Diwakar Agarwal > Stephenson Harwood Middle East LLP > Dubai, United Arab Emirates > Lawyer Profile

Kamal Shah operates at the forefront of the ‘solution oriented’ Stephenson Harwood team, which acts for an array of clients, from banks and global corporations to entrepreneurs and wealthy families in contentious and non-contentious settings. Shah specialises in international arbitration and commercial litigation and is geared to handle multijurisdictional mandates, while Diwakar Agarwal is adept at handling the full gamut of corporate and commercial issues. ‘Diligent’ Gregory Xu’s strengths in banking and project finance further bolster the team’s capabilities.

Stephenson Harwood Middle East LLP remains a key adviser to a diverse client base, including industry players, multinationals, and government-backed entities, while increasingly acting for family offices and US corporates and funds on a growing range of mandates. Diwakar Agarwal is praised for his ‘deep understanding of the legal and regulatory framework in the region’ and is particularly active in the tech, education, healthcare, and e-commerce industries. Melissa Forbes-Miranda is recognised for her expertise in cross-border transactions and distressed deals, while also advising on business-critical commercial agreements for regional corporates. Sandeep Dhama is sought after for market entry guidance and a variety of M&A and private equity transactions. Toufic Safie remains a crucial supporting presence.

The multidisciplinary TMT practice at Stephenson Harwood Middle East LLP is reputed for its data protection, digital asset regulation, and fintech expertise. Well regarded in the technology sector, practice head Melissa Forbes-Miranda is skilled at software licensing and development work. Philip Clarke and Sandeep Dhama are often engaged in virtual asset matters, while Diwakar Agarwal is another key team member for corporate and commercial transactions.

Stephenson Harwood Middle East LLP leverages the full scale of its Middle East practice to competently advise clients on energy and infrastructure projects, covering M&A, finance, project development, and disputes. The practice is co-led by Rustum Shah and Ron Nobbs, with the former focused on project finance for financial institutions and the latter highly regarded for his track record in construction and engineering disputes. In addition, Diwakar Agarwal regularly acts on M&A in the technology, healthcare and energy sectors. Toufic Safie continues to be active on social infrastructure mandates, while Murtaza Hussain is instrumental to the firm’s cross-border project financings. Iwan Walters joined the firm in March 2025.