Dr Stuart Amor is a senior managing director at FTI Consulting. Stuart acts as a testifying expert witness, focussing mainly on oil and gas matters. He has given oral testimony in arbitral hearings on many occasions. Prior to joining FTI Consulting, Stuart spent more than 20 years as an investment analyst and global head of research at various investment banks. In these roles he valued companies and advised investors and corporates on valuation issues.

Babatunde Fagbohunlu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators UK, heads the Disputes Practice Group at ALN Nigeria-Aluko & Oyebode. He regularly acts as counsel to Nigerian as well as foreign and multinational clients in Ad Hoc and institutional arbitrations, and has served as arbitrator in several cases, including arbitrations administered by the ICC and the LCIA. Mr Fagbohunlu has also served on the Federal Government of Nigeria’s Committee on the Reform and Harmonization of Arbitration/ADR Laws. He co-authored the book “Arbitration in Africa: A Review of Key Jurisdictions” published by Sweet and Maxwell in 2016. He has served on the Court of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) and on the Board of Directors of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce International Arbitration Centre (LACIAC).

Saad Hegazy is a partner at Resolve International, a testified delay and quantum expert, member of the Academy of Experts, expert determinator, arbitrator and CEDR accredited mediator based in the Middle East. His formal education includes a BSc in Civil Engineering, an MSc in Strategic Project Management, and an LLM in Construction Law and International Arbitration.

Saad has gained a wealth of knowledge and expertise on building and engineering projects including airports, metros, infrastructure, industrial, oil and gas, LNG, water treatment, utilities, luxury and high-rise buildings.

He has participated in over 30 Arbitration cases, as Counsel, Arbitrator and advisor. Saad has been instructed as a party or tribunal-appointed expert in arbitration proceedings under ICC, DIAC, QICCA, LCIA, and ad hoc rules as well as an independent expert in litigation proceedings in matters involving large and complex projects with dispute values in excess of US$ 2bn. He has testified and been cross-examined in both English and Arabic.

He is the former President of the AACE Qatar Branch, Vice-Chair of the CiArb Qatar Branch and previous ICC YAF MENA regional representative. He is a regular speaker at industry conferences.Saad is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb), Expert Witness and Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS).

Antonia Birt is a partner at Reed Smith LLP, Dubai. Based in Dubai since 2010, Antonia Birt acts as counsel and advocate in commercial arbitrations for state, national and multi-national clients. Antonia also sits as arbitrator, having acted as sole, co-arbitrator or chairperson in ICC, LCIA, DIFC-LCIA and DIAC arbitrations. Since 2019, Antonia teaches the International Arbitration Practicum to LLM students at the Pantheon Assas University Paris II, UAE. Antonia is a member of the IBA Commercial Arbitration Case Law Sub-Committee responsible for the UAE.

Sarah Malik is an award-winning lawyer who achieved Litigator of the Year (2022) at the first GCC Women in Law Awards and received an honourable mention as Law Firm Leader of the Year. In 2022 SOL was named by Legal 500 EMEA as a ‘Firm to Watch in Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and International Litigation’. Sarah was listed as a leading practitioner in ‘The Arbitration Powerlist: Middle East’ by Legal 500 EMEA in 2023.

In 2023, Sarah was appointed to the Inaugural Advisory Committee for the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) and the Advisory Board for ThoughtsLeaders4 FIRE Middle East Summit 2023. She was also appointed to the DIFC Users Committee and the Advisory Board for Juris Centre for Excellence in Legal Education and Training at Middlesex University, Dubai.

Sarah established SOL in the UAE in 2018, as a boutique dispute resolution practice which expanded to cover employment, tech, fashion, sports, and private client work and now has international recognition.

She is a member of the SIAC Users Council in the Middle East and is appointed on the Lagos Panel of Arbitration Neutrals. Sarah is a Fellow of the CIArb and sits as Arbitrator.

Sarah undertakes international commercial arbitration as Counsel and practices commercial litigation at the DIFC and ADGM Courts. She is frequently invited to speak at conferences within the GCC and internationally. Sarah is a published author and is currently involved in writing a book on ‘Arbitration in the Arab world’.

Steven Finizio is a partner in Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP’s international arbitration and dispute resolution group, based in London. He has acted as counsel under the rules of leading international arbitration institutions and in ad hoc proceedings, involving the laws of jurisdictions in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and the US, as well as disputes under bilateral and regional treaties. He has appeared as counsel in regional and other international courts, and has assisted in drafting arbitration legislation. He also serves as an arbitrator.

Mr. Finizio is a member of the LCIA Court and the GIAC Advisory Council. He teaches international arbitration as Professor of Practice at SOAS University of London, and is on the faculty of international dispute resolution academies in Europe, Africa, and Asia. He writes frequently on international dispute resolution issues, and his publications include “A Practical Guide to International Commercial Arbitration: Assessment, Planning and Strategy,” “Gas Supply Transactions and Disputes” in International Arbitration in the Energy Sector, “Energy Arbitration in Africa,” in The Middle Eastern and African Arbitration Review, and “International Commercial Arbitration” in The Law of Transnational Business Transactions.

Ruth Byrne KC specialises in international commercial and investment disputes, with a particular focus on energy, life sciences, fraud and enforcement.

Ruth has advised clients on disputes arising in multiple jurisdictions and has appeared as counsel in 100+ arbitrations as well sitting regularly as arbitrator. She also appears frequently in the English High Court, in particular in proceedings in support of arbitration, as well as more generally in international commercial litigation. Recognised in several legal directories over the years, Ruth is described as “superb”, “an exceptional litigator”, “an excellent advocate wise beyond her years” and “a persistent, credible case builder”. Clients note her “ability to marshal enormous doses of information, retain key facts, be diligent and patient, and follow through as if it were her personal matter – her analysis is always based on facts, the law and the cultural sensibilities of the jurisdictions involved” and that she is “very strategic in her thinking and able to pare down arguments to what's important”.

Bill has specialised in construction and non-contentious construction for over 30 years.

He has particular expertise in drafting and negotiating specialist bespoke contracts whether in relation to wind farms, renewable energy such as solar, biomass, office and industrial developments, colleges or standard construction projects. As a result, he is experienced in drafting amendments to and negotiating not only standard forms of contract such as JCT, NEC and ICE, but also the FIDIC Red and Silver books as well as IChemE Burgundy, Red and Yellow books.

Bill acts for owners and promoters of projects, international contractors, sub-contractors as well as advising other law firms on complex construction issues, in the UK and internationally.

Bill is a Fellow of the Institute of Arbitrators, and has substantial experience in conducting adjudications, mediations and arbitrations, as well as litigation within the TCC and ICC.

Bill has advised large international contractors on the operation and administration of dispute boards, and has drafted submissions and advised on the wider approach required to achieve the best possible outcome.

Khushboo Shahdadpuri is a Senior Counsel with Al Tamimi & Company. Ranked as a future leader in arbitration by Who’sWhoLegal and Rising Star by Legal500, Khushboo is dual qualified in Singapore and New York. She specialises in infrastructure, construction, energy and JV disputes arising out of Middle East projects. She has worked on gas pipelines, solar power plants, World Cup stadiums and other prominent development projects, where the value of the dispute has exceeded USD 1 billion. Khushboo works with leading experts and KCs and has extensive experience in both civil and common law arbitrations. She has also argued cases before arbitral tribunals and the Singapore courts.

Khushboo regularly speaks and publishes on arbitration and construction issues. Apart from her role as Regional Lead for EMEA in the YSIAC Council, she is Associate Editor of Kluwer Arbitration Blog overseeing the MENA and India regions, committee member of the Law Society (Singapore), ERE Global Steering Committee member and Greener Arbitrations Subcommittee member.

Duncan is a barrister and a partner and head of International Arbitration at Howard Kennedy in London. He practices in commercial and investment arbitration. He has extensive experience in the oil and gas, energy and mining sectors. He has a particular interest in cases related to Africa. Many of Duncan's clients are states or state-owned companies. He has appeared as advocate before international tribunals under many arbitration rules, and in the UK Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of Mauritius.

Duncan is recommended as a Global Leader in Who's Who Legal, and is identified as a leading lawyer in the field of international arbitration in Chambers and Partners UK and Chambers Global, and the Legal 500.

Duncan also practices as an arbitrator. He is a Fellow of CIArb, a member of the ICC UK Arbitration and Dispute Resolution Committee, and an Ambassador to the ICC's Belt & Road Commission.

He is a member of the Advisory Board of the MARC Arbitration Centre in Mauritius, and was the first Registrar of the LCIA-MIAC Arbitration Centre. He acts as the Registrar of the Scottish Arbitration Centre.

