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Karim J. Nassif
Principal

Karim J. Nassif has more than 20 years’ experience in arbitration, mediation, civil law, contract law, commercial and corporate law, banking and finance, real estate and construction law.

He has acted as counsel, mediator, adjudicator and arbitrator in more than 150 cases under the most leading international and regional arbitration rules, including the rules of the ICC, LCIA, DIFC-LCIA, DIAC, CRCICCA, AAA-ICDR, GCC, UNCITRAL, IICRA and ADCCAC; in various cases seated in the UK, France, USA, Switzerland and throughout the Middle East; and governed by a variety of national laws (Lebanon, UAE – including DIFC, KSA, France, England and Wales, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Libya, Kuwait, Syria, New York, OHADA …) or sharia law.

Karim has authored and co-authored several publications in English, French and Arabic and he has frequently been a speaker in international conferences and seminars on international arbitration, civil code, mediation, commercial contracts, property, family structuring and legislative reform matters; including ICC, LCIA, IBA, DIAC, Arab Forum, CRCICCA, DIFC Academy of Law, Paris Bar, Society of Construction Law, Global Arbitration Review etc .. events.

Karim pleads in English, French and Arabic.

After obtaining an LLB and LLM (Hons) in Business Law and a Diploma in Law and IT from the University of Montpellier, Karim J. Nassif served as a lecturer in civil and commercial law. He is admitted to the Beirut Bar and was licensed as a legal consultant in Dubai. Before creating Nassif Arbitration, Karim served as a Partner in leading European and Emirati law firms where he headed for many years and subsequently the departments of international arbitration, real-estate and construction, and corporate commercial; he was as well counsel to one of the leading shipping liners in the world and a lawyer in a leading law-firm in Beirut.

1- PROFFESIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS

• Member of the Beirut Bar Association.
• Registered Dubai Legal Consultant (Formerly).
• Qualified to appear before the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts (Formerly).
• Former Member of the Beirut Bar Information Technology Law Committee.
• Former Vice-President of the Lebanese Association for the Development of Information Technology Law.
• Member of the IBA Arbitration Committee and Real Estate Committee.
• Membership Officer of the IBA Arab Forum.
• Vice-Chairman of the IBA Mediation Committee and Former Conference Quality Officer of the IBA Mediation Committee.
• Member of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR.
• Member of the ICC Task Force on “ADR and Arbitration”.
• Member of the ICC UAE Commission on Arbitration & ADR Steering Committee.
• Member of the ICC Lebanon.
• Former member of the ICC Task Force on Emergency Arbitration Proceedings.
• Former member listed with ‘Association Suisse de l’Arbitrage’ – ASA.
• Member of the LCIA.
• Initiator of the Arab Arbitration Forum – Civil Law Focus Group.
• Arbitrator listed with DIAC, ADCCAC, CRCICCA, ADGMAC, SIAC, SCCA, the Kuala Lumpur Regional Arbitration Centre, the South China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission / Shenzen Court of International Arbitration and the Tashkent International Arbitration Center.

2- PUBLICATIONS HIGHLIGHTS

a. Books

• Comparison of MENA International Arbitration Rules (ed. together with Dr. H. Al Mulla and G. Blanke), Juris Publishing, 2011
• Comparison of Gulf International Arbitration Rules (ed. together with Dr. H. Al Mulla and G. Blanke), Juris Publishing, 2010

b. Book Contributions

• “UAE” Chapter in Arbitration World, Fourth Edition, 2012, European Lawyer – Thomson Reuters (together with Kristel Ferjane-Momdjian), pp. 843-859
• “UAE” Report in Global Legal Group: International Arbitration 2011 (together with G. Blanke), pp. 413-421
• “UAE” Chapter in Global Arbitration Review – The International Journal of Commercial and Treaty Arbitration 2010 (together with Dr. H. Al Mulla and G. Blanke); electronic version.
• “UAE” Report in Getting The Deal Through: Arbitration 2010 and 2011 (together with Dr. H. Al Mulla and G. Blanke), pp. 359-366
• “UAE” Report in Getting The Deal Through: Dispute Resolution 2010 and 2011 (together with Dr. H. Al Mulla and G. Blanke), pp. 240-246; Dispute Resolution 2011 (together with Dr. H. Al Mulla and G. Blanke), pp. 248-253;
• “Arbitrating in the UAE and the Middle East – Some Cultural Insights for the Unaware” in M. Kraham (ed.), Inside the Minds: ADR Client Strategies in the Middle East and Africa, Aspatore Books, Thomson Reuters, 2009 (together with G. Blanke), pp. 17-36.

