John Gaffney

Arbitration lawyer – Al Tamimi

John Gaffney is an arbitration lawyer with the Abu Dhabi office with 20 years experience of assisting clients in relation to disputes concerning construction, property, corporate/commercial, energy, investments, IP/IT, and telecommunications matters. John has previously worked with leading international arbitration practices in Paris and London, as well as serving as a legal officer with the United Nations in Geneva. John has published widely on international dispute resolution issues.

Thomas R. Snider

THOMAS R. SNIDER

Partner and Head of International Arbitration | Charles Russell Speechlys LLP

Thomas R. Snider is a Partner and the Head of International Arbitration at Charles Russell Speechlys LLP based in the firm’s Dubai office. He is a globally recognized international arbitration specialist whose experience covers a wide range of industries, sectors, and types of disputes. He is experienced in international commercial arbitration, international investment disputes, state-to-state arbitration, and foreign sovereign immunity issues. Among other roles, Tom is a member of the Board of Directors of the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) and the Court of Arbitration of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC).

Tom is recognised as a Thought Leader in the Lexology Index (formerly Who’s Who Legal Arbitration) and is ranked for dispute resolution in Chambers United Arab Emirates, which notes that he is “superb at guiding clients through complex, expensive and potentially stressful situations” and “manages arbitration really well and inspires confidence.” He is also recognized as a Leading Partner for Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and International Litigation in the United Arab Emirates by Legal 500, where he has previously been described as having “cross-examination skills [that] are excellent. He listens hard, is polite to witnesses and yet wields an iron fist beneath his velvet glove.”

Tom frequently writes and speaks on topics involving international law and dispute resolution. Before moving to Dubai, he lectured in law at George Washington University Law School in Washington, DC.

Laila El Shentenawi

Senior Associate – Al Tamimi

Laila El Shentenawi is a qualified Lawyer in Egypt and a Senior Associate in Al Tamimi & Company’s Arbitration & Dispute Resolution team. She is also a member of Al Tamimi’s Sports Law Group.
Laila’s practice focuses on international commercial arbitration, investment arbitration, mediation and sports dispute resolution. Her clients include governments, regional organizations, international organizations, multi-national companies, banks, investors, international athletes and sports bodies. She worked with different arbitration rules including the ADCCAC, CRCICA, DIAC, DIFC-LCIA, ICC, ICSID, LCIA, SCC and the UNCITRAL.
Laila is a CEDR accredited mediator; she is a listed mediator with the CRCICA as well as the Investors Dispute Resolution Center affiliated to the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones in Egypt (GAFI). She is a visiting lecturer at Middlesex University, an external CEDR Faculty and regularly leads seminars on Arbitration, Mediation and Negotiation.
Laila also holds several positions including:
• Member of the ICC Arab Arbitration Group;
• Middle East and Africa Representative for the IBA Mediation Committee;
• Co-Chair for the IBA Mediation Subcommittee for Young Mediators; and
• Visiting Lecturer at Middlesex University, Dubai.

Hassan Arab

Head of Dispute Resolution, Al Tamimi & Company

Dr. Hassan Arab is a leading dispute resolution expert in the UAE and the wider Middle East with full rights of audience before all courts in the UAE. He regularly sits as an arbitrator and is called upon to provide legal expert opinions before arbitral tribunals and foreign courts.

Dr. Arab has been recently elected as the Chair of the Steering Committee of the ICC-UAE Commission on Arbitration & ADR. He has authored several publications on arbitration and dispute resolution, including a book on the Civil Procedures Law in the UAE and the Summaries of UAE Courts’ Decisions on Arbitration.