Alison is a disputes lawyer with a focus on international arbitration for major infrastructure projects. Practising in Dubai since 2008, she advises local and international clients on complex cross border disputes in the UAE and foreign jurisdictions covering a range of industries, including oil and gas, construction, hospitality, real estate, and renewables.
Experience
Representative matters
Representative matters
Representing a local developer in ICC arbitration proceedings seated in Dubai concerning construction of a desalination plant in the UAE. Our client is defending claims for delay-related costs and outstanding payments valued by the contractor at over AED 150 million, and is prosecuting counterclaims, including liquidated damages, overpaid amounts and finance costs, valued at over AED 200 million.
Assisting a major European engineering and construction company in relation to the termination of a hydro project in Kenya and multiple referrals before a dispute board. We are assisting the client in recovering monies owed by a local authority and prosecuting its claims for delay, prolongation costs, termination costs and other losses.
Representing a Chinese construction and engineering company in arbitration proceedings under the LCAM Rules in relation to a subcontractor dispute for a major power project in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Representing a local developer in ICC arbitration proceedings seated in Dubai concerning construction of a desalination plant in the UAE. Our client is defending claims for delay-related costs and outstanding payments valued by the contractor at over AED 150 million, and is prosecuting counterclaims, including liquidated damages, overpaid amounts and finance costs, valued at over AED 200 million.
Assisting a major European engineering and construction company in relation to the termination of a hydro project in Kenya and multiple referrals before a dispute board. We are assisting the client in recovering monies owed by a local authority and prosecuting its claims for delay, prolongation costs, termination costs and other losses.
Representing a Chinese construction and engineering company in arbitration proceedings under the LCAM Rules in relation to a subcontractor dispute for a major power project in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Representing a major Omani engineering and construction company in an ICC arbitration seated in London against the respondent contractor in a dispute relating to the provision of civil, landscaping and building works for a sewage treatment plant in the Al Seeb area of Muscat, the capital of Oman.
Defending a French contractor in arbitration proceedings seated in Geneva under the ICC Rules in respect of claims exceeding US$100 million advanced by a subcontractor for delay, disruption and other costs in respect of a liquefied natural gas plant in Qatar.
Defending a Dubai-based hotel developer in confidential arbitration proceedings concerning the design of a five-star resort in the Caribbean. The claim was for specific performance. The seat of the arbitration was London and the LCIA Rules applied.
Acting for a leading UAE contractor in DIAC administered arbitration proceedings relating to the construction of a residential tower in Dubai. We successfully defended the AED 90 million claims against our client and 92 per cent of our client's counterclaim of AED 112 million was upheld by the tribunal.
Advising a Dubai-based developer in numerous defects claims for multiple high-value hotel and commercial projects in Dubai and Qatar, including decennial liability claims. The matters involved sensitive safety and public risk issues.
Acting for a Dubai-based developer on concurrent ad hoc adjudications in respect of three hotel towers constructed in Dubai. The contractor claimed over AED 200 million for prolongation costs, variations, finance and other costs.
Defending a Dubai-based hotel and leisure developer in respect of a dispute with its Hong Kong-based architect regarding design fees for a large-scale commercial and residential project in Dubai. The arbitration was seated in Dubai and administered by DIAC. The claim was for AED 130 million.
Acting for a Dubai-based developer in respect of DIAC-administered arbitration proceedings regarding a large-scale mixed-use project in Dubailand. The claimant was advancing claims for, among others, wrongful termination, loss of overheads and profit, unpaid works and damages with an aggregate value of AED 380 million.
Defending a Dubai-based developer in respect of DIAC-administered arbitration proceedings regarding a large-scale mixed-use project in Dubailand. The claimant was advancing claims for, among others, wrongful termination, loss of overheads and profit, and unpaid variations, with an aggregate value of AED 1.06 billion.