c. Articles

• “Recovery of Attorney’s Fees in Arbitration: The UAE Enigma?”, in The International Journal of Arab Arbitration, Vol. 12, No. 2, 2020, p. 5 (together with F. ElHajj-Purice)
• “Enforcement of foreign judgments and foreign awards: the DIFC Conduit” in The International Journal of Arab Arbitration, Vol. 9, No. 1, 2017, p. 71 (together with F. ElHajj-Purice)
• “ADCCAC: New Rules … a year later” in The International Journal of Arab Arbitration, Vol. 7, No. 1, 2015, p. 9
• “Arbitrability under UAE law” in The International Journal of Arab Arbitration, Vol. 5, No. 1, 2013, p. 5
• “Arbitration under UAE law: towards a modern legal framework?”, in The In-House Lawyer, Issue 183, September 2010, pp. 60-63 (together with G. Blanke and S. Corm-Bakhos)
• “Damages and contracts in the UAE”, in The In-House Lawyer, Issue 178, March 2010, pp. 65-67 (together with C. Kanakri)
• “Contractual misrepresentation under UAE law”, in The In-House Lawyer, Issue 190, May 2011, pp. 58-59
• “Litigating in the UAE: Initial Guidance”, in The In-House Lawyer, Issue 176, December/2009 – January 2010, pp. 1-5 (together with G. Blanke)
• “Arbitration in the UAE – is it winning the war on litigation?”, in the International Litigation News, IBA, September 2009, pp. 64-67
• “Overview of enforcement of domestic and foreign arbitral awards under UAE Law”, in Arbitration News, IBA, March 2010, Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 77-81
• “Chronique de Jurisprudence Etrangère – Dubai”, in Revue de l’Arbitrage, 2010, No. 2 (together with Rana Chaaban).

d. Research Work

• ACRLI; “Legal Framework of the Propety Market in Dubai”; 2010
• University of Montpellier – France; Research study in law of distribution: «Legal analysis of the cellular phone in France». Ref. Dr Philippe Grignon & Pr. D. Ferrier.
• University of Montpellier – France; Research study in business law: « The limited liability clause». Ref. Pr Jean-Louis Bilon.

3- PROFFESIONAL RANKINGS

Karim has been cited in the 2022, 2021 and 2020 GAR – Who’s Who Legal as Global Leader in Arbitration and for the years 2017, 2018 and 2019 as Future Leader in Arbitration.

Karim was cited by Legal 500 in 2011, 2012 and 2013 as ‘Leading Individual in Dispute Resolution’.

Karim was included in Chambers Global’ s Most in Demand Arbitrators for the UAE, in 2021 and 2022.

Karim has been awarded the Platinum Award for Sole Arbitrator – Dubai Awards.

Karim has been recommended by Legal 500 in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 for his ‘attention to detail, in-depth knowledge of the applicable laws and their interpretation in the commercial environment of Dubai’, ‘has a good understanding of client needs’ and ‘is adaptable and very practical in his approach’. His practice continues to be recommended in 2020 and is cited as ‘frequently sitting among some of the world's best known arbitrators’, and clients described him as ‘very hands-on, holds excellent knowledge of the UAE local laws and is super responsive’; and in 2021, colleagues recommended that ‘if you need a party-appointed arbitrator for a GCC dispute grab him before the other side do. If you are a wing arbitrator and need to choose a chairman it will be a smoother road ahead of you if you agree with your fellow wing on using Mr. Nassif”.

Karim entered Chambers Global ‘after strong performances for clients, particularly on real estate and construction disputes’ Chambers Global, 2011; lauded as ‘an excellent practitioner; very good at advocacy’ Chambers Global, 2012; cited as ‘a very good technical lawyer - he blends the pure Arabic knowledge with a Western style’ Chambers Global 2013; ‘continues to attract extremely positive feedback from interviewees, who praise his technical abilities and local know-how’ Chambers Global 2014; and ‘his Arabic ability adds value for clients seeking counsel in the UAE’, Chambers Global 2015; continued to be ranked in 2016; and described as ‘an excellent arbitration lawyer’ while further market commentators concur that he is a ‘bright and affable’ lawyer, Chambers Global 2017; noted in Chambers Global 2018 he “for his broad experience in the regional arbitration centres. He advises on a wide range of arbitration matters, most recently in relation to construction and Islamic finance”; and more recently in Chambers 2020, he is lauded to have "a deft touch at moving matters on"; described in Chambers 2021 as as a “hard worker" who is "always excellently prepared”; and yielded in Chambers 2022 as having the “… ability to take in a significant amount of information in one go, process it on the spot, and get back to you with a preliminary solution or plan. He exudes legal knowledge and has a confident grip on the law and of dispute resolution in general; and that" "He is very straight to the point on the issues.".