Thomas R. Snider is a Partner and the Head of International Arbitration at Charles Russell Speechlys LLP based in the firm’s Dubai office. He is experienced in international commercial arbitration, international investment disputes, state-to-state arbitration, and foreign sovereign immunity issues.

Tom is recognised as a Global Elite Thought Leader in Who’s Who Legal Arbitration and is ranked for dispute resolution in Chambers United Arab Emirates. He was also named to the Legal 500 Private Practice Arbitration Powerlist–Middle East Region in 2022 and 2023.

Among numerous other roles, Tom is a member of the Board of Directors of the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) and the Court of Arbitration of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC). Prior to relocating to Dubai, Tom was a professorial lecturer in law at the George Washington University Law School.

From 2001 to 2009, Tom was a member of the legal team representing the Ethiopian Government before the Eritrea-Ethiopia Claims Commission, an international arbitral tribunal that adjudicated claims for loss, damage and injury arising during an international armed conflict. In this context, he worked as a resident attorney in Addis Ababa for three years.

Hamish Lal is ranked in Band 1 for both construction and international construction arbitration in Chambers UK, and in the top tier in The Legal 500: UK. Dr Lal is the Chair of The Society of Construction Law and former Chair of The Adjudication Society. He is an adjunct professor at University College Dublin Sutherland School of Law, a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a Fulbright Scholar, a General Editor of the Construction Law Journal and author of the Manual of Construction Agreements published by LexisNexis. Hamish is Partner at Hamish Lal Partners.

Sean Gibbs is CEO of global expert witness company Hanscomb Intercontinental. Sean’s primary expertise is quantum and delay and as well as acting an international expert witness also sits as arbitrator, adjudicator, expert determiner and dispute board member. He has held directorships and senior commercial positions with contracting and consultancy firms in the United Kingdom and Internationally. With over 35 years’ experience in the onshore and offshore construction and engineering industries across the globe Sean has worked across the continents of Europe, Asia, Middle East, Africa and the Americas. He was called to the Bar by the Middle Temple in 2017.

Project experience includes major airport developments, industrial process plants, commercial developments, military and police installations, heavy engineering in respect of onshore and offshore oil & gas facilities and pipelines, highway interchanges, tunnels, leisure resorts, nuclear, water treatment and desalination plants, waste to energy, biomass, onshore and offshore windfarms, renewables, mines, ports, hospitals and rail/metro projects. He is Senior Vice Chair of The Adjudication Society, Council Member of the Society of Construction Law (UK), ICP Member of The International Bar Association, Region 2 Director of The Dispute Resolution Board Foundation, and founder of UK Adjudicators and HK Adjudicators.

Sean is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Arbitrators and a FIDIC President’s List Adjudicator and Mediator.

Jamie is Senior Counsel at Albertson Solicitors, Fellow and Director of Studies in Law at Wolfson College, Cambridge, Fellow of the Lauterpacht Centre for International Law, and a Consultant at Isolas LLP (Gibraltar's oldest law firm). He is a general international lawyer who acts for governments, corporations and individuals on a wide range of advisory and contentious matters. He is the author or editor of several works on international law in leading book series and journals. He has a PhD in international law from Cambridge.

Luis Martinez is Vice President of the ICDR and co-chair of the American Bar Association’s (ABA) International Arbitration Committee with over 500 members worldwide responsible for its strategic direction and business plans. Martinez is the Honorary President of the Inter-American Commercial Arbitration Commission, (IACAC) having led that organization comprised of 21 arbitration institutions for 5 years.

As VP, Martinez serves as an integral part of the ICDR's international strategy team and is responsible for international arbitration and mediation business development for the East Coast of the US, Central and South America, the Caribbean, EU, and UK. Martinez is also responsible for the case administration of international cases out of the AAA-ICDR's Miami office with a number of arbitrations that include sovereigns and state-related entities.

Martinez oversees, creates, and designs all required logistics for many major international conferences, programs, and webinars with a focus on the AAA-ICDR’s services promoting both domestic and international arbitration in venues located in the US and globally.

Martinez is a published author on the ICDR International system and international arbitration rules. He is also responsible for the AAA-ICDR’s Young and International group with a membership of young practitioners comprised of over 5000 members from 90 countries.

Martinez joined the AAA in 1996 as the first attorney hired to staff the newly created ICDR and later served as the ICDR's first director.

Peter Cameron is one of the world's leading authorities on energy law. He is a barrister (England & Wales) and sits as an arbitrator at international dispute settlement bodies, with experience in ICSID and ICC cases.

