FAISAL RASHID AL-SAHOUTI
Chief Executive Officer, Qatar International Court & Dispute Resolution Centre (QICDRC)
FAISAL BIN RASHID AL-SAHOUTI has been the CEO of the QICDRC since April 2014. He is also a member of the Court’s Advisory Board. He is responsible for the administrative, financial and legal affairs of Court under the supervision of the President of the QICDRC. During his tenure, the QICDRC has witnessed remarkable growth, as he has led the administrative development of the Court, particularly advancing the QICDRC electronic services provided to litigants and lawyers.
Faisal Al-Sahouti holds a bachelor’s degree in law from Qatar University, and a master’s degree in Commercial Law from the University of Nottingham (UK). In addition, he is a certified international arbitrator and a judicidal mediator accredited by the CEDR Institute in London. He has acted as an arbitrator in a number of arbitration cases in the State of Qatar.
Faisal Al-Sahouti is a member the advisory board of LexisNexis MENA Business Law Review and is the author of numerous articles in international journals.
HILAL BIN MOHAMMED AL KHULAIFI
Director, Legal Affairs Department, Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Hilal Al Khulaifi chairs the Ministry of Commerce & Industry’s Anti-Concealment Committee, which encompasses several State authorities. He also sits on the Committee for Granting Permanent Residency Permits at the Ministry of Interior, the Committee for the Regulation of Ownership and Use of Non-Qatari Property at the Ministry of Justice, and the Financial Sanctions Committee at the Communications Regulatory Authority, and he represents the State of Qatar at the United Nations Committee on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).
Mr. Al Khulaifi took part in the working group on the draft law establishing the Trade and Investment Court, in addition to sitting on the committee in charge of examining the applicable legislation in the State of Qatar and its relevance to the provisions of the two international covenants on civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.
He contributed to the preparation of a compilation of legislation related to the Ministry’s activity, notably the Law Regulating and Managing the Strategic Stock of Food and Consumer Goods, the Law on Regulating Non-Qatari Capital Investment in Economic Activity, the Law on Regulating the Partnership Between the Public and Private Sectors and the Law on Supporting Competitiveness of National Products and Fighting Harmful Practices to Them in International Trade. He has recently contributed to the preparation of the amendments to be introduced to the Companies Law as per the World Bank and FATF requirements.
Hilal Al Khulaifi earned his master’s degree in Law from the University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom in 2015.
DUHA AL-MULLA
Case Progression Manager Associate, Qatar International Court & Dispute Resolution Centre
Duha Al-Mulla is admitted as a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales. She is responsible for the administration of cases before the Qatar International Court, the Regulatory Tribunal and Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre. She joined QICDRC in 2019 as Case Progression Manager – Associate to manage the progress of cases from the point of initial enquiry to final determination and disposal.
Duha previously worked at Sidra Medicine as an in-house lawyer from 2015 to 2019 and as a trainee lawyer at Simmons & Simmons. She holds a Master of Law and a Legal Practice Course award from the University of Law in London as well as an LLB from Nottingham Trent’s Law School. She is a Member and the Rapporteur for Qatar International Court’s Strategic Legal Committee and manages all matters in relation to issues arising from the committee and is a Member of the International Association for Court Administration.
MUBARAK AL SULAITI
Founder and Chairman, Al Sulaiti Law Firm
Mubarak Al-Sulaiti founded Al-Sulaiti Law Firm in 2002. As an experienced lawyer with over 20 years' experience in Qatari law, Mubarak has extensive knowledge and experience in many areas of law, advising on contentious and non-contentious matters which includes commercial, civil and criminal, energy, construction and real estate, employment, and sports law. He is a certified Arbitrator in Qatar and has experience of resolving disputes through negotiation, mediation and litigation. During his many years as a litigator before courts and tribunals on all levels, including the Court of Appeal and the High Court, he has provided legal counsel to both domestic and international companies (including state and private companies) and has interacted routinely with regulators and law enforcement authorities.
Having served on the board of the Qatari Lawyers Association since 2014, Mubarak Al-Sulaiti became the President of Qatari Lawyers Association in 2022. Prior to establishing Al Sulaiti Law Firm Mubarak led the Qatari Ministry of Transportation's Legal Affairs Department.
HAMAD AL-YAFEI
Founder and Managing Partner, Hamad Al Yafei Law Firm
Hamad Al-Yafei founded Al-Yafei Law Firm in 2007 immediately after the completion of law studies at the University of Cairo. His practice focuses on civil and commercial litigation, arbitration and criminal law.
PROFESSOR HILARY BELL
Assistant Professor, Hamad Bin Khalifa University College of Law
Professor Hilary Bell is an Assistant Professor at Hamad Bin Khalifa University College of Law. She teaches construction and infrastructure development law, dispute resolution and legal skills courses. In addition to teaching, she coaches teams competing in the Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot.
Professor Bell has 11 years of professional dispute resolution experience, she holds an LL.M (Distinction) in Construction Law and Arbitration from Robert Gordon University and an LL.B (Hons) from the University of Glasgow.
Professor Bell is a solicitor and notary public, and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitration.
Professor Bell’s scholarship focuses on construction law, dispute resolution and legal education. She regularly presents to international audiences at education conferences.
JAMES CAMERON
Partner, Fenwick Elliot (in alliance with Al Sulaiti Law Firm)
James Cameron is a Partner at Fenwick Elliott with experience in a broad range of dispute resolution procedures and industries, including aviation, infrastructure, oil & gas, electrical power distribution, and telecommunications. James has acted for a range of various contractors, with a particular focus on those operating in the Middle East and Africa. He has particular experience in high value ICC arbitrations involving complex claims on major infrastructure projects, often applying local substantive law. He is described as “a young partner with a big future “and “totally on top of the details, but also has an eye to the big picture.” Al Sulaiti Law Firm and Fenwick Elliott have formed an alliance to strengthen their construction and energy services in Qatar. Among the main objectives of the alliance is to provide a full range of international and regional expertise in the sector.
RICARDO CID
Senior Legal Counsel, Essa Al Sulaiti Law Firm
Ricardo Cid is a Senior Legal Counsel at Essa Al Sulaiti Law Firm. He is a member of the Portuguese Bar Association, a board member of the Portuguese Business Council in Qatar, and a former member of the Disciplinary Committee of the Portuguese Rowing Federation. Ricardo is also an arbitrator with the Qatar Sports Arbitration Tribunal.
Utilizing his language proficiency in Portuguese, English, French, and Spanish, Ricardo has offered his expertise and legal services to a diverse range of clients across Europe. As legal counsel, he has provided legal services to governmental institutions, construction, commodity transport, and distribution companies in Portugal and the wider European market.
KHALED ELGARHE
Chief Legal Counsel, QICCA
Khaled Elgarhe is the Chief Legal Counsel at the Qatar International Center for Conciliation and Arbitration. He graduated from Faculty of Law - Cairo University in Egypt and obtained an LL.M from the same university. He also holds LL.M from University of London (UCL).
Khaled Elgarhe has represented companies in major construction and commercial disputes over the past 13 years throughout Qatar and Egypt. He has an extensive experience in drafting commercial contracts and has recently been involved in the drafting of various contracts for a multimillion-dollar projects in Qatar.
Khaled Elgarhe has participated as lead counsel in several construction and banking disputes including international arbitration before the ICC, LCIA and QICCA, as well as participating in litigation in over 1000 cases before Qatari Courts.
Khaled Elgarhe is a licensed attorney before the Egyptian Courts and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
RIBAL FATTAL
Senior Associate, Sultan Al-Abdulla & Partners
Ribal Fattal is a Senior Associate in Sultan Al-Abdulla & Partners’ corporate and commercial team. He has been in the legal profession since 2011.
Prior to joining the firm, Ribal was part of a leading law firm in Lebanon where his main areas of expertise included mergers & acquisitions, banking & finance, financial structuring, corporate restructuring, franchising and licensing, taxation, intellectual property, data protection, and employment-related matters.
Ribal has particular knowledge and experience across a wide variety of domestic, regional and international corporate-related transactions. His practice with the firm focuses on banking & finance and a wide range of corporate, commercial and transactional matters as well as regulatory matters.
Ribal holds a Bachelor of Law from the Lebanese University, an LL.M in Intellectual Property from Sagesse University and a CISI Level 3 Certificate in Islamic Finance (IFQ) from the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments (CISI) in London. Ribal is also a member of the Lebanese Bar Association. He is fluent in Arabic and English.
AMR HOSSAM
Head of Arbitration | Legal Consultant, Al Sulaiti Law Firm
Amr Hossam has practiced law for more than twelve years, and has acquired relevant industry experience, particularly in dispute resolution and construction matters. He is the Head of Arbitration and a legal consultant at Al Sulaiti Law Firm.
As an experienced dispute resolution attorney, Amr provides high-level legal advice to national and international clients in the areas of real estate and construction projects, corporate and commercial transactions, and regulatory issues. He provides project support to resolve potential disputes at an early stage, and has experience of resolving disputes through negotiation, mediation, arbitration and litigation. Advising contractors and construction professionals in Qatar on a wide range of disputes, Amr has represented contractors and subcontractors in arbitration proceedings conducted under a variety of arbitral institutions and ad hoc proceedings.