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Farah El Hajj Purice
Senior Associate

Farah El Hajj Purice’s practice mostly focuses on arbitration, domestic and international, ad hoc and institutional and entails representing regional and international clients before the Dubai International Arbitration Center, the Dubai International Financial Center Courts, the London Court of International Arbitration, the Abu Dhabi Commercial Conciliation & Arbitration Center, the Beirut Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the ICC International Court of Arbitration. Farah assisted in an investment treaty arbitration against the Republic of Lebanon before the International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes on behalf of the Claimant; and was involved in an investment treaty arbitration against the United Arab Emirates.

The disputes in which she acted as counsel or intervened as secretary to the Arbitral Tribunal were seated in different jurisdictions such as in London, Paris, Dubai, Muscat, Riyadh, and Beirut and were governed by equally diversified substantive laws such as those of the United Kingdom, France, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabic, the Sultanate of Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Syria, and Lebanon.

Farah El Hajj Purice holds a Bachelor of Law Degree from the Saint Joseph University and a Master’s Degree in Local and International Business Law from the Filière Francophone de Droit.

She pleads and can perfectly handle legal work in Arabic, French and English and has knowledge in Spanish and Romanian.

WORK HIGHLIGHTS

Arbitration - Counsel work

• Counsel for the Respondent/Counterclaimant in ICC arbitration proceedings on an AED 150,000,000 dispute related to the construction of a chemical industrial plant, seated in Abu Dhabi, governed by UAE law, and conducted in English.
• Counsel for the Respondent in DIAC and ADCCAC arbitration proceedings in a dispute covering forty properties, seated in the UAE, governed by UAE law, and conducted in English.
• Counsel for the Claimant in ICC arbitration proceedings on a USD 20,000,000 joint venture agreement dispute related to the distribution of products in Ethiopia, seated in Dubai, governed by UAE law, and conducted in English.
• Co-counsel for the Claimant in ICSID Arbitration Proceedings against the Republic of Lebanon (Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the Ministry of Works and Transport) in a civil aviation dispute.
• Counsel for the Claimant in BCCI arbitration proceedings on a multimillion USD dispute relating to a major Lebanese family’s commercial business, seated in Beirut, governed by Lebanese law, and conducted in English.
• Counsel for the Claimant in BCCI arbitration proceedings on a mutli-million USD dispute relation to a waterfront construction project, seated in Beirut, governed by Lebanese law, and conducted in English.
• Counsel for the Respondent in ICC expedited arbitration proceedings regarding a dispute arising out of the sale and purchase of chemicals products, seated in Paris, governed by French law, and conducted in English.
• Counsel for the Respondent in DIFC-LCIA proceedings regarding a dispute arising out of the sale and purchase of chemical products, seated in London, governed by English law, and conducted in English.
• Counsel for the Respondent in ICC arbitration proceedings regarding a dispute arising out of an EPC agreement for the construction of a chemical power in the UAE, seated in Abu Dhabi, governed by UAE law, and conducted in English.
• Counsel for the Claimant in LCIA arbitration proceedings regarding a dispute arising out of a subcontract agreement for works relating to an important residential construction project in the UAE, seated in the DIFC, governed by UAE Law, and conducted in English.
• Counsel for the Claimant in ADCCAC arbitration proceedings regarding a dispute arising out of a subcontract agreement for works relating to a military maintenance facility, seated in Abu Dhabi, governed by UAE law, and are conducted in English.
• Co-counsel for the Respondents/Counterclaimants in ICC arbitration proceedings regarding a Euros 15,000,000 dispute arising out of 4 contracts for the distribution of luxurious clothing, seated in Paris, governed by French law, and are conducted in French.
• Counsel for the Respondent in ad hoc proceedings regarding a dispute arising out of a steel supply agreement for a major cinema construction project in Ivory Coast, seated in Dubai, governed by UAE Law, and conducted in English.

Arbitral Secretary Work
DIAC Arbitrations

• Secretary to the Sole Arbitrator in DIAC Case No. 38/2016 concerning a multi-million AED dispute arising out of an SPA of a residential unit, seated in Dubai, governed by UAE law, and conducted in English.
• Secretary to the Sole Arbitrator in DIAC Case No. 80/2016 concerning an AED 25,000,000 dispute arising out of an SPA of shares, seated in Dubai, governed by UAE law, and conducted in English.
• Secretary to the Sole Arbitrator in DIAC Case No. 58/2016 concerning a multi-million AED dispute arising out of a contract for the construction and maintenance of a labour accommodation building, seated in Dubai, governed by UAE law, and conducted in English.
• Secretary to the Sole Arbitrator in DIAC Case No. 45/2018 concerning a multi-million AED dispute arising out of a service Contract for the supply of manpower, seated in Dubai, governed by UAE law, and conducted in English.
• Secretary to the Sole Arbitrator in DIAC Case No. 137/2018 concerning a multi-million AED dispute arising out of an SPA of 4 off-plan residential units, seated in Dubai, governed by UAE law, and conducted in English.
• Secretary to the Tribunal in DIAC Case No. 198/2019 concerning an AED 37,000,000 dispute arising out of a subcontract for works, seated in Dubai, governed by UAE law, and conducted in English.
• Secretary to the Tribunal in DIAC Case No. 141/2019 concerning a Euro 25 million dispute arising out of contract of works, seated in Damascus, governed by Syrian law, and conducted in Arabic.

DIFC-LCIA Arbitrations

• Secretary to the Sole Arbitrator in DIFC-LCIA Case No. 171133 concerning a multi-million AED dispute arising out of an SPA of 7 residential units, seated in Dubai, governed by UAE law, and conducted in English.
• Secretary to the Sole Arbitrator in DIFC-LCIA Case No. 20295 concerning a multi-million USD dispute arising out of sale of equipment contract, seated in Dubai, governed by Swiss law and conducted in English.

LCIA Arbitrations

• Secretary to the Tribunal in LCIA Arbitration Case No. 204799 concerning a multi-million SAR dispute arising out of a service level agreement, seated in Jeddah, governed by Saudi law, and conducted in English.

Litigation

• Counsel for the Claimant in DIFC courts proceedings relating to an multi-million USD wrongful termination claim.
• Counsel for Claimant DIFC courts proceedings relation to a USD 20,100,000 gaming industry dispute.
• Counsel for the Respondent in DIFC courts proceedings in a multi-mullion USD dispute arising out of an exclusive media representation agreement.
• Advising on and managing a multi-jurisdictional shareholders’ dispute namely before jurisdictions in the UAE, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Curacao.

EXPERT OPINION

• Co-authored opinion on the enforceability of a Scheme of Arrangement (debt restructuring) sanctioned by a commercial English court in the UAE.
• Co-authored opinion on the strategical use of ICC Case law (governed by Algerian Law) in potential ICC proceedings (in favor of a consortium comprised of three major Asian car manufacturers).
• Co-authored opinion on the enforcement of a default judgment rendered by the DIFC Court of First Instance in France on the basis of the 1991 Convention executed between France and the UAE on mutual judicial assistance, recognition, and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters.
• Assisted with the rendering of an expert opinion on behalf of the Claimant in ICSID arbitration proceedings against the UAE (real estate sale dispute).

PUBLICATIONS

Article(s)

• “Enforcement of foreign judgments and foreign awards; the DIFC Conduit” in The International Journal of Arab Arbitration, Volume 9, No. 1, 2017, p.71 (together with Karim J. Nassif)
• “When crisis appears: the resistance of market practice clauses in transactional agreements concluded and the enforcement of judgments rendered thereof in the UAE”- Flash Alert; French Business Council (together with Raphaëlle Francois-Poncet)
• “Recovery of Attorney’s Fees in Arbitration: The UAE Enigma?” in the International Journal of Arab Arbitration, Volume 12, No. 2 , 2020, p.5 to 11 (together with Karim J. Nassif)

Book(s) [in process of publishing]

• Chapter “To arbitrate or not to arbitrate: the MENA’s take on arbitrability”- to appear in The MENA Leading Arbitrators' Guide to International Arbitration- Juris Publishing.

SPEAKING EVENT

• Debater against the motion “Sole arbitrators should be required to be legal qualified” in the Young MENA Groups Conference during Dubai Arbitration Week 2018.

MANAGEMENT

• In charge of the recruitment and training of junior associates and interns.

EDUCATION

Nov 2013-Jul 2014: Filière Francophone de Droit de Beyrouth- Master 2- (D.E.A) Local and International Business Law

Sep 2011-Jun 2012: Saint Joseph University Beirut - Master 1- Private Law

Sep 2008-Jun 2011: Saint Joseph University Beirut- Bachelor of General Law

MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL BODIES

Admitted to the Beirut Bar Association as of 2014