Stephenson Harwood Middle East LLP fields a sizeable team of experienced partners on the ground in Dubai that provide an ‘effective and efficient service’. Clients include international and domestic corporates, state-owned entities, and governmental institutions, and it is particularly strong in financial services, energy and tech disputes. Practice head Rania Tadros is well regarded for complex and high-value cases, especially for maritime and construction clients, and Mark Lakin specialises in sensitive cases with fraud and sanctions elements, with clients praising him for his ’excellent knowledge of the market and considerable experience of shipping and commodities disputes’. Saif Almobideen lends expertise to a number of cross-border cases, and is another key maritime advisor. Managing associate Magda Kofluk provides additional support. Mohamed El Hawawy, Khurram Ali, Mehtab Kassam and Mahmoud El Sayed joined the firm in March 2024 from Ince & Co. John Lewis was a new arrival in March 2024 from Charles Russell Speechlys LLP; he heads the firm’s Middle East general commercial litigation and international arbitration practice. Nick Sharratt left the firm.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The team is competent. Providing the expected legal advice in a timely fashion. Mark provided us with great support in several cases, and they give us also out of the box solutions.’
‘Highly professional with vast pool of resources, makes them unique which is quite comforting.’
‘Experience working with Saif Almobideen and his associates was very good. His helping nature, positive attitude and pleasing personality greatly assisted in decision making and problem solving.’
‘Great diverse team to work with.’
‘Magda Kofluk & Sam Martin are great to work with and full of energy. ’
‘The team is approachable, rightly prides itself on excellent client care and provides an effective and efficient service.’
‘Mark is an absolute pleasure to work with. He is a shrewd litigator with excellent knowledge of the market and considerable experience of shipping and commodities disputes.’
Key clients
- Samsung SDS ME & Africa
- ICICI Bank Limited
- TA Private Capital Limited
- Primal Capital and Housing Finance Limited
- MOG Holding Limited
- Sahara Energy Resource Ltd
- Grant Thornton
- Cancrie Investments
- SPL Guernsey ICC Limited
- Aggregates Manufacturing Trading
- Svitzer Salvage BV.
Work highlights
- Representing a provider of testing, inspection and certification services in bringing criminal proceedings against a company and the individual representing the company, among others as a result of a cybercrime incident in which the client lost the amount of US$5,000,000.
- Acting for the main contractor in a construction dispute against the employer, which has arisen under a turnkey EPC contract.
- Representing ICICI Bank Limited in relation to its claim against Mr Bavaguthu Raghuram Shetty.
Lawyers
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Rania Tadros, John Lewis