an Abu Dhabi joint venture
  • Advising a European litigation funder in relation to the recovery of USD50 million in various jurisdictions, including France, UK and the UAE
  • Advising a London-based re-insurer in relation to a complex and multi-jurisdictional USD22 million indemnification claim that involved assets being confiscated in a politically volatile region
  • Advising an international contractor on a c.USD600 million dispute relating to a desalination power plant in one of the GCC countries. This dispute involved Asian and GCC parties
Education
  • University of St Andrews, M.A. (Hons) Classics, 2009
  • College of Law, Graduate Diploma in Law, 2010

Awards

  • "Charlotte Leith is a stand-out senior associate with real expertise in international arbitration." Legal 500
  • "Charlotte Leith is a highly accomplished solicitor: she has a very quick mind and a highly impressive attention to detail. She has a good commercial sense of the client's objectives and how to achieve those in the changing circumstances of complex litigation." Legal 500

Publications

  • New cabinet decision amends law on enforcement of foreign awards in onshore UAE Courts, February 2019
  • Resolving a dispute: formal action, Oath, 25 July 2018
  • Abu Dhabi Global Market Courts - framework, procedures and first judgment summary, 1 March 2018
  • Corporate Disputes in the UAE - A series of articles relating to shareholder disputes and post-acquisition disputes, launched in March 2018
  • DIAC Rules 2018 - Key changes to expect, December 2017
  • Enforcement in the UAE and Wider Middle East, April 2016
  • Shareholder Documentation in the UAE: Structuring Considerations in a Dispute Context, Corporate Disputes, September 2015
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution in the Middle East, Corporate Disputes, June 2015
  • New Arbitration Institute Established in the DIFC, July 2014
  • ADCCAC Arbitration (2013 Rules) - a step by step guide (PLC), 2014
  • Changes to Arbitration Rules Published in Abu Dhabi, September 2013

Memberships And Affiliations

  • Law Society of England and Wales

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