He is Professor of International Energy Law and Director of the Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy at the University of Dundee in Scotland (https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/en/persons/peter-cameron). The Centre was ranked first among the top ten energy law LLMs internationally in 2023: https://llm-guide.com/lists/top-llm-programs-by-speciality/top-llm-programs-for-energy-law. It is a sponsor of the annual ITA-ICC-IEL International Energy Arbitration Seminar in Houston, USA. Peter is also editor-in-chief of the Edinburgh University Press journal, Global Energy Law and Sustainability. He has been elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Peter is the author of many publications. His last book was 'International Energy Investment Law' (Oxford University Press, second edition), and is currently working on a book on international arbitration and the energy transition.

Jessica Crow is an independent arbitrator and international law consultant with Arbitra International and an academic in climate and environmental law at the University of Cambridge. Jessica is an expert in the law and governance of the energy transition, climate change and environmental law. She advises corporates, investors, governments, and other key stakeholders in relation to ESG and climate dispute risk, international and domestic climate policy and energy transition regulations. She is an affiliated lecturer at the University of Cambridge where she teaches climate law and environmental policy and a researcher in international climate litigation at the Cambridge Centre for Environment, Energy and Natural Resource Governance (CEENRG).

Fatima Balfaqeeh is a UAE certified advocate specialising in arbitration, mediation and business consulting. She is an Adjunct Lecturer in Law at Middlesex University Dubai and has over 20 years of experience working in government and semi-government entities in Abu Dhabi, where she led contract and procurement functions with a focus on dispute avoidance and corporate governance.

She has extensive experience in commercial, legal and operational matters across various sectors, including construction, finance, and banking.

After pursuing a law degree, Fatima became a certified independent arbitrator and commercial mediator. She is a Chartered Arbitrator of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), a member and Chartered Facilities Management Surveyor of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply Chain (CIPS). Fatima is a highly respected advisor in the ADR, legal, and governance fields.

In 2018, Fatima founded her consultancy, which later evolved into a fully-fledged law firm. As a leading advocate for Green Arbitration, she is a signatory to the UN Global Compact and promotes sustainability across all areas of her business. Today, as one of the few independent female arbitrators and mediators in the UAE, Fatima is a role model for young women seeking to enter this field.

Dr Mohamed Sameh Amr is the Dean of the Faculty of Law at Cairo University and is a Professor of International Law. He is also the Managing Partner of Amr & Partners Law Firm (Cairo), Independent Arbitrator and Independent Consultant (Paris).

Dr Amr is an Attorney-at-Law before the Egyptian Court of Cassation and has been acting as Legal Advisor for over thirty years.

He is a member of the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA) Board of Trustees. Dr Amr is also a member of the ICSID Panel of Arbitrators and Conciliators since 2017 to-date and is on the Arbitrators Panel of: CRCICA, KLRCA, SIArb, SHIAC, QICCA, SCCA, KCAB, AFSA, ADGM, DIAC, CIICA and LCICA.

Dr Amr served as Sole Arbitrator, Co-arbitrator, Presiding Arbitrator, Independent Legal Expert or Counsel in a number of international commercial arbitrations under the rules of ADCCAC, CRCICA, DIAC, DIFC-LCIA, QICCA, ICC and PCA. He is the former Ambassador of Egypt to UNESCO and Former President of UNESCO's Executive Board.

Funke Adekoya is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who practices as an independent arbitrator and litigator in Lagos, Nigeria. She is actively engaged in international arbitration both as arbitrator and lead arbitration counsel. Her primary focus is on energy and construction disputes, in addition to other commercial and investment-based disputes. She is dual-qualified in Nigeria and as a solicitor [non-practising] in England and Wales and has been appointed arbitrator [chair, wing or sole] in high-value institutional proceedings under the ICC, LCIA and ICSID Arbitration Rules and ad hoc arbitration proceedings under the UNCITRAL Rules.

She holds a master's degree in International Energy Law and Policy from the University of Dundee with a core module in international energy arbitration and routinely represents clients in both institutional and ad hoc arbitrations under a wide variety of arbitral rules. She has also appeared in court matters related to arbitration.

Noree has served the arbitration community in various capacities including as Chair of the CIArb (YMG) Global Steering Committee, Africa Regional Representative of the LCIA – YIAG and co-founder of Energy Related Practitioners (ENERAP) Kenya. Presently, she is the Vice-Chair of the ICC's Commission on Arbitration and ADR (Kenya) and a subcommittee member of ERA Pledge Africa.

