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Find out moreHow has Education in the Middle East and North Africa evolved to keep up with progressive digital and regulatory requirements of the times?
From the rise of AI in the classroom to the strong international interest in the regions education market the sector continues to undergo major transformation.
Our latest Law Update, titled “Brushstrokes of Law: Painting the Future”, takes a deep dive into these latest developments. In this issue, we explore:
We also feature a special section on our collaboration with the Mawaheb Art Studio, a unique creative space for People of Determination, and the artwork you see through the pages of this edition is a reflection of the students creativity.
The Law Update is a must-read for anyone who is passionate about education, whether you’re a lawyer, educator, policymaker, or investor.
Read the full editionDavid studied law at Cambridge University in the UK and had been in practice at the English Bar for over 20 years. He joined Al Tamimi in 2022 from a leading set of chambers in London. He has lived and worked in the UAE since 2019 and has been listed as one of the leading English barristers practising in the region in the Legal 500 in 2021 and 2022.
David is a specialist in international trade law and international commercial dispute resolution. He has developed particular experience of the oil and gas industry, joint ventures, insurance and reinsurance disputes (particularly in the marine and energy sectors), commodities disputes and disputes involving carriage of goods and banking and financial disputes. He has been instructed in several cases involving State parties and in various matters involving public international law including claims arising under bilateral investment treaties and disputes involving issues of State Immunity before national courts.
David also has extensive experience of international arbitration and has represented clients in numerous arbitrations conducted under various international institutional rules and in ad hoc arbitrations including ICC, LCIA, UNCITRAL, LMAA and LME. He is also experienced in court proceedings ancillary to arbitration, including applications for interim relief and contested enforcement proceedings.
In addition to counsel work David sits as an arbitrator and is appointed to the panel of arbitrators for DIAC (Dubai), CIETAC (Beijing), SCIA (Shenzhen), C.A.A (Taipei) and THAC (Bangkok). He has also served as a Tribunal Member of the Hong Kong Board of Review (the Hong Kong tax appeals Tribunal). He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb)
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Selected Non recent Cases
• Kuwaiti Oil Tanker Company v Q, A and others.
Instructed on behalf of a state owned oil company in a dispute arising out of a US$130million fraud. Appeared as junior counsel in one aspect of the case in the House of Lords- reported at (2004) 1 AC 300 : (2003) 3 WLR 14 : (2003) 3 All ER 501 appeared and advised in various related proceedings including various international enforcement applications.
• Thoresen (Bangkok) Ltd v Fathom Marine & Others
Instructed (whilst working for a firm of city solicitors) on behalf of the successful shipowner in a ship sale and purchase dispute involving ships with a value of US$ 42million. Reported at [2004] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 622.
• Rowan Gorilla V
Instructed (whilst working at a firm of city solicitors) on behalf of the successful reinsurer in respect of the unlawful failure to take delivery of an Oil Rig (Rowan Gorilla V).Reported at (2006) 1 Lloyds Rep 500.
• Svenska v Government of Lithuania and Others.
Instructed by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania to defend enforcement proceedings of an ICC arbitration award to the value of US$15million. The case arose from a dispute involving a Joint Venture oil exploration agreement entered into at the time of Lithuanian independence (the first such investment contract signed by that State). The defence involved the law of State Immunity and its interrelation with the law relating to the enforcement of arbitral awards. Instructed as part of an international team of lawyers working on parallel enforcement proceedings in England, Lithuania and Germany. Appeared as junior counsel in the English and Court of Appeal hearings and drafted the relevant submissions which were extensive and involved both English and international jurisprudence.Reported both at first instance [2006] 1 Lloyds Rep page 181 and in the Court of Appeal [2006]. EWCA Civ 1529, (2007) 2 WLR 876,: (2007) 1 Lloyd’s Rep 193 : (2006) 2 CLC 797, (2007) QB 886, Times 17/11/ 2006, Independent, 16/11/ 2006
• UNCITRAL Oil Arbitration- Seat Houston
Successfully defended on behalf of an oil major a claim of over US$200,000,000, in international arbitration proceedings arising out of a Joint Venture oil exploration agreement. Appeared as co- counsel in a team of English and American lawyers.
• Vercoe & Others v Rutland Fund Managers
Acted for a private equity firm in claim for £44million arising out of a corporate take over and floatation and a claim for breach of confidence and breach of contract. [2010] EWHC 424 (Ch)
• ICC Emergency Arbitrator Proceedings
Represented a Ukrainian trading company in one of the first hearings under the new pre arbitral emergency procedure introduced in the ICC rules in 2012. The application was for emergency interim relief in a case involving fraud in a commodities case.
• Sanctions Case
Advising an overseas client as to its rights in a high value sales transaction which was embargoed by a foreign government by virtue of international sanctions and assisting with pre arbitral dispute resolution.
• LMAA Arbitration
Instructed as counsel in a long term charterparty dispute involving the carriage of coal. The case involved .the interaction of UK, Indian and Singapore law and various aspects of arbitration procedure relating to appointment of arbitrators. The substantive legal issues included the construction of the clauses relating to nomination of vessels and routes and the obligation to declare cargo, repudiation and fundamental breach of contract and aspects of damages law including the doctrine of minimum performance.
• ICC Arbitration
Represented a UAE client in ICC proceedings involving the construction and ownership of high value industrial plant (c$500million), the import and export of commodities to the UAE and various associated claims.
• ICC Arbitration London
Instructed by an Indian Company in a dispute with a large English multinational in relation to an infrastructure project in India. The claim involved parallel proceedings and disputes about jurisdiction. The dispute was also involved a mediation under the ICC rules of conciliation.
• Oil Trading LMAA Arbitration
Acted in US$15million case involving force majeure following the State seizure of assets belonging to a company related to Yukos oil. (LMAA arbitration)
• UNCITRAL/ ICC Cases
Advising an investor in claims against a former Soviet Republic in relation to the cancellation of various construction projects. Advising on the conduct of 3 interrelated arbitration claims against States/ State entities and related parties. Counsel in the ICC proceedings. Counsel in pre-action negotiations in the BIT proceedings.
BA and MA in Law, Cambridge University (Squire Law Scholar)
Master of Law and Economics, Erasmus University Rotterdam
FCIArb
1996 – Barrister, England & Wales
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