Serle Court receives rankings in the Legal 500 EMEA for UAE expertise

Serle Court has recently been ranked in the Legal 500’s EMEA directory for its work in the Middle East.  

The directory ranks English Barristers who have leading expertise in the Middle Eastern jurisdictions.  Legal 500 writes:

“Known primarily for heavyweight Chancery litigation in London, Serle Court handles similar matters in the DIFC courts.  Rupert Reed QC is well-connected in Saudi Arabia: he represented Abdul Latif Jameel Transportation, a Saudi company, in successfully resisting an application for an anti-suit injunction brought by FedEx, concerning an arbitration over FedEx’s termination of its contract with the Saudi company in the wake of the FedEx-TNT merger.”

This reflects Serle Court’s substantial UAE practice which focuses on DIFC Court work and commercial arbitration.  Members regularly act in leading commercial, banking and property disputes in the DIFC Courts, as well as on related freezing injunction and anti-suit injunction applications.

Leading silk, Rupert Reed QC receives the following recognition: “He stands out because of his unique ability to cross linguistic and cultural gaps in cases connected to the region.”

Leading junior, James Weale is also recognised for his expertise in civil fraud and DIFC arbitrations: “He handles DIFC arbitrations and civil fraud cases.”  He is a registered as an advocate in the DIFC Courts and has substantial experience in claims for urgent interim relief and related issues as to the jurisdiction of the Dubai and DIFC Courts.

Christopher Stoner QC recently headed the team in a substantial DIAC arbitration raising significant property and construction issues.  Zoe O’Sullivan QC is a registered advocate in the DIFC and has been acting in a substantial case relating to the impact of a decision of the Dubai Court of Cassation on decisions of the DIFC Court in its curial jurisdiction. 

Jonathan Adkin QC and Jonathan McDonagh acted for the Saudi claimant group in the DIFC Court of First Instance and Court of Appeal in the long-running Al Mojil v Protiviti litigation that raised issues of DIFC Court jurisdiction and liability in negligence.

Lance Ashworth QC, Gareth Tilley, Adrian de Froment, Sophia Hurst and Gregor Hogan have all recently assisted law firms in the UAE in dealing with substantial matters before the DIFC Courts.

Members of Chambers have also been involved in various significant LCIA, ICC and DIAC arbitrations in the UAE, of which a number have come to trial over the past year.

If you would like to find out more about our practice in the Middle East, please contact Senior Clerk, Daniel Wheeler, or Business Development Manager, Charlotte Davidson.