In 2020, she led the Law Society of Kenya ADR Committee in drafting the LSK Arbitration Rules, and in 2022 Noreen was recognised as one of 'Africa's 30 Most Promising Young Arbitrators' by the Association of Young Arbitrators.

Dr Aseel Zimmo is the Managing Partner of The First Link, a dispute avoidance and resolution consultancy. She brings extensive experience in dispute resolution. Dr Zimmo is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and has served as arbitrator in numerous institutional and ad hoc proceedings, issuing awards in Arabic and English. She is a skilled commercial mediator and counsel, and sits on arbitration panels including LCIA, SICC and Oman Arbitration Centre. Dr Zimmo was the former senior advisor to the Bahraini Chief Justice and Minister of Justice. She has practised law internationally and taught civil and commercial law at prestigious institutions. Dr Zimmo conducts professional training for lawyers, practitioners, judges, and lawyers.

Hugh Fraser is a Scottish corporate/commercial lawyer, originally from Aberdeen, based in the Middle East for 16 years and with over 25 years of experience in the international energy industry.

He was the Managing Partner of the Middle East office of Andrews Kurth Kenyon law firm (2013-2017), founder and Managing Partner of Hugh Fraser International Legal Consultancy (2003-2013) and the former Group Head of Legal at John Wood Group PLC (1996-2003). He established HFI Consulting International in August 2017 including the re-launch of HFI Legal Consultancy. He has extensive experience in international business expansion initiatives for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for clients with advanced technology and know-how in the energy and water sectors. Hugh is on the Middle East advisory panel for the UK's Energy Industries Council. He is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Energy Institute and the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE). He was appointed to the Scottish Enterprise GlobalScot international business advisory network in May 2017.

Paul is a partner in Forensic Services at Grant Thornton in London. He is a valuation expert with 25 years of experience in the valuation of companies and shares, across a wide range of industries and countries, with particular expertise in the natural resources sector. Prior to specialising in forensic work, he held senior positions in equity research and corporate finance at several investment banks in London. He has valued companies ranging from start-ups with values of less than £5 million, to very large, publicly listed companies with values of more than £50 billion.

Lara Hammoud is a qualified French lawyer and has over twenty years industry experience in International Arbitration. She has spent the last ten years as in-house counsel managing the disputes team at Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). Prior to this, Lara started her career in Paris working at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) before moving to private practice with a Magic Circle law firm in Paris and Abu Dhabi.
Lara has issued over forty awards in construction and commercial matters and has been appointed as tribunal chair, sole and party-appointed arbitrator in both common and civil law jurisdictions under UNCITRAL, DIAC, DIFC-LCIA, SIAC, BCDR and ICC arbitration rules seated both in Europe, Asia and the Middle-East.

She is the writer and editor of numerous articles and books relating to international arbitration. She also regularly appears as speaker in international conferences and arbitration workshops.

In 2024, Lara was recognized among the "Most In Demand Arbitrators" UAE, by Who's Who Legal, Arbitration and Chambers & Partners.

Aysha is a Bahraini lawyer licensed before the Cassation Court and the Constitutional Courts of Bahrain. She is an international arbitration practitioner and a litigation lawyer with 15 years of experience. Aysha has sat as arbitrator in more than 20 cases. She also served as a court clerk to various appeal and cassation court judges in Bahrain. Aysha has been a member of the ICC Court of Arbitration since 2018. She currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of ICC Bahrain and the ICSID Panel for arbitrators and conciliators. She is also the Chairperson for the ICC ADR and Arbitration Commission Bahrain.

Ms Mutaywea is a partner at Mena Chambers Bahrain and has handled disputes under various arbitration rules (internationally in both institutional and ad hoc arbitrations). She is listed as an arbitrator at the GCC Commercial Arbitration Centre, the International Chamber of Commerce, Dubai International Arbitration Centre, the Saudi Centre for Commercial Arbitration, Singapore International Arbitration Centre, the Cairo Commercial International Arbitration Centre and the London Court for International Arbitration, among others.

Ms Mutaywea advises regional and international clients on a wide range of disputes including civil, commercial, corporate, finance (Islamic and non-Islamic), banking, franchise, corporate governance, technology, sports, telecommunication, real estate, construction, infrastructure and aviation disputes in the ME Region. Ms Mutaywea has experience with the laws of numerous MENA states.