Acting for a Dubai-based developer in a DIAC-administered construction arbitration involving substantial claims arising from the construction of a major sporting venue in Dubai. Acting for the same client in a DIAC-administered construction arbitration regarding a canal project in Dubai. Both claims were in the hundreds of millions of dirhams and related to landmark projects in Dubai.
Acting for a Dubai-based engineering company in respect of DIAC-administered arbitration proceedings regarding a construction dispute with its Abu Dhabi partner involving an offshore oil and gas project.
Advising a project management company in relation to a contract dispute with a UK government ministry relating to services provided for a Saudi Arabian government entity.
Acting for an Abu Dhabi real estate development company in confidential arbitration proceedings regarding the sale and purchase of a residential development in Abu Dhabi. The arbitration was seated in Abu Dhabi and the ADCCAC Rules applied. The base claim was for AED 82 million.
Acting for a Dubai-based hotel developer in respect of proceedings in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. The client challenged the validity of master covenants for a master planned community.
Acting for a Dubai-based hotel developer in respect of confidential arbitration proceedings seated in The Hague. The claim was for payment of shareholder loans and collateral indemnities of US$ 20 million relating to a luxury hotel project in Iraq. The UNCITRAL Rules applied.
Advising a DIFC company in respect of a shareholder dispute concerning one of the largest start-ups in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The matter involves arbitration under the rules of the DIFC-LCIA seated in Dubai. The value of the dispute is in the range of US$370 million to US$740 million.
Defending a JAFZA entity in the Dubai local courts in respect of an unregistered distribution agreement for the supply of medical products and equipment into the UAE. The claimant claimed the value of medical equipment and supplies, compensation for revocation of the distribution agreement and interest.
Defending a JAFZA entity in respect of a wrongful termination claim in the Dubai local courts by a former employee who was properly terminated for serious employee misconduct including misuse of the employer’s proprietary information. After litigating all three instances, including before the UAE Supreme Court, our client’s position was confirmed and the case was successfully defended.
Acting for an Abu Dhabi real estate investment company in ADCCAC-administered arbitration proceedings regarding a sale and purchase dispute with an Abu Dhabi government institution, worth AED 1.6 billion. The claims against our client were dismissed in their entirety in the final award.
Advising an Indian trading company on the recognition and enforcement of a foreign arbitral award in the UAE, worth US$60 million.
Assisting on a preliminary discovery application and appeal proceedings by Australia's largest telecommunications provider, Telstra, in relation to the tender process for the federal government's AUD 990 million funding of a high-speed broadband network.
Advising BHP Billiton regarding challenges to port access arrangements to protect its AUD $390 million investment in a third coal-loading terminal in Newcastle.
Acting for Australia's largest financial institution, National Australia Bank, in relation to the long-running AUD 50 billion Ausmaq proceedings.
Defending ANZ’s private equity arm, ANZPE, in the Australian Federal Court against allegations of misleading and deceptive conduct in relation to its co-investment in an Australian transport business.
Defending Noble Coal against a Part IV Trade Practices Act anti-competitive conduct claim by Xstrata in the Australian Federal Court.
Advising the Abu Dhabi Department of Community Development on the development of a comprehensive Sports Vision and Strategy for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, including the drafting of policies and/or regulation to support the achievement of the sports vision.
Advising the Abu Dhabi Department of Community Development on a policy framework and set of regulations to foster community and business involvement in volunteering in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Advising the Abu Dhabi Department of Community Development on regulations for third sector fundraising in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Advising the Royal Commission for AlUla on a disputes resolution framework for a special zone in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including an extensive current state assessment and benchmarking study, and drafting supporting regulations for a world heritage site.
Advising an international consulting company with UAE operations on its employee handbook and employment policies.
Advising an international manufacturer of chemicals, pharmaceutical products and medical equipment on an internal compliance investigation of staff and assisting with the dismissal of employees for serious misconduct.
Advising a publicly listed company in Germany regarding the investigation of corruption and misconduct of senior employees of an entity established in the Dubai Healthcare City.
