Dispute resolution: arbitration and international litigation

Jones Day

Jones Day guides international and domestic clients through cross-border disputes across sectors such as construction, energy, financial services, and telecommunications, with expertise in DIFC litigation, arbitration, and other ADR proceedings. Sheila Shadmand helms the group and has experience in large-scale investigations and enforcement actions, as well as acting as a highly proficient arbitrator. Pierre Heitzmann chiefly focuses on arbitration and has a global practice that covers multi-faceted construction disputes. Philip Devenish is ‘the lawyer to go to when facing highly complex cases’ and specialises in investor-state treaty arbitration. Heather Martin has recently been active in disputes relating to white-collar crime, commercial agreements, and ESG compliance.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Jones Day is a globally regarded Disputes practice.’
‘Sheila Shadmand stands out for her knowledge, sophistication and attentiveness.’
‘Jones Day's Middle East team isn't big but it's potent. They have strong experience in international arbitration proceedings in the Middle East (both institutional and ad hoc), experience in local courts including in Saudi Arabia, and follow up enforcement proceedings wherein they can bring the firm's worldwide asset tracing competencies to bear.’
‘Pierre Heitzmann has been in the region for many years and has broad experience, including in the two key markets of the UAE and Saudi Arabia. We most recently collaborated on two large enforcement proceedings in Saudi Arabia, involving both enforcement in Saudi courts and in the UAE and Europe, raising numerous unique issues of law and jurisdiction. Sheila Shadmand and Heather Martin are also both excellent in white-collar matters, especially associated with FCPA related issues.'
‘They have an international team of outstanding attorneys that have solid experience working in landmark cases. They are result oriented, efficient and very well respected.’
‘Philip Devenish stands out as a very creative, intelligent and sophisticated counsel. He is one of the best attorneys in the region. He is the lawyer to go to when facing highly complex cases.’
‘Jones Day has wide-ranging international arbitration practice with substantial activity in the Gulf. I would say it is one of the leading firms in this area in the Gulf (and elsewhere).’
‘Pierre Heitzmann is excellent. He brings a thorough civil law analytical ability together with a first-rate ability to distill the issues and cross examine the experts.’

Key clients

MedImpact Healthcare Systems, Inc.
Gold Pool JV Ltd.
AS Windoor
Mr. Abed El Jaouni
Bank J. Safra Sarasin Limited

Work highlights

Represents Gold Pool in USD 900 million arbitration proceedings against the Republic of Kazakhstan, involving claims arising from the expropriation of Gold Pool’s investment in a Kazakh gold mining company in the mid-1990s.
Representing a major global telecommunications provider with regard to a USD 1.7 billion ICC arbitral award enforcement strategy, following a successful DIFC-seated arbitration in which the respondent was found to have engaged in serious fraud.
Represented MedImpact Healthcare Systems in multiple litigation and arbitration proceedings in the UAE, Cayman Islands, and California against Dimensions Healthcare LLC and its parent IQVIA .