Arbitrator’s Work Highlights

Karim J. Nassif acted as an arbitrator in many complex cases amongst which the following:

a.) IICRA proceedings:
  • Arbitrator in IICRA proceedings concerning a USD 172 million claim arising out of a master structured ‘murabaha’ agreement and an agency agreement to finance the purchase of goods seated in Dubai and subject to Sharia’a law as per the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions.
b.) Ad hoc proceedings:
  • Chairman in ad hoc proceedings concerning a USD 30 million claim arising out of a construction contract for a dormitory complex seated in Muscat and governed by the laws of the Sultanate of Oman.
  • Chairman in ad hoc proceedings concerning a USD 4 million claim arising out of a ‘takaful agreement’ seated in Dubai and governed by UAE law.
  • Chairman in ad hoc proceedings concerning an AED 873 thousand (approx. USD 238,000) claim arising out of a real estate purchase agreement seated in Ajman and governed by UAE law.
  • Arbitrator in ad hoc proceedings concerning a BHD 1.6 million (approx. USD 4,25 million) claim arising out of a dredging and land reclamation works contract seated in the Kingdom of Bahrain and governed by the laws of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
  • Arbitrator in ad hoc proceedings concerning an AED 6.2 million (approx. USD 1,69 million) claim arising out of an insurance policy, seated in Dubai and governed by UAE law.
  • Arbitrator in ad hoc proceedings concerning an OMR 16 claim and an OMR 12 million counterclaim (approx. USD 76 million) arising out of a construction agreement for the creation and improvement of a water supply system seated in Oman and subject to the laws of the Sultanate of Oman.
  • Arbitrator in ad hoc proceedings concerning an OMR 19 claim (approx. USD 51 million) arising out of a construction agreement for the creation and improvement of a water supply system seated in Oman and subject to the laws of the Sultanate of Oman. The proceedings are conducted in Arabic.
c.) ICC proceedings:
  • Chairman in ICC proceedings concerning a USD 22 million claim and USD 9 million counterclaim related to a sale and purchase agreement of materials to be used in refinery project seated in Kuwait and governed by Kuwaiti law.
  • Sole Arbitrator in ICC proceedings concerning a SAR 3.8 million (approx. USD 1 million) claim arising out of agreement for the sale of steel pipe, seated in Dubai and governed by the laws of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  • Sole Arbitrator in ICC proceedings concerning a USD 400 thousand claim and a USD 2.8 million counterclaim arising out a master service agreement, seated in the DIFC and governed by UAE law.
  • Arbitrator in ICC proceedings concerning a USD 3 million claim and an OMR 1.2 million (approx. USD 3,27 million) counterclaim arising out of a share sale and purchase agreement seated in Zurich and subject to Omani law.
  • Arbitrator in ICC proceedings concerning a USD 16.5 million + Euros 17.5 claim and a USD 10 million counterclaim arising out of a construction agreement for the construction of a new water supply system and the rehabilitation of an existing one seated in Beirut and governed by Lebanese law.
  • Arbitrator in ICC proceedings concerning a QAR 16.8 million (approx. USD 4,6 million) claim arising out of a remeasurement subcontract for interior works, seated in Doha and governed the laws of Qatar.
  • Arbitrator in ICC proceedings concerning a USD 15.5 million claim and USD 8 million counterclaim arising out of a distribution/different products agreement, seated in Dubai and subject to French law.
  • Arbitrator in ICC proceedings concerning a USD 2,367 million claim and AED 9,91 million (approx. USD 2,7 million) counterclaim arising out of hospitality agreement, seated in London and subject to UAE law.
d.) CRCICA proceedings:
  • Chairman in CRCICA proceedings concerning an EGP 457 million (approx. USD 28 million) claim arising out of a development agreement, seated in Egypt, and governed by Egyptian Law. The proceedings are conducted in Arabic.
e.) DIFC-LCIA proceedings:
  • Chairman in DIFC-LCIA proceedings concerning a USD 1.5 million claim arising out of two sale and purchase agreements, seated in Dubai and governed by UAE law.
  • Chairman in DIFC-LCIA proceedings concerning an AED 4.7 million (approx. USD 1,28 million) claim arising out of two sale and purchase agreements, seated in the DIFC, and governed by DIFC law.
