James Willn

James is a partner in the firm’s Energy and Natural Resources Group. He is an arbitration lawyer with more than 14 years’ experience, and his practice centres on complex disputes and international arbitrations, largely within the construction, offshore oil and gas, and other energy industries.

He represents clients in arbitration proceedings under the major international and regional arbitration rules, including the ICC, LCIA, DIAC, SIAC, HKIAC, KCAB, and DIFC.

Experience

Representative matters

Assisting a subcontractor claim of AED 500 million against a contractor in respect of the expansion of a power plant in Abu Dhabi in the Abu Dhabi Court of First Instance and Abu Dhabi Appeal Court.

Representing an international contractor in relation to delay and quantum claims involving the construction of a nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi valued at circa US$890 million.

Advising a major oil and gas group of energy companies on the successful defence of a US$500 million contractor claim for delay and disruption, brought as an ICC arbitration, seated in Abu Dhabi.

Assisting a subcontractor claim of AED 500 million against a contractor in respect of the expansion of a power plant in Abu Dhabi in the Abu Dhabi Court of First Instance and Abu Dhabi Appeal Court.

Representing an international contractor in relation to delay and quantum claims involving the construction of a nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi valued at circa US$890 million.

Advising a major oil and gas group of energy companies on the successful defence of a US$500 million contractor claim for delay and disruption, brought as an ICC arbitration, seated in Abu Dhabi.

Representing an international Korean contractor defending a series of subcontractor claims (across a range of dispute resolution forums) relating to EOT/delay and alleged increase in contract price/variation claims involving the construction of a nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi.

Advising a consortium on legal aspects of the construction and operation of a large-scale offshore LNG project, from the commencement of the bidding process through all the project’s milestones. This included advising on a series of dispute board claims relating to EOTs, variations, delay and disruption.

Advising an international engineering group in claims arising out of the termination of an EPC contract for the construction of an LNG plant in Yemen.

Assisting subsea contractors with claims arising from substantial delays and disruptions to completion of subsea systems as part of an FPSO installation project.

Acting for a well-known Dubai based subcontractor in a US$150 million variation claim (under DIAC rules) against a multinational contractor, relating to the extension and redevelopment of Bahrain Marina.

Acting for an employer in defence of a multi-million dirham claim in DIAC arbitration proceedings. The matter related to an offshore energy (subsea installation) and localised infrastructure and connection project in Dubai.

Acting for a Korean shipbuilder (as claimant) in a dispute with a Middle East government entity (as respondent) under an engineering, procurement, construction, installation and commissioning (EPCIC) contract. The governing jurisdiction was the State of Libya and the seat was Paris. The dispute was valued at circa US$150 million and settled by a three-member tribunal under ICC arbitration rules.

Advising a marine company in an offshore construction dispute against an Iraq state owned oil company, in an ICC arbitration governed by Iraqi law but seated within the DIFC.

Acting for a UAE port authority (as respondent) in a multi-million dollar dispute with a UAE subcontractor (as claimant) engaged to dredge the port under a contract governed by the laws of the United Arab Emirates (UAE Law). The claimant sought sums due to alleged delays and variations. After a decision was issued by a dispute adjudication board (DAB) the claimant initiated ICC-ICA arbitration proceedings. The governing law of the arbitration was UAE Law with a three member tribunal.

Acting for the contractor in a SAR 275 million dispute (under ICC rules) relating to the construction of four gas treatment centres in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Advising a contractors consortium group in relation to an LCIA arbitration against the employer in respect of the early termination of a €600 million construction contract for a high profile European rail project.

Acting for a Cayman Islands partnership (as respondent) in dispute with a Cayman Islands fund manager (as claimant) under a partnership deed. The fund manager brought its claim as a third party (not signatory) under the partnership deed. The fund manager started ICC-ICA arbitration proceedings; thereafter the parties agreed to the ICC expedited procedure. The governing law was the law of the Cayman Islands, and the seat was London, with a single arbitrator.

Advising a ship management company on its exposure to sanctions following the designation of a vessel and its owners on the Office of Foreign Assets Control’s (OFAC) Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List.

Advising an offshore marine contractor on due diligence matters for the purposes of accepting offshore oil and gas services contracts in Russian waters.

Advising a global marine services company on its exposure to sanctions following the designation of an offshore oil project in Venezuelan waters on OFAC’s SDN List.

Advising a multinational transport company on the impact of sanctions against Russia as against its operations and entities in Russia.

Advising a multinational offshore contractor on its exit from Russia following the imposition of sanctions against the Russian energy sector.

Advising an Indian banking and financial services company on the recovery of a US$40 million facility against a debtor in the DIFC courts and the enforcement of guarantees against corporate and personal guarantors in the Hong Kong and Abu Dhabi courts.

Advising a syndicate of banks in respect of US$50 million recovery proceedings arising out of the collapse and administration of NMC Healthcare, which involved proceedings within both the DIFC and Dubai courts.

Advising an individual on the recovery of US$400,000 resulting from suspected fraud and forgery in the UAE courts by pursuing civil and criminal proceedings.

Advising a DFSA-regulated financial investment company on a potential negligence claim brought by another party, which included pre-action steps, DIFC proceedings and the successful challenge of a police complaint made against the clients' senior directors.

Advising a global shipping company on the recovery of US$25 million owing to a cyber-attack on the company and subsequent re-routing of invoice payments. This involved proceedings (civil and criminal) in Dubai, Hong Kong and mainland PRC.

Advising a joint venture marine facility on its internal employee policy on insider trading and dealing from the perspective of English law.

Advising a global financial services company on its restructuring for the purposes of regulatory changes within both the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority and the UAE Central Bank.

Recognitions

Listed in The Legal 500 Private Practice Arbitration Powerlist – Middle East Region, 2022-2023
Ranked by Chambers Global for United Arab Emirates: Dispute Resolution, 2020-2025, and for United Arab Emirates: Corporate Compliance & Investigations, 2025
Ranked for Construction and Dispute Resolution: Arbitration, UAE – The Legal 500 EMEA, 2020