New registrar for DIFC-LCIA

The Dubai International Financial Centre Arbitration Institute (DAI) has appointed dispute resolution specialist, Robert Stephen, as the new registrar of the DIFC-LCIA Arbitration Centre (DIFC-LCIA). Robert will take up this appointment on May 1, 2017 and will replace the current director and registrar of the DIFC-LCIA, Mohamed ElGhatit, who has held the post since February 2016.

During his time at Herbert Smith Freehills, Stephen has advised and represented clients on international disputes across a wide range of industry sectors, including the oil and gas, energy and natural resources, construction, real estate, and finance and banking sectors.

Commenting on his appointment, Alec Emmerson, chief executive of DAI said, “With his extensive international and regional dispute resolution experience, the trustees and I are confident that Robert will be a great asset to the continued development of arbitrations and mediation under DIFC-LCIA Rules. We thank Mohamed for his work over the last 13 months and wish him well on his return to private practice.”

Stephen has directed and represented clients in international arbitrations under the DIAC, DIFC-LCIA, ICC, LCIA, and SIAC Rules, as well as in ad-hoc proceedings and DIFC and English Commercial Court litigation.

Chair of the UAE Branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Young Member’s Group Committee and member of the Global Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Young Member’s Group Committee, Stephen is also a member of the ICC Young Arbitrators’ Forum, and the LCIA Young International Arbitration Group.