Dentons

Alternative Dispute Resolution, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Arbitration

Zahra Rose Khawaja is a senior associate specializing in commercial dispute resolution in Dentons' Dubai office. She has seven years' experience (five of which in the Middle East) working on a wide range of international arbitration and commercial dispute resolution matters.

Zahra's international arbitration portfolio includes acting for both claimants and respondents in claims valued between US$1 million and US$500 million, conducted under the rules of many major arbitral institutions. She also conducts litigation in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) courts. Zahra has acted as advisor to a prominent financial institution in longstanding DIFC Court proceedings (presently in the Court of Appeal) seeking recovery of a US$30 million debt arising out of an alleged trade finance fraud. She also acts alongside local counsel to advise clients in respect of proceedings in the onshore UAE courts, and has significant experience in commercial agency disputes, contractual disputes, debt recovery and enforcement proceedings. Zahra is also experienced in handling mediation and negotiation processes.

Zahra's experience spans a range of different sectors including telecommunications, manufacturing, financial services and technology, and she has a keen interest in the hotels and hospitality sector, having acted for a number of clients in recent high-value disputes between hotel owners and operators arising out of hotel management agreements in the Middle East region.

Prior to joining Dentons, Zahra trained and practiced at an international law firm in London, where she focused on international arbitration and conducted litigation in the High Court and Court of Appeal. During her training contract, she spent six months on secondment to a client in Hong Kong. Zahra also served for two years as Assistant Editor for the MENA Region at Kluwer Arbitration Blog, which reports on the latest developments, awards and forthcoming events in international arbitration.

2019 - present: Associate, Dentons, Dubai 2016 – 2018: Associate, Mayer Brown International, London 2014 – 2016: Trainee Lawyer, Mayer Brown International, London and Hong Kong 

The State Bank of Mauritius (SBM): Acting as claimant in US$30 million proceedings before the DIFC Courts against Renish Petrochem FZE, Mr Hitesh Mehta, Prime Energy FZE and the National Bank of Kuwait. The case, which relates to non-payment of sums advanced pursuant to a facility agreement and involves allegations of a complex trade finance fraud, has been tried before the DIFC Court of First Instance and Court of Appeal. A worldwide freezing order, immediate judgment, an anti-suit injunction and sanctions for contempt of court have been obtained against the defendants. A leading global hospitality provider: Acting as defendant and counterclaimant in US$17 million ICC arbitration proceedings in respect of a claim relating to purported breaches of a hotel management agreement for a property in Doha, Qatar. A syndicate of leading UAE banks: Acting as joint claimants in LCIA arbitration proceedings against a joint venture of Middle Eastern contractors in relation to claims arising from bond calls on a landmark UAE transport infrastructure project. The claims are valued at approximately US$800 million, and the dispute has generated novel and complex jurisdictional issues across multiple related LCIA arbitration proceedings. A Middle East group of hotels: Advising on issues relating to interference and negotiating the termination of hotel management agreements in respect of five luxury hotels in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. A major French manufacturer: Acting alongside local advocates in US$16 million proceedings before the Dubai Courts, in multiple litigation proceedings against a UAE distributor for unpaid invoices. The case has been heard before all levels (a) The Commercial Agencies Committee; (b) Dubai Court of First Instance (including multiple rounds of expert determination); (c) Court of Appeal (including expert determination); (d) Court of Cassation and (e) the Execution Department.

English

Solicitor, Senior Courts of England and Wales, 2016

Law Society of England and Wales ICC YAF (Young Arbitrators Forum) - International Chambers of Commerce

Kaplan Law School, 2014, Legal Practice Course and Graduate LLB Qatar University, 2013, Arabic for Non-Native Speakers Program University of Law, 2012, Graduate Diploma in Law London School of Economics and Political Science, 2011, BA, Social Anthropology