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10 - 14 NOVEMBER 2025

Schedules: Morning

Understanding when the Law Overrides the Contract – Perspectives from the Middle East and Asia

Welcome Address: Dr. Hassan Arab, Regional Head of Dispute Resolution, Al Tamimi & Company

Moderator: Khushboo Shahdadpuri, Partner, Al Tamimi & Company

Panelists: 

Aseem Chaturvedi, Partner, Khaitan & Co.

Prof. Dr. Mohamed Abdel Wahab FCIArb, Founding Partner, Zulficar & Partners Law Firm

Neethu Susan Abraham, General Counsel, Apparel Group

Neeti Sachdeva, Registrar & Secretary General, MCIA

Rashna Mistry, General Counsel, Tata Projects

The session will be followed by a networking lunch

Expert Opinion on Law – From Founder to Foundation The transformation of “expert opinion” from individual practice to full industry.

Renowned counsels adducing expert evidence on governing law before international arbitral panels and courts trained in legal systems other than the governing law, will discuss considerations and challenges arising from such a sensitive exercise with experienced experts on law to maintain the tightrope balance between assisting the courts versus descending into the arena and how to deal with the judicial approach on the reception of evidence on law from experts in particular in jurisdictions having special nature such as DIFC and ADGM.

E is for Arbitration

Join Ridge & Partners, Hogan Lovells, and guests as they come together to discuss the topic ‘E is for Arbitration’ which will focus on a range of topical issues from making the arbitral process more efficient to enforcement of arbitral awards in the Middle East.

 

The esteemed panel includes Lucy Osborne (Partner and head of Ridge Technical Expert Witnesses), Emerson Holmes (partner in the International Arbitration group at Hogan Lovells), Refki El-Mujtahed (Founding Director of REM) and Ruth Stackpool-Moore (Senior Investment Manager global dispute finance at Omni Bridgeway).  Niralee Casson, an architectural expert witness at Ridge & Partners, will host the discussion.

Stand-up Disputes Show

The event will feature a series of dynamic sessions, each lasting approximately 15 minutes, led by individual speakers. Offering an alternative to the traditional seminar style, each session is designed to be interactive, with speakers engaging directly with the audience to foster open discussion and knowledge sharing on construction disputes.

Discussion Topics will include:

  • The DAB process in practice 
  • Parties Conduct in Dispute Resolution
  • Hot tubbing v single cross examination
  • Risk and Change Management
  • Defects: From Snags to Showdowns.

Clause and Effect – Arbitration Trends in the UAE, India & Saudi Arabia

Join leading legal experts as they explore the latest legal and regulatory developments across the UAE, India, and Saudi Arabia.

The session kicks off with a dynamic overview of key arbitration reforms and emerging trends in each jurisdiction, followed by a live Q&A where our expert panel will address audience-submitted questions. Whether you’re navigating cross-border challenges or ensuring local compliance, this is your opportunity to gain direct insights from leading legal minds in these jurisdictions.

Recent Developments in Sports Arbitration

The FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the preparation to Olympic Games in the KSA, the ATP Tour and World Judo Championships, Formula 1, swimming, triathlon, etc., in the UAE as well as sport sponsorships and athletes’ contracts and arrangements, have triggered a growing interest in sports law and, as a consequence, in sports arbitration in the ME.

The first and most prominent sports arbitration institution is the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland. The CAS, initially derived from the International Olympic Committee, has gained its independence and legitimacy and has become the most recognized arbitration institution in sports.

Three CAS-approved lawyers and arbitrators are proud to present the most topical aspects and issues in the international sports arbitration.

Dubai International Arbitration Centre Symposium

10am-10.45am Registration and networking
10.45am-11am Opening remarks

Jehad Kazim
Executive Director, Dubai International Arbitration Centre
11am-11.15am Launch

Robert Stephen
Registrar, Dubai International Arbitration Centre

Raymond Bentick
Chief Product Officer, Opus 2
11.15am-11.45am Fireside chat

Tariq Khan
Head of International Arbitration, M&CO Legal

Dr Michael Pryles AO PBM
President, DIAC Arbitration Court and Independent Arbitrator
11.45am-1pm Panel 1: Emerging technologies in arbitration: Safeguarding due process

  1. Prof Emilia Onyema-Member, DIAC Arbitration Court; Member, Jus Mundi Advisory Board; Professor, International Commercial Law, SOAS University of London
  2. Nadia Nicolaou-Head of Arbitral Institutions, Opus 2
  3. Jean-Rémi de Maistre Co-founder and CEO Jus Mundi
  4. Antonia Birt-Partner Reed Smith LLP
  5. Christoffer Coello Hedberg-Deputy Registrar, Dubai International Arbitration Centre

Moderator

Dr Rouven F Bodenheimer
Member, DIAC Arbitration Court and Founding Partner, Bodenheimer
1pm-2pm Lunch and networking
2pm-3.15pm Panel 2: Boardroom perspectives: Managing challenges and mitigating commercial risks

  1. Benjamin Hopps-Senior Disputes Counsel, Emirates Global Aluminum
  2. Faris Nasrallah-Head of Arbitration, Crescent Petroleum
  3. Mehak Oberoi-Legal Head Hydro Power, GE Vernova

Moderator

Erin Miller Rankin
Vice President, DIAC Arbitration Court and Partner, Freshfields
3.15pm-3.45pm Coffee and networking
3.45pm-5pm Panel 3: Changing global landscapes: Tariffs, investments and the future of arbitration in the Middle East

  1. Kunal Vijani-Joint Managing Partner, Fox & Mandal
  2. Vsevolod Taraskin-Partner, Dyakin, Gortsunyan Partners
  3. Mahnaz Malik-Barrister and Arbitrator, Twenty Essex Chambers
  4. Vladimir Khvalei-Partner, Mansors
  5. Johannes Koepp-Partner, Baker Botts LLP

Moderator

Anne K Hoffmann
Independent Arbitrator
5pm Closing remarks

Christopher Coello Hedberg
Deputy Registrar, Dubai International Arbitration Centre