We have introduced changes to our Court Committees in 2019. We will maintain three main committees, which we rely on for feedback and consultation in terms of proposed improvements within the Courts (from a procedures and rules perspective) to assist in providing an efficient, accessible, transparent and professional service to all users.
The Court Users’ Committee is an independent liaison body between the DIFC Courts and Court users, with the brief of supporting cost effective and professional service provision.
Amna Al Owais Chief Registrar
Nour Hineidi Registrar
Jacques Visser General Counsel
Muna Dandan General Counsel
Ben Bruton Partner
Dr Hassan Arab Partner
DK Singh Managing Partner
Sharon Lakhan Head of Arbitration and Common Law Dispute Resolution
Dr. Mahmoud Hussain Founding Partner
Nicholas Braganza Partner
Rebecca Copley Partner
The Rules Committee meets quarterly to discuss changes and improvements to the Rules of the DIFC Courts. It comprises a wide range of legal practitioners who engage with the DIFC Courts and have significant practical experience of the Rules.
H.E. Justice Ali Al Madhani Senior Judge of Court of Appeal and Head of International Relations of Judicial Affairs
Adrian Chadwick Partner
Nour Hineidi Registrar
Ayesha Bin Kalban Deputy Registrar
Rita Jaballah Partner
Phillip Punwar Partner
Alessandro Tricoli Partner
Sheila Shadmand Partner
Graham Lovett Partner
Deirdre Walker Partner
Michael Black QC Barrister
Rebecca Copley, Partner & Head of Litigation
David Russell QC Barrister
Damian Cross Partner
Formerly the General Counsel Forum, the In-House Counsel Committee was launched in 2019 and continued with the mandate of dialogue and liaison between the DIFC Courts and senior in-house counsel, with the inaugural refreshed committee held in December 2019. Each event brings together participants to share experience, examine trends and discuss global dispute resolution best practices.
Amna Al Owais Chief Registrar
H.E. Nassir Al Nasser Judge
Muna Dandan General Counsel
Robert Lewsley Senior Group Counsel
Jacques Visser Chief Legal Officer
Bassam Moussa Group Head of Legal – WB
Malek Alkhashashneh Legal Director
Stavros Panayi General Counsel
Hassan Bouadar Vice President of Legal & Regulatory Affairs
Dr Abobakr Dafalla Regional Legal Counsel
Ziad Issa General Counsel
Gabriel Falda Assistant General Counsel
Walid Karam Senior Legal Director
Emad Farouq Senior Legal Counsel
Dominic Varley Head of Legal
Heba Hamdy Regional Counsel
Dr Nimer Basbous Group General Counsel
The Pro Bono Committee is comprised of seven members and includes: a. The Pro Bono Programme Leader; and b. Six lawyers who are registered with the DIFC Courts’ Register of Legal Practitioners.
Hayley Norton Pro Bono Programme Leader
Adam Bradshaw Legal Director
Peter Smith Senior Associate
Rebecca Kelly Managing Partner
Zara Merali Senior Associate
Dr. Maryam-Krystyna Nechaieva Legal Counsel
Janine Mallis Senior Associate
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