Alim Khamis

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Alim Khamis

Expertise

Alim is a recognised leader in arbitration, having acted for clients across the Middle East, Central Asia, Canada and Australia.

Alim is a dual-qualified lawyer (Australia and Canada) and has been based in the Middle East for a decade. He specialises in high-value construction and commercial disputes, ranging from infrastructure and major projects (e.g. roads, rail and airports) to commercial issues regarding distribution, shareholders’ rights, joint venture disputes and enforcement matters. His clients include multinational consortia, engineering firms, public entities and family offices. 

A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Alim has arbitrated cases with the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) and the Abu Dhabi Arbitration Centre (arbitrateAD). He is also a member of the National Conciliation and Arbitration Board established by His Highness the Aga Khan.

How do you help clients? 

I assist clients with mitigating risk and advise on a range of options from dispute avoidance, alternative dispute resolution, litigation and cross-border enforcement.

Experience

  1. Major infrastructure project (Dubai): Advising and appearing on behalf of an unincorporated JV (as claimants) in relation to an arbitration administered by the DIAC concerning a major infrastructure project in Dubai. Total claim exceeded USD1bn.
  2. Major UAE construction company: Advising and appearing on behalf of this client in relation to multiple concurrent upstream and downstream arbitrations in respect of a mixed-use development in Dubai, UAE. Total claims are in excess of USD300m.
  3. Hotel project (Qatar): Advising a state-backed project management entity on risks associated with entering into a joint venture agreement for a project in Greece valued at EUR1bn.
  4. Major retail shopping centre (Abu Dhabi): Advising a private developer in relation to a potential arbitration with a global contractor for sums in excess of USD400m. The matter may proceed to arbitration following expiration of the amicable settlement period. Alim provided pre-dispute advice and legal opinions on the prospects of success and the preliminary preparation of a case strategy for the Board’s consideration.
  5. Major Korean shipping concern: Advising this entity in relation to a USD1.5bn delay and disruption claim against the employer in respect of a floating production facility.
  6. Major Qatar-based construction company: Advising this client in relation to its several-hundred million QAR claim against the employer in respect of a state-of-the-art sporting facility in Qatar.
  7. International lenders: Advising two international lenders in relation to recovery of debts and enforcement of security in the UAE.
  8. Major LNG EPC contractor: Advising this client on a multi-billion-dollar LNG EPC contract in Qatar, with disputes in the region of USD650m (ICC arbitration).