Biography: Arbitration

Philip Punwar was called to the Bar of England & Wales by the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple in 1989. He practised as a barrister in London until November 2005, when he joined a leading regional dispute resolution law firm based in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). He has been a partner at Fulbright & Jaworski LLP since July 2009. Philip has appeared as counsel in a wide range of domestic and international proceedings in court and arbitration. Philip's practice outside London and Dubai has included periods in both Paris and Hong Kong.

Philip advises and represents local and foreign businesses in a broad range of disputes under English, UAE, DIFC and International law. His recent engagements have involved agency, banking, construction, commercial property, energy, foreign investment, the international sale of goods and privatisation.

Philip is a member of Fulbright & Jaworski's international arbitration group. In the past several years he has been involved in a number of government initiatives relating to arbitration. From 2007 to 2008 he worked closely with the UAE Ministry of Economy on the production of the 2008 draft Federal Arbitration Law. He was also a member of the Dubai International Financial Centre's 2008 arbitration law steering committee. In May 2009 he appeared in the first cases concerning the 2008 Arbitration Law to be heard by the DIFC Court of First Instance: CFI 11/2009, CFI 12/2009. Philip is an active arbitrator and has sat as a sole arbitrator, tribunal chair and party nominee.

Philip was born near London in 1962 and educated at: The University of Birmingham (BA, (Hons), Philosophy); The City University, London (Postgraduate Diploma in Law); The Inns of Court School of Law & The Inner Temple (Barrister at Law) and The School of Oriental & African Studies (SOAS), The University of London (MA, International Studies & Diplomacy).

Philip's professional and academic memberships include: the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (2002 – present); Fellow (2002); chartered arbitrator (2002); Dip ICArb (2002); UAE branch committee member (2005 – present); vice chairman of the UAE branch (2007–2011); course director and examiner (2006 – present). The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple (1987 – present): Bar liaison committee (2003–2005); students' committee (1988–1989); advocacy tutor (2001–2004); student sponsor/mentor (1996 – present); approved pupil supervisor (2002–2007); Pegasus Scholar to Hong Kong (1992); Accommodation Award (1990); Duke of Edinburgh Entrance Award (1988). The Bar Council of England & Wales (1989 – present): practising barrister (1990 – July 2009); non-practising barrister (July 2009 – present); The Law Society of England & Wales (July 2009 – present); practising solicitor-advocate (July 2009 – present). The DIFC court users' committee: member (2006–2009); chairman of the code of conduct drafting sub-committee (2009); member of the DIFC court rules sub-committee (2010 – present). ICC UAE: arbitration commission; steering committee, vice-chairman (2010 – present); ICC commission on arbitration: member and UAE national committee representative (2010 – present).The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) (2003 – present): individual member. The Twenty First Century Trust (2000 – present): fellow.

Philip regularly lectures on arbitration in South Africa and the Middle East. He is also a writer and speaker in the field.