DisputeWin forms exclusive alliance to tackle complex Middle East construction disputes

Against the backdrop of increasingly complex, high-value project delivery, a new strategic legal and contract management alliance has been launched to support the construction sector across Oman and other key regional markets in the Gulf.

Operating under the brand DisputeWin, this exclusive collaboration brings together Rosenblatt Law, Nuha Al-Balushi Attorneys, and VJ CMConsult, combining international disputes strategy, regional legal insight, and hands-on construction contracts and claims expertise into a single, coordinated offering that provides businesses with clear, actionable risk assessments.

Construction and infrastructure projects across the Middle East are currently operating in one of the most challenging environments in recent years. Projects are being impacted by logistics and supply chain disruptions, labour constraints, and inflationary pressures as a result of the Iran-US conflict, while project values continue to increase and contractual frameworks grow more sophisticated.

The construction industry is a cornerstone of economic growth, contributing about 13 per cent of global GDP, but the restricted oil supply out of the Middle East is now holding up projects. A report by Reuters in April shows Oman’s 2026 GDP growth forecast has been trimmed to 2.2% from 2.8% as the Gulf faces the near-total closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and damage to regional energy infrastructure has sharply reduced output and trade flows while damaging and delaying key construction projects.

In addition, such projects-often structured under high-value EPC, FIDIC, General and Particular Standard conditions, or bespoke contracts-frequently involve multiple international stakeholders, adding further complexity. Disputes relating to delays, prolongation costs, variations, and payment issues can quickly escalate and become entrenched if not managed proactively.

Traditionally, organisations assess dispute risk too late, resulting in fragmented and reactive advice. Legal, contractual, and local law considerations are often handled in isolation, with multiple advisers providing disconnected inputs rather than a unified strategy. By the time risks are fully understood, options are limited, and costs have escalated.

DisputeWin addresses this challenge by offering a single, structured assessment model. Initially launching in Oman as a pilot, the initiative will expand across the Middle East, supporting construction, infrastructure, and energy projects operating under increasing pressure.

DisputeWin eliminates fragmentation by providing a coordinated, multi-disciplinary assessment through a single engagement. Clients benefit from a unified team evaluating risk across three integrated perspectives:

• Rosenblatt Law – An international disputes and arbitration practice with extensive experience advising on high-value, cross-border construction, infrastructure, and energy disputes, including arbitration, litigation, mediation, and enforcement strategies.
• Nuha Al-Balushi Attorneys – A leading Omani law firm offering critical local law insight, including governing law considerations, court procedures, interim relief risks, and enforcement realities across the region.
• VJ CMConsult – Providing practical, hands-on expertise in Contracts management, arbitration and litigation administration, and claims, with a deep understanding of how contractual provisions and project records perform in real-world scenarios.

This exclusive collaboration ensures alignment with international best practices in construction dispute resolution while maintaining full compliance with Omani legal requirements. For companies operating in Oman, DisputeWin™ offers the following:

• Clarity Before Conflict: By providing early visibility of contractual exposure, boards and leadership teams can make informed decisions to shape outcomes and avoid disputes before pre-arbitration or pre-litigation deadlines approach.
• Single-Point Accountability: A unified legal position across all disputes ensures consistent strategy, streamlined communication, and clear authority.
• Reduced Procedural and Enforcement Risk: By embedding local Omani legal knowledge from day one, the alliance minimizes the likelihood of errors, delays, or unenforceable outcomes in local courts

Sara Paradisi, partner and co-head of international arbitration at Rosenblatt Law, commented, “On complex, high-value projects, the most significant losses rarely stem from a single event, but from how organisations respond to periods of sustained disruption. In today’s environment—where geopolitical tensions, including ongoing instability in the Middle East, can directly impact supply chains, labour availability and project timelines—decision-making becomes more complex and more fragmented. DisputeWin™ is designed to address that reality, bridging international arbitration strategy with local legal and enforcement considerations to give boards and project teams early, joined-up clarity on risk before positions become entrenched.”

Nuha Al-Balushi, founder of Nuha Al-Balushi Attorneys, added, “In times of heightened geopolitical uncertainty, we often see legal strategies that are robust in theory but fail to account for how disputes are actually handled on the ground. Regional court procedures, enforcement dynamics, and local legal nuances become even more critical when projects are under stress. DisputeWin™ ensures that legal analysis is not developed in isolation, but is fully aligned with the jurisdictions that ultimately determine outcomes.”

Vijay Velayudhan, Founder of VJ CMConsult, said, “Global events—whether driven by conflict, economic pressure or supply chain disruption—tend to expose weaknesses in how contracts are administered in practice. On major projects, the decisions made around notices, claims and record-keeping during these periods can fundamentally shape the outcome of any future dispute. DisputeWin™ brings a practical, experience-led lens to those decisions, combining contractual, legal and operational insight so clients can understand not just what their contracts say, but how they will stand up under real-world pressure.”

(In the photograph: Sara Paradisi and Vijay Velayudhan)