Middle East - United Arab Emirates

Trowers & Hamlins LLP

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Trowers & Hamlins LLP excels in shareholder, contractual, banking and financing, and technology-related disputes, and the team includes a number of construction specialists who are well positioned to act on complex cases in this area. The 'exceptional' Matthew Showler is a 'first-rate litigator' who heads the practice, often acting on high-profile cases before the DIFC and is a go-to for fraud disputes as well as investigations and crisis situations. Cheryl Cairns handles complex infrastructure, real estate and construction issues and Alex Burton is a proficient mediator who is also a major supporting presence in high-level litigation. Senior associate Daniel Smith has provided support on disputes for multinational corporations and high-net worth individuals that are frequently cross-border in nature.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘A growing Dubai disputes team with real regional veterans. ’

  • ‘Alex Burton is a robust litigator with a focus on arbitration.

  • ‘Very responsive, good communicators, will go the extra mile and excellent quality of work. Daniel Smith is very reliable and an excellent support to Matthew.'

  • ‘Matthew Showler has been exceptional to deal with and a pleasure to work with on a case.

  • ‘The Trowers team in Dubai has been excellent with international arbitration we are conducting. Detailed, timely updates and advice, along with a very competent junior lawyer and paralegal support. ’

  • 'Matthew Showler is a first-rate commercial litigator, with many years of experience in working with Courts and tribunals in the Middle East. He never gets lost in the detail and he develops a consistent strategy by which he guides the client home.’
  • ‘Extraordinarily engaged and responsive; easily able to navigate and coordinate various legal systems; great client handling.’

  • ‘Matthew Showler is an outstanding individual. Easy to work with, but extremely dedicated and focused.’

Key clients

  • Sandra Holdings Limited
  • The Administrators of the International Banking Corporation
  • SpaceCom International LLC
  • Abu Dhabi National Oil Company
  • Pearl Petroleum Co Ltd
  • Sayacorp B.S.C.
  • Power and Integrated Projects Company
  • First Energy Bank
  • GEMS Education Limited
  • Coffee Planet Group/ William Allan Jones
  • John Cockerill Group
  • Export - Import Bank Of Malaysia Berhad
  • Yousif Alkooheji & Bros
  • AAL Group Limited
  • Jonathan Ing
  • Moon Iron & Steel Co SAOC
  • His Excellency Sadiq Marafi
  • NEBA Financial Solutions
  • Accuracy Middle East Advisory Ltd
  • Miclyn Midad Marine company Limited
  • Indus International FZC
  • Dantar Technology Consultancies Company W.L.L
  • Trade X ME LLC
  • Petromin Corporation
  • Partners Group
  • Hyundai
  • Dalma Capital Management Limited
  • Saudi Selevision Company
  • Permodalan Nasional Berhad
  • I2 Capital Markets
  • Virgin Mobile Middle East
  • ACWA Power
  • Al Waha Capital
  • Asian Cricket Council
  • Rayad Emrit (well known West Indian Cricketer)
  • Batelco
  • Bahrain Cinema Company
  • Kanoo Travel Group
  • Mohammed Bakhtiari
  • Redington FZE
  • Currie & Brown
  • ICL 5 Air Italy
  • Knight Frank
  • Malayan Banking Berhad
  • Mukhsen Mokhammad
  • Orea Mining Corporation
  • Farshad Rezaie
  • Standard Chartered Bank
  • Screen GP Europe BV
  • WPVM Limited
  • Twofour 54

Work highlights

  • Advise the Administrator of The International Banking Corporation in its claims against Ahmed Hamad Algosaibi Brothers Company (AHAB) worth USD 2.5 billion and involving multi-jurisdictional proceedings with claims in the DIFC, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Switzerland, the US and other jurisdictions.
  • Acting for Sandra Holdings Ltd in proceedings before the DIFC courts in a case worth in excess of USD 200 million and involving proceedings in the DIFC, onshore UAE, England, France, Switzerland, Kuwait, Cayman Islands, BVI and the US.
  • Acting for Sadiq Marafi in his claim against his ex wife and associated family companies for over EUR 150m involving proceedings across a number of jurisdictions and in which a worldwide freezing order has been obtained for the client.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Matthew Showler

Other key lawyers

Cheryl Cairns, Alex Burton, Daniel Smith