Advising a closed joint stock company in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in relation to its proposed initial public offering and sale of 30 per cent of its shareholding.
Advising an Australian bank in its due diligence on Royal Bank of Scotland’s Middle East and Asia operations.
Conducting due diligence for a major pharmaceutical company in relation to potential breaches of corruption legislation by a target entity.
Advising an Australian airline company in relation to the potential exposure of its cabin crew under UAE law, including preparing a handbook for employees.
Advising an Australian financial institution on a proposed infrastructure JV with a Dubai-based developer for the construction of a wastewater treatment plant.
Advising a global professional services company regarding the duties and liabilities of the general manager of its UAE branch office.
Advising a local shipping entity on a proposed US$ 825 million acquisition of a diversified group in the Middle East with operations in 17 jurisdictions.
Advising an Australian entity in relation to foreign investment options in the GCC.
Advising a publicly listed UAE entity in relation to corporate governance duties and the liabilities of directors under the UAE Commercial Companies Law and Penal Code.
Assisting on the leasing due diligence for private equity house Archer Capital in respect of its AUD 369 million takeover of Australia's largest sporting goods retailer, Rebel Sport.
Assisting Australia's second largest retailer, Coles Group, in respect of an AUD 22 billion sale to Wesfarmers.
Assisting Vodafone Australia on the preparation of a US$230 million seven year managed services agreement with Nokia.
Assisting on the confidential bid for an AUD 1.6 billion public-private partnership tender to build, finance and maintain commonwealth defence force accommodation throughout Australia, including preparation of the operations and maintenance contract.
Assisting on the confidential bid for an AUD 291 million public-private partnership tender to build, finance and maintain rural hospital facilities at Orange and Bathurst, including preparation of the operations and maintenance contract and legal due diligence report.
Assisting Lawyers Without Borders to produce a “Community Outreach Manual” that will be used in Tanzania by its local partners (national and international NGOs) to empower Tanzania’s communities to identify, prevent and report the crime of human trafficking through a ‘whole of community’ dialogue.
Assisting Lawyers Without Borders to produce essential guidance for prosecutors, judges, police officers, labour inspectors and lawyers on the crimes of human trafficking, child labour and forced labour in Thailand. The training manual will assist with prosecution of perpetrators and protection of victims.
Assisting Face Equality International, in partnership with Bank of America, by preparing a legal gap analysis focusing on international laws that protect against discrimination based on facial disfigurement.
Assisting Action Against Prohibited Conduct (AAPC), a non-profit organisation that provides legal support to international civil servants across various international organisations, to prepare a handbook guiding potential complainants in the UN and other international organisations in respect of sexual harassment, discrimination, bullying and other forms of serious misconduct.
Assisting the World Bank to prepare its annual Doing Business Report for the UAE chapters on enforcing contracts.
Assisting JUSTICE, a human rights charity working to reform the UK justice system, by preparing a Report on the Diversity of the Australian Judiciary.
Preparing a comprehensive, comparative report on human trafficking laws in Europe, the United States, Asia and the Middle East for non-profit organisation Social Change Through Education in the Middle East, including dedicated chapters on law reform challenges raised by the onset of the Arab Spring.
Advising Transparency International in relation to establishment of local chapters in the Persian Gulf.
Recognitions
- Part of the team honoured as “Middle East Arbitration Team of the Year” at the In-House Congress Awards, 2017
- Honoured at Reed Smith's Global Partners’ Conference for “Leading a Global Pro Bono Project” across offices in Europe, Asia, Middle East and America on human-trafficking laws
Credentials
Education
Education
- University of Sydney, 2005, LL.B.
Professional admissions & qualifications
Professional admissions & qualifications
- The Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department
Court admissions
Court admissions
- Supreme Court - New South Wales
Professional affiliations
Professional affiliations
- Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CiArb) Course in International Arbitration
- Mentor, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CiArb) Mentoring Program for the UAE branch
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