Gateley Middle East appoints Alim Khamis as head of disputes

Alim Khamis, partner and arbitration specialist, has joined Gateley Middle East’s growing team in Dubai as head of disputes for the Middle East.

Focusing in particular on high-value, cross-border disputes within the construction, commercial and energy sectors, Khamis will build on Gateley Middle East’s existing disputes and arbitration expertise to support clients in the region, whilst also complementing the services offered by Gateley Legal’s London-based international disputes team.

Khamis’ appointment follows a period of significant growth for Gateley Middle East, which last year relocated to the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). It has also significantly expanded its team in Dubai, with key appointments including managing partner and head of corporate Darren Harris, and family business and restructuring partner Nora Al Muhamad.

“I am pleased to be joining the Gateley Middle East team, and to lead on further enhancing its disputes practice here in Dubai,” Khamis said. “Gateley already has strong capabilities in supporting and advising clients in complex, international disputes. I look forward to growing the team further in the Middle East to complement these existing capabilities and provide clients with comprehensive dispute resolution services, including dispute avoidance, arbitration, litigation and mediation.”

Darren Harris added, “Alim’s appointment represents our latest investment in building a presence in Dubai and establishing a Middle East hub that provides clients with unrivalled, integrated legal services. He added, “Using his considerable experience supporting clients in the construction and infrastructure sectors, Alim can grow a disputes practice that complements our expanded corporate team in Dubai, as well as Gateley’s wider disputes team, whilst also offering targeted legal services that support the specific needs and requirements of clients in the region.”

Khamis was previously a partner at Dentons LLP and, later, head of office and partner at Charles Russell Speechlys in Qatar. He has more than a decade of experience managing disputes relating to multi-million and billion-dollar construction and infrastructure projects in multiple jurisdictions spanning Asia, North America, the GCC and Australia.

Khamis has also advised clients and led on numerous international and domestic arbitration proceedings, including cross-border arbitrations in the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) and the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC).