The firm conducts commercial litigation before the Qatari courts (up to and including the Court of Cassation) and international arbitrations both in Qatar and abroad – under both international regimes (such as ICC and LCIA) and local procedural rules.

Our dispute resolution team has a sound knowledge of substantive and procedural laws of Qatar and are able to represent clients in all stages of litigation, arbitration and settlement negotiations. 

The firm has represented clients in a variety of cases involving for example construction disputes, contractual payment claims, banking matters, tax matters, commercial agency, employment, partnership disputes and investment matters.  

Examples (only) of litigation undertaken in the Qatari courts are:

Banking

We have successfully represented various local banks and Qatar-based international banks in respect of large (QAR 100 million+) loan defaults. 

Construction  

We regularly represent both Qatari and international clients in large construction disputes, mainly in respect of large/mega infrastructure and retail projects.  Successes include assisting a large international engineering company in a multi-million Qatari riyal claim against two Qatari parties.

Employment

We advise Qatari and international companies (registered in Qatar) on a wide range of claims made by employees before the Qatari authorities/courts.

General

We have successfully represented various local banks and Qatar-based international banks in multi-million Qatari riyal general compensation claims.  We have experience in representing international companies in respect of very large claims such as those brought against them by their Qatari partners, in respect of monies alleged to be owing – both under the constitutive contracts and agency.

Marine Insurance

We have acted for local underwriters and London reinsurers in connection with a claim for the constructive total loss of a number of vessels alleged to have been detained maliciously by a third party. We have advised insurers to abandon declaratory proceedings issued in London, to preserve English law and jurisdiction, in favour of Qatari law and courts on the basis that Qatari law offered a more favourable limitation period for insurance claims. We defended the claims successfully at both first instance and on appeal.

Real Estate

We have been involved in many real estate disputes before the Qatari authorities/courts relating to matters such as (large scale) leasing disputes, disputes arising from the sales/purchases of property, and handling the enforcement of real estate security.

Retail

Our practice includes representing both international household brands and Qatari retailers in respect of agency/distribution/franchise agreement disputes.

Tax Appeals 

We have successfully conducted appeals through the Qatari courts against rulings of the Income Tax Department and the Tax Petition Committee for both locally incorporated companies and branches of major international companies.  We regularly assist various local banks, international banks based in Qatar and international companies both in bringing claims against and defending claims made by the Ministry of Finance.

Government of Qatar

We have successfully defended a major international contractor against proceedings issued by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs (as was) for monies alleged to be due and owing to the Ministry by the contractor arising out of the occupation by the contractor of land belonging to the Ministry during the execution of a contract for the Ministry.

Qatar Petroleum

We have represented clients successfully in proceedings issued before the civil courts in respect of disputes arising out of contracts being undertaken by the clients for QP, which is wholly owned by the State of Qatar and has the monopoly right to exploit Qatar’s hydrocarbon reserves.

Examples (only) of arbitrations carried out by the firm are:

Qatar Petroleum

We represented a major international contractor in arbitration proceedings under the UNCITRAL rules in respect of a dispute arising out of claims for variations in respect of a construction contract. The proceedings resulted in a negotiated global settlement that satisfactorily ended protracted discussions between the parties in respect of a number of unrelated disputes between them.

Real Estate

We successfully represented a major local real estate company in a large arbitration claim (for over QAR 30 million) under the ICC rules brought against it by an agency of the Government of Qatar.

Construction

We have represented international companies in connection with arbitration proceedings in respect of the construction and completion of large infrastructure/retail projects.