Most Highly Regarded Firms: UAE 2008 - Shipping & Maritime
Home to 15 major seaports including Jebel Ali, the world's largest man-made harbour, and with 2007 exports estimated to be worth in excess of US$156 billion, the UAE is one of the most sophisticated trading hubs in the Middle East. Part of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce's "2030 Strategy" is the further cultivation of an "export-orientated economy"; an initiative that means the docks will remain of central importance to sustained growth in the region. The 12 lawyers in this chapter hail from seven firms, local and international, and are uniquely placed to take full advantage of this dynamic and evolving shipping market.
Top of the list overall is the "excellent" Alec Emmerson, a resident of Clyde and Co LLP's Dubai office. Recently Emmerson has handled numerous superyacht insurance cases as well as defending Dubai Drydocks against multi-million dollar claims arising from flooding. With over 80 legal staff based in its Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Doha offices, the firm handles projects throughout the Middle East, the wider Gulf and India. "Well known" through out the region, Christopher Mills specialises in trade-based dispute resolution, in particular the carriage of goods by land, air and sea, as well as shipbuilding, maintenance and conversion disputes. He is joined by Brian Nash, head of dispute resolution at the Dubai office, whose maritime experience ranges from tort and pollution to voyage charterparty disputes, cargo recovery and insurance claims and ship construction, which marks him out as "dynamic and accomplished" in the area.
Holman Fenwick Willan is firmly anchored in the shipping industry, and can be traced back to the 1830s with the Holman family's creation of the West of England Marine Insurance Association. The Dubai office was established in 2006 and builds on the firm's legacy in the maritime industry, with three lawyers in this chapter. Described as "an industry leader", Chris Quennell's practice focuses on cargo, charterparty and collision claims, as well as pollution prosecution and ship arrests. Dispute resolution specialist Edward Newitt, whose diverse practice encompasses shipbuilding, collision and industrial accident, salvage and offshore work keeps Quennell company on our list. Trade expert Simon Cartwright completes the firm's strong showing in this section, earning praise for his commercial litigation work.
Co-founder of Afridi & Angell, and a partner in the firm's Dubai office, C Chakradaran is considered the "elder statesman" of the UAE shipping bar. An expert on trade within the Gulf, Chakradaran's practice extends to environmental advice, partner disputes, contracts, concessions and investment matters throughout the Middle East and Asia.
Richard Briggs is executive partner at the Dubai office of Hadef Legal Consultants & Associates and has focused on contentious issues within marine transportation, trade and insurance in the UAE for more than 10 years. Head of international litigation and arbitration within the firm's dispute resolution group, Jonathan Brown also makes an impact in this chapter. Brown was in-house counsel for a major French shipping group from 2002 to 2006 when he moved to Hadef Al Dhahiri Associates, where he focuses on insurance and commercial litigation issues.
Al Tamimi & Company is among the most influential law firms in the Middle East, with five offices in the UAE, including three in Dubai, as well as subsidiaries in Qatar, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. With a "fantastic reputation" and clients including charterers, shipyards, insurance companies and cargo owners throughout the Arabian Gulf, Yazan Al Saoudi represents the firm in this section.
Ince & Co has shipping in its blood, tracing the connection back to the firm's inception in the 19th century. Today the firm has nine offices across Europe, Asia and the Middle East with one of the best shipping practices on the planet, recently winning the award for shipping law firm of the year in The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers. "Well known" Bob Deering is managing partner of the firm's Dubai office, and is recognised for his excellence in maritime arbitration, construction and insurance.
Hilal & Associates is one of the UAE's oldest and most established law firms, with five offices throughout the region. Founder, senior partner and former member of the UAE's federal national council, Abdullah Rashid Hilal specialises in commercial arbitration within the maritime and aviation industries. "Well liked" in the region, Hilal's clients include banks, corporations, commercial and trading companies and insurance firms.