ALEXANDER KELSALL
Senior Associate, DWF
Alexander Kelsall is a Senior Associate in the Dispute Resolution Team within DWF's Doha office (having previously been based out of DWF's Manchester office in the UK). He advises on a wide range of disputes (at all stages of proceedings) representing contractors, construction professionals and insurers in the UK and internationally. Alex has acted in arbitral proceedings for contractors and subcontractors conducted under several arbitral institutions, as well as in ad hoc proceedings. He has also acted for construction professionals and their insurers in insurance policy coverage disputes, property damage and professional negligence claims in the Courts of England & Wales.
TAREK LABBAN
Partner, Thani Al-Thani Law Firm
Tarek Labban is a partner at Thani Bin Ali Al-Thani Lawyers and Legal Consultants in Qatar. He has more than 20 years of experience acting as counsel, advocate and arbitrator in arbitration proceedings. Tarek has advised international clients, investors in the public and private sectors, states and state entities on high value disputes and claims in commercial and investment arbitration matters and court litigation proceedings in relation to disputes and claims subject to the laws of Middle Eastern and North African Countries, arising from FIDIC and administrative public works contracts, related to construction of buildings, roads, dams, berths and infrastructure projects, including claims involving defects in design and workmanship, programming, delays and quantum.
Tarek is admitted to practise as an Avocat à la Cour in Lebanon (Beirut Bar Association). He is a member of the International Bar Association (IBA), the International Association of Lawyers (UIA), the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), and the ICC Institute of World Business Law.
ELIAS MATNI
Special Counsel, K&L Gates
Elias Matni is special counsel in K&L Gates’s Doha office with over 15 years of experience practising law in Qatar and Lebanon. He is a member of the Beirut Bar Association and a qualified civil law lawyer. Prior to joining the firm, he served as counsel at an English law firm based in Doha.
Elias’s practice focuses on corporate and commercial law, including M&A, business set-up, corporate governance, corporate restructuring, real estate law, and employment law. He also provides support on banking and finance and dispute resolution matters.
DYLAN MOSES
Partner, K&L Gates
Dylan Moses is a highly experienced trial lawyer, having over 14 years of experience before courts and tribunals, including the UK Court of Appeal and the UK High Court. He also regularly interfaces with regulators and law enforcement agencies. Dylan is a partner in K&L Gates’ London office in the Investigations, Enforcement, and White-Collar practice group.
Dylan concentrates his practice on multijurisdictional white-collar crime, fraud, bribery, corruption, and regulatory matters, as well as being a member of the Health and Safety practice group. He is currently acting on a number of high-profile Serious Fraud Office investigations, as well as health and safety prosecutions.
Dylan is an employed barrister and a member of the International Bar Association, qualified in understanding justice structures in the developing world.
DR. DAVID RAMM
Partner, Crowell & Moring
Dr. David Ramm is a partner in the London office of Crowell & Moring and is a member of the Corporate Group. David advises on private equity, venture capital, and M&A transactions with a primary focus on the technology sector. David helps emerging companies raise significant capital throughout the fundraising cycle; grow their businesses through strategic commercial transactions, joint ventures, and licensing; and eventually mature to an exit stage.
David represents both growth stage companies and the investors that support them. He has spent over 20 years assisting highly creative and IP-rich businesses, particularly in the life sciences, healthcare, financial services, and security sectors, in corporate finance, M&A, and commercial transactions. Many of the transactions that David handles are cross-border and multi-jurisdictional in nature.
David's clients include large financial institutions and companies at the forefront of technological development, as well as exciting early stage and growth companies in the life sciences, healthcare, fintech, and security industries. As a former Ph.D. scientist and engineer, David brings a valuable perspective to the practice of law in the technology sector.
DR. ZAIN AL ABDIN SHARAR
Senior Legal Counsel, QICDRC
DR. ZAIN AL ABDIN SHARAR has over 23 years’ experience in the legal field. Prior to joining the QICDRC, Dr. Sharar was the Director of Legal Affairs & Enforcement at the Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA). Dr. Sharar also served for three years on the QFMA’s disciplinary committee.
Dr. Sharar has taught corporate law and corporate governance at a number of Australian universities and has provided advice to board members of several Australian publicly listed companies. He worked at Qatar University for three years as an Assistant Professor of Commercial Law, where he taught companies law and arbitration law. He has also taught commercial law and maritime and aviation law at the Ahmad Bin Mohammed Military College in Qatar and has lectured on many topics at the Legal and Judicial Studies Centre at the Qatar Ministry of Justice.
Dr. Sharar is a certified mediator at the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution in London and a qualified arbitrator at the GCC Commercial Arbitration Centre. He has provided mediation and arbitration services in many commercial and construction cases. He also participates in ADR training programmes.
Dr. Sharar has a Bachelor of Laws, a Master's in International Trade Law, and a Doctor of Legal Sciences from Bond University in Australia, specifically focused on corporate governance.