‘Clyde & Co are one of the pre-eminent construction firms operating in the Middle East. The construction department in the Dubai office has unrivalled experience in handling complex, high-value construction and engineering disputes across the EMEA region and boasts some of the leading lawyers in this field. They combine a keen understanding of the market with exceptional expertise in disputes handling.’

‘For several decades, Clyde & Co has been the leading construction and infrastructure practice, not only in the UAE but across the wider region. At every level, the firm—particularly through its partners in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, and Riyadh—has provided exceptional advice and advocacy, handling projects of significant scale that require international arbitration expertise, while maintaining deep knowledge of domestic legislative and legal considerations.’

‘The team understands the industry inside out and brings outstanding legal and commercial skills to the disputes arena. They are a dynamic team, adaptable to the challenges of complex dispute processes, always on top of the detail, and consistently provide practical insights based on strong technical and legal expertise.’

‘Suzannah Fairbairn is a highly impressive, formidable, and determined litigator. She provides an extremely professional, commercial, and high-quality service to her clients.’

‘Meghan Devine is always completely on top of the factual and technical detail. She is a very impressive lawyer with a bright future ahead of her.’

‘Dean Ryburn and Suzannah Fairbairn are excellent lawyers with great work ethics. Clients value their availability and responsiveness, and the fact that they remain involved at every stage of a matter.’

‘They have a vast understanding of the construction industry, combining deep legal knowledge with practical experience in construction-related matters. They are highly responsive, communicate effectively, and consistently provide solution-oriented advice.’

‘They have a very knowledgeable and cohesive team who work exceptionally well together to ensure that strategy is developed and maintained throughout each matter.’

‘They demonstrate exceptional attention to detail and a strong desire to understand all aspects of every issue.’

‘They brought a distinctive mix of international expertise, regional knowledge, and sector-specific depth to the arbitration. What makes their practice stand out is the combination of technical excellence in international arbitration with a deep understanding of the energy and infrastructure sectors, which were critical to the dispute at hand.’

‘They are uniquely positioned as the go-to firm for construction and infrastructure disputes in the Middle East. Unlike generalist practices, they operate under a specialist model, combining deep sector knowledge with unrivalled regional experience. This allows them to deliver strategic, commercially driven solutions for some of the most complex and high-value disputes in the region.’

‘Their strength lies in supporting clients across the entire project lifecycle—from procurement and contract drafting to dispute avoidance and resolution—while understanding both the legal and technical realities of major projects.’

‘White & Case’s experience is very specific when it comes to construction, in particular in the construction of airports. Their team is very strong and their experience is second to none and they are extremely experienced and skilled. Clients value their expertise and their “out of the box” approach.’

‘Michael Turrini is widely recognised for his exceptional professionalism and strategic foresight in handling complex construction disputes across the Middle East.’

‘Aimy Roshan is praised for her methodical, practical approach and firm professionalism in resolving complex construction and commercial disputes across international arbitration forums.’

‘They have been brilliant. Their expertise, know-how, and service levels have been excellent. They are a pleasure to work with on our new developments and tender processes.’

‘Richard Chamberlin has provided excellent support to our team on our projects. Richard has great technical expertise, market knowledge, and a practical approach to complex challenges.’

‘Cameron Griffiths was responsive, thorough, and useful in some pretty tough negotiations. Recommended.’

‘They have vast experience of the sector and the region.’

‘They are responsive, efficient, and robust in their advice.’

‘They are the best legal services provider out there, offering a blend of real-world experience with outstanding lawyers ranging from newly qualified to highly experienced partners. They are client-focused and understand the commercial needs of their clients—a fantastic firm.’

‘High-quality partners who actually spend time on the case and really understand it. Excellent strategic thinking. Good teams that work really hard but also work efficiently and give value for money. They are also really nice people who are therefore easy to work with.’

‘They are good communicators both amongst themselves and with clients, counsel, and experts.’

‘Cameron Cuffe is a brilliant team leader. What stands out is his strategic insight, instinct for the right move to make, and gift for building successful teams. He is also very hard-working and knows the important details of the case himself. ’

‘Beale & Co Middle East provide construction and engineering disputes services using a small highly efficient and knowledgeable team in Dubai.’

‘The team are close knit, highly experienced, and clearly well liked and well regarded by their many repeat clients.’

‘Claire Miller is outstanding. She is commercially astute and has the ear of GCs of a number of major international construction companies who regularly bring major dispute work to her. She is hands-on in her management of disputes but without micromanaging her able team. Jeremy Russell is an upcoming talent as a senior associate to Claire Miller. He has an easy style – which makes him popular with clients – but which marks a huge work ethic. He has a superb eye for detail and a very good commercial sense of what is important in a case.’

‘They have great knowledge of UAE construction law. Actionable advice and a proactive approach to construction risk management.’

‘Diversity, knowledge, and experience.’

‘Charles Lilley is an excellent with a high level of local knowledge and experience. She makes difficult subjects easy to understand with clear and concise communication skills.’