  • Sole Arbitrator in DIFC-LCIA proceedings concerning an AED 4.3 million claim and an AED 1.4 counterclaim (approx. USD 1,7 million) arising out of a unit sale and purchase agreement, seated in the DIFC, and governed by UAE law.
  • Arbitrator in DIFC-LCIA proceedings relevant to an AED 5 million claim and an AED 9.6 million counterclaim (approx. USD 4 million) arising out a ‘Istisna agreement’, promise to lease agreement and a land sub-lease agreement, seated in the DIFC, and governed by UAE law.
  • Arbitrator in DIFC-LCIA proceedings concerning a USD 466 thousand claim and a KWD 365 thousand counterclaim arising out of a service agreement, seated in the DIFC, and governed by the laws of England and Wales.
f.) DIAC proceedings:
  • Chairman in DIAC proceedings concerning a USD 6.5 million claim arising out of a sale and purchase agreement, seated in Dubai and governed by UAE law.
  • Chairman in DIAC proceedings concerning a USD 1 million claim arising out of a consortium agreement, seated in Dubai and governed by UAE law.
  • Chairman in DIAC proceedings concerning an AED 15.6 million claim and an AED 17.9 million counterclaim (approx. USD 9 million) arising out of a construction contract for a residential building, seated in Dubai and governed by UAE law.
  • Chairman in DIAC proceedings concerning an AED 106 million claim and an AED 110 million counterclaim (approx. USD 59 million), related to construction and completion of a residential building agreement, seated in Dubai and governed by UAE law.
  • Chairman in DIAC proceedings concerning a USD 4.8 million claim arising out of a distribution and financing agreement, seated in Dubai, and governed by Libyan law.
  • Chairman in DIAC proceedings concerning two AED 3.5 (approx. USD 900,000) claims arising out of two sale and purchase agreement of a residential unit, seated in Dubai, and governed by UAE law.
  • Sole Arbitrator in DIAC proceedings concerning an AED 25 million (approx. USD 6,8 million) claim arising out of share sale and purchase agreement, seated in Dubai, and governed by UAE law.
  • Sole Arbitrator in DIAC proceedings concerning an AED 4.9 million (approx. USD 1,33 million) claim arising out of sub-contract for works agreement, seated in Dubai, and governed by UAE law.
  • Sole Arbitrator in DIAC proceedings concerning a USD 1 million claim and a USD 370 thousand counterclaim related to a distribution agreement, seated in Dubai, and governed by Saudi law.
  • Sole Arbitrator in DIAC proceedings concerning an AED 3.1 million (approx. USD 900,000) claim arising out of a sale and purchase agreement of a housing unit, seated in Dubai, and governed by UAE law.
  • Sole Arbitrator in DIAC proceedings concerning an AED 8.4 million (approx. USD 2,3 million) claim arising out of a property sale and purchase agreement, seated in Dubai, and governed by UAE law.
  • Sole Arbitrator in DIAC proceedings concerning an AED 11.9 million (approx. USD 3,27 million) claim arising out of three memorandums of understanding, seated in Dubai, and governed by UAE law.
  • Sole Arbitrator in DIAC proceedings concerning an AED 2.3 claim (approx. USD 660,000) arising out of a unit sale and purchase agreement, seated in Dubai, and governed by UAE law.
  • Arbitrator in DIAC proceedings concerning an AED 5.7 million (approx. USD 1,55 million) claim arising out a consultancy agreement and a settlement agreement, seated in Dubai, and governed by UAE law.
  • Arbitrator in DIAC proceedings concerning a USD 5.8 million claim arising out of two sale and purchase of rice agreements, seated in Dubai, and governed by UAE law.
  • Arbitrator in DIAC proceedings concerning an AED 7.9 million (approx. USD 2,15 million) claim arising out a sale and purchase agreement of a residential building, seated in Dubai and governed by UAE law.
  • Arbitrator in DIAC proceeding concerning an AED 2.5 million (approx. USD 680,000) claim arising out of a hotel sale and purchase agreement, seated in Dubai, and governed by UAE law.
  • Arbitrator in DIAC proceedings concerning an AED 1.1 million (approx. USD 300,000) claim arising out of a lease to purchase agreement and a purchase of leasehold agreement, seated in Dubai, and governed by UAE law.
  • Arbitrator in DIAC proceedings concerning an AED 6.3 million (approx. USD 1,72 million) claim arising out two sale and purchase agreements, seated in Dubai, and governed by UAE law.
  • Arbitrator in DIAC proceedings concerning an AED 13.5 million (approx. USD 3,68 million) claim arising out of painting agreements, seated in Dubai, and governed by UAE law.

