CMS boosts Middle East with hire of Damian Watkin

Damian Watkin has joined international law firm CMS and will be a partner in the Infrastructure, Construction and Energy (ICE) Disputes Team.  Based in Abu Dhabi, he will work closely with colleagues in the Middle East region and across CMS as a whole.

Watkin brings a wealth of experience focusing primarily on international arbitration and litigation in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, having advised clients on high-value and complex energy (renewables and conventional), oil and gas (onshore and offshore), construction and engineering disputes, typically concerning delay and disruption, loss and expense, defects and performance failures and final account claims.

These high-stake global disputes have been under various auspices including the ICC, UNCITRAL, SIAC, HKIAC, SCMA, SCCA, ADGM, ADCCAC, GAFTA, CIETAC, IAMA, DIFC-LCIA AND LCIA rules.

He is also a qualified barrister (Lincoln’s Inn, England & Wales) and was also admitted to the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Australia.

Watkin’s appointment coincides with an office move for CMS in Abu Dhabi to the ADGM, Abu Dhabi’s International Financial Centre.

Adrian Bell, CMS partner and co-head of the ICE Disputes Practice, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Damian to the team.  His extensive experience of handling large and complex cases, together with his deep understanding of the Middle East market, will be instrumental in strengthening our offering to both local and international clients operating in the Middle East and further afield.”

Watkin added, “I’m thrilled to join CMS and build on its formidable client base and service offering, in strategic lockstep with Abu Dhabi’s continued growth as a key energy market and leading hub for cross-border dispute resolution. Particularly exciting is the proposition of working within CMS’ exceptional major international disputes bench, widely renowned for its unstinting commitment to dynamic and innovative client service delivery.”