‘They have been brilliant. Their expertise, know-how, and service levels have been excellent. They are a pleasure to work with on new developments and tender processes, and their innovative AI offering has been particularly helpful on mandates.’

‘They handle some of the most complex and high-value projects. They have the ability to manage mega-projects and sophisticated project financing with precision. Their key strengths include full-spectrum capability—advising on front-end contracts, EPC, and project financing—with integrated teams across London, the Middle East, and Asia delivering consistent quality. They maintain a client-focused culture, working closely with in-house teams to tailor advice to commercial drivers, not just legal risk, and demonstrating an unmatched ability to handle issues in the infrastructure and energy sectors.’

‘Their power generation industry know-how and experience are extremely strong.’

‘They consistently combine rigorous black-letter legal analysis with a pragmatic understanding of how employers, funders, regulators, master developers, and utilities operate. They structure and negotiate front-end contracts across FIDIC, EPC, and design-and-build forms, and remain closely involved through delivery to ensure programmes stay on track.’

‘Their drafting is precise, their issue-spotting is proactive, and their coordination with authorities and counterpart counsel removes bottlenecks, resulting in shorter negotiation cycles and materially reduced risk from notice to handover.’

‘They are highly experienced in dealing with substantial construction disputes across the region. They have great strength in depth and provide clear, effective advice that reflects their clients’ commercial requirements and objectives.’

‘They are a great projects disputes team, combining deep legal expertise with a thorough understanding of the construction and engineering industries. This allows them to develop effective legal strategies while remaining sensitive to the commercial and technical realities of complex projects.’

‘They stand out as one of the most experienced construction disputes teams in the UAE. Unlike other firms, they collaborate seamlessly across teams and offices, and are known for putting the client first, ensuring that the in-house counsel experience is smooth, free of surprises, and feels like an extension of the client’s own team.’

‘They work with litigation funders and insurers to reduce the risks of pursuing or defending claims.’

‘Ravinder Bhullar is one of the region’s most experienced construction disputes lawyers. His care for his clients and attention to detail are excellent.’

‘Tom Wilson is a very experienced construction lawyer and a highly accomplished trial advocate.’

‘Al Tamimi’s construction team are knowledgeable, paying attention to all details, and responsive.’

‘While construction disputes are complicated for most lawyers, the team has a very good understanding of the technical side of it.’

‘A pleasant and knowledgeable team.’

‘The team demonstrates deep expertise in EPC contracts and has a strong track record in handling complex disputes with contractors. Their strategic approach and commercial insight set them apart.’

‘I would particularly recommend Tom Swarbrick, who brings a sharp legal mind and practical problem-solving skills to the table.’

‘This is one of the most experienced team for construction.’

‘Adriaan Hoeben works extremely hard on behalf of his clients, and skillfully manages the client.’

‘Daniel Xu is an experienced and confident legal practitioner with forensic eyes to details.’

‘Shalagh Massingham and Roberta Wertman were outstanding and guided us in the right direction at all times.’

‘What makes the firm unique is their specialised expertise and ability to be client-centric whilst also valuing expert’s input.’

‘The individuals on the team stood out because of their genuine care and commitment to our clients’ success. What sets them apart from competitors is their unwavering dedication, ensuring every legal strategy is tailored. I especially value the way partners like Leonie Seller go above and beyond, making all parties feel supported and understood at all times.’

‘The team have fantastic partners who take the lead on high-profile construction disputes. The associates are also excellent.’

‘In my experience, Mantle Law are unique in their approach in the UAE. The entire team, from top to bottom, are approachable, flexible, and highly adaptable to clients’ needs.’

‘Mantle Law’s construction team are highly responsive and pragmatic, combining deep sector knowledge with a strong understanding of the commercial realities faced by clients. They are notable for their ability to manage complex, high-value disputes with efficiency and clarity, while still providing the personal attention and flexibility of a boutique practice.’

‘The team are collaborative, easy to work with, and consistently deliver work of the highest quality within demanding timeframes.’

‘Cheryl Cairns and Karie Akeelah  have been involved in high profile construction arbitration in the UAE for 20 years and they are leaders in their field.’

‘Cheryl Cairns understands every aspect of a construction project and a construction contract. She makes brilliant strategic decisions and will run a case in the most cost effective manner to get the best available result.’

‘Karie Akeelah is a superb construction lawyer. Her legal analysis is unparalleled and she will always go the extra mile to help her client get a brilliant commercial outcome.’

‘The team is cooperative.’

‘Professional level of legal services.’

‘Tarek Saad and his team have consistently demonstrated exceptional professionalism and responsiveness. They are available and reply swiftly to any inquiries, which greatly facilitates smooth collaboration. Their extensive knowledge of both UAE and Egyptian law is evident in every interaction, making them a reliable and highly competent legal partner. Their expertise and dedication are truly commendable.’

‘Michael Hartley’s advice notes are straightforward and clear.’

‘Michael Hartley is a standout figure in the infrastructure sector, demonstrating exceptional skill in managing all facets of a case to consistently deliver outstanding value to clients.’

‘Michael Hartley stands out for his exceptional technical expertise, commercial awareness, and genuine commitment to supporting the client’s objectives. He consistently demonstrates a deep understanding of the industries in which we operate, and his advice is always clear, balanced, and practical.’

‘The practice has great local law expertise, and good international experience.’

‘Paul Suckling is a great performer and organises teams very well.’

‘They are very commercial, knowledgeable, and connected to the rest of the Gowling legal teams, providing seamless, high-quality advice for many years. They are flexible.’

‘They are proactive and capable, with a construction disputes team in Dubai that is strongly supported by London lawyers.’

‘They are very good at breaking down complex risk positions. In our industry, they did an excellent job of helping us navigate a non-recourse project finance debt raise, bringing contractors along for the journey and explaining the nuances of non-recourse debt and its legal requirements. They also prepared excellent materials for contractors on bonding positions and payment risk exposure over time.’

‘This practice stands out for its deep expertise and client-focused approach. The team combines technical excellence with commercial awareness, ensuring advice is both practical and strategic. We value their responsiveness, collaboration, and ability to navigate complex matters with clarity. Compared to other firms, they consistently deliver a more personalised service with efficiency and transparency.’

‘Slava Kiryushin stands out for his exceptional legal expertise, strategic insight, deep understanding of the industry, and transparency. The HFW team, under Slava’s guidance, ensures that advice is always clear, pragmatic, and actionable. Slava demonstrates outstanding leadership and commercial acumen.’

‘James Plant is a pleasure to work, very approachable, knowledgeable, and understands both the detailed and high level perspectives. A great strategic thinker.’

‘Hogan Lovells always draws on its substantial experience and resources from outside the region which means that it can and will always assemble teams that are right for the particular case.’

‘Within UAE, the team is headed by Randall Walker who is excellent both as a lawyer and as someone to work with. Based on my experience, Randall will always be heavily involved in the detail of the case as well as providing strategic advice and commercial guidance. The level of involvement and understanding of the case is, although not unique, relatively unusual for a partner of his seniority and means that he always adds value to the case.’

‘Randall Walker is completely down to earth, easy to work with, utterly dedicated to the case that he is working on, highly intelligent, very experienced, and has the ability to understand the detail of the case while at the same time stepping back to see the bigger picture and give meaningful strategic advice. Very impressive.’

‘Good knowledge of construction disputes particularly in the onshore UAE Courts.’

‘The team were highly efficient in cross jurisdictional team working which the client valued greatly given its own geographical spread and the wide locational spread of the witnesses and experts. Jonathan Sutcliffe and Jennifer Paterson worked seamlessly and managed a very large team of associates with great efficiency to a great result.’

‘Jonathan Sutcliffe and Jennifer Paterson were the partners managing the matter. I am very impressed by each of them and their detailed knowledge of the areas of the case that each had focused upon, as well as their ability to work seamlessly together to mange the entire process.’

‘The team have a long-standing presence in the UAE, meaning they have built up a lot of knowledge and experience of how to conduct construction disputes in the region. They have native Arabic language capability, which is very important, both in dealing with Arabic clients but also in researching and writing in Arabic when needed.’

‘Mark Wilson is an outstanding commercial lawyer who can manage and steer cases professionally and serve the interests of his clients in a fair manner with a detailed approach.’

‘Mark Wilson brings experience in construction and insurance disputes. His strategic vision and deep sector familiarity (in both the ME and APAC) inspire confidence at every stage of the dispute resolution process.’

‘Kennedys’ construction disputes team combines deep legal expertise with a very practical, commercially minded approach. They stand out in their ability to cut through complex contractual and technical issues quickly, helping clients to focus on strategy rather than getting bogged down in detail.’

‘Their expertise, know-how, and service levels have been excellent.’

‘Sarah Hudson has provided excellent support to our team on our projects. She has extensive technical expertise, market knowledge, and commercial acumen.’

‘We have found that the team at Linklaters brings not only deep legal expertise, but also a nuanced understanding of our operational landscape. Their familiarity with the nature of our work and the intricate dynamics between us and our partners allows them to navigate the contractual framework with precision and strategic foresight.’

‘OGH are great – they know how to explain local law issues and go « beyond the law », giving practical advice on how the courts work. Other local firms do not offer this – OGH certainly have the edge.’

‘Mohammed ElGhatit is a true star of the market. With his background at the DIFC-LCIA and an international firm, he knows exactly what international clients need and how to package advice in a way that really makes it useful.’

‘The Stephenson Harwood team is absolutely outstanding – fantastic lawyers, highly dedicated, and superb commercial acumen.’

‘The Stephenson Harwood team is excellent, particularly Ryan Whelan. They have recruited a few heavyweight partners and I expect them to make a serious impact moving forward.’

‘The team has a real in-depth construction knowledge.’