Arbitrator in DIAC proceedings concerning a Euros 6,128,984 + AED 100,000 claim arising out of three purchase orders for cladding machinery, seated in Dubai, and governed by UAE law.

Mediator’s Work Highlights

Karim J. Nassif has acted as a Mediator in DIAC file no. 1/2017 and under the OHADA Uniform Act on Mediation (a state mediation between Mali and a mining consortium on fiscal matters and mining contracts, in French).

Expert’s Work Highlights

Team members acted a team leaders or experts in the following cases:

Commercial Contracts
  • Legal expertise under ICC arbitration proceeding in the hospitality sector; seated in London.
  • Legal expertise under court proceedings in England and Wales.
Construction and Contract for Works
  • Legal expertise under ICC arbitration proceeding in the contract for works seated in Paris.
  • Legal expertise under ICC arbitration proceeding in the satellite industry seated in Paris.
Property Development
  • Legal expertise under court proceedings in Australia and Hong Kong.

Counsel’s Or Co-Counsel’s Work Highlights

Team members acted as counsel or co-counsel in the following cases:

a.) Commercial Contracts
  • Counsel to the Respondent in an ICC arbitration concerning a dispute relating to sale of chemical products under the laws of France – Paris is the place of arbitration.
  • Counsel to the Respondent in an LCIA arbitration concerning a dispute relating to sale of chemical products under the laws of England and Wales – London is the place of arbitration.
  • Counsel to Claimant in a DIAC arbitration concerning an AED 4 billion (approx. USD 1,1 billion) relating to a major property developer’s takeover dispute.
  • Co-Counsel to the Respondent in a DIAC arbitration concerning a dispute relating to performance of works and obligations arising in the context of a half a billion US dollar worth port concession.
  • Co-Counsel to the Claimant in a DIAC arbitration concerning a dispute relating to contractual obligations arising in the context of the termination of a media concession agreement against the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority.
  • Co-Counsel to the Claimant in an ICDR arbitration concerning a dispute relating to the distribution of jewellery and watches under the laws of the State of New York and seated in New York.
b.) Financial Matters
  • Counsel to the Respondent in a G.C.C. Commercial Arbitration Centre arbitration concerning an AED 100 million (approx. USD 27 million) dispute relating to loans and investment matters between two business partners.
  • Counsel to the Respondent in an ADCCAC arbitration concerning a dispute relating to payment obligations arising in the context of a completed half a billion Dirham worth IPO (approx. USD 150 million).
  • Counsel to the Respondent in a DIAC arbitration concerning a dispute relating to obligations arising in the context of management of a financial portfolio under the laws of England and Wales.
  • Co-Counsel to the Respondent in a DIAC arbitration concerning a dispute relating to a shareholders’ agreement and a put option matter.
c.) Construction and Contract for Works
  • Counsel to the Respondent / Counterclaimant in an ICC arbitration concerning a USD 25 million claim relating to the construction of a chemical industrial plant in Abu Dhabi under the laws of England and Wales.
  • Counsel to the Respondent / Counterclaimant in an ICC arbitration concerning an AED 150 million (approx. USD 45 million) claim relating to the construction of a chemical industrial plant in Abu Dhabi under the laws of England and Wales.
  • Counsel to the Respondent in an ADCCAC arbitration concerning an AED 200 million (approx. USD 55 million) dispute relating to escalation of steel prices in subcontract works.
  • Counsel to the Respondent/Counterclaimant in an ADCCAC arbitration concerning a USD 50 million dispute relating to the non-payment of subcontracted works in the framework of a major Abu Dhabi based construction project.
  • Counsel to the Claimant in a DIAC arbitration concerning a dispute relating to the non-payment of ID&FFE subcontracted works in the framework of a major Dubai based hotel construction project (Marriott Hotel).
  • Counsel to the Claimant in a DIAC arbitration concerning a dispute relating to the termination of subcontracted A/V works in the framework of a major Dubai based theme park (the biggest indoor theme park in the world – Marvel themed) governed by the laws of England and Wales.
  • Co-Counsel to the Claimant in an ICC arbitration concerning SACS and IPCCTV works contract at Terminal 3 – Dubai Airport, under the laws of France and seated in Paris.
  • Co-Counsel to the Respondent in an ICC arbitration concerning a AED 45 million (approx. USD 13 million) dispute relating to the construction of a waste water treatment plant in a chemical / aluminium industrial plant in Abu Dhabi.
d.) Property Development
  • Counsel to the Respondent in a DIAC arbitration concerning a dispute relating to a major Dubai-based project development worth AED 900 million (approx. USD 245 million).
  • Counsel to the Claimant in a DIAC arbitration concerning a dispute relating to a major Dubai based project development worth AED 300 million (approx. USD 90 million).
  • Counsel to the Claimant in a DIAC arbitration concerning a dispute relating to a major Ras Al Khaima-based project development worth AED 100 million (approx. USD 27 million US Dollars).
  • Counsel to two property developers in a set of more than 45 DIAC/ADCCAC property disputes.