July 28, 2026 Arbitration - Orders
Claim No. ARB 010/2026
IN THE DUBAI INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE COURTS
IN THE COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE
BETWEEN
PAUL
Claimant
and
PAXTON
Defendant
and
(1) PAYSON
(2) PAOLO
(3) PRESTON
Respondents to Contempt Application
AMENDED ORDER WITH REASONS OF H.E. JUSTICE ROGER STEWART
UPON the Arbitration Claim Form dated 4 February 2026 (the “Claim”)
AND UPON the Order of H.E. Justice Roger Stewart dated 16 February 2026
AND UPON the Claimant’s Application No. ARB-010-2026/5 and draft order dated 1 July 2026 (“the Application”)
AND UPON the Affidavit of Prince dated 30 June 2026 (the “Affidavit”)
AND UPON a hearing by video-conference taking place on 23 July 2026 attended by counsel for the Claimant and a representative of the Defendant
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
1. The Claimant has permission to serve the Application and the Affidavit by way of alternative service in lieu of personal service on the Respondents to the Application as follows:
(a) On the law firm of Payson, Mr Paolo and Mr Preston by way of email to email@payson.com being the corporate email address listed on its website and its court filings in the Dubai Proceedings.
(b) On Mr Preston by way of email email@preston.com being his business email address provided in the arbitration in which he acted for Paxton (formerly Paxton).
2. On the basis of service being effected by 4pm (GST) on 29 July 2026, the Respondents shall file any evidence in response to the Application by 4pm (GST) on 21 August 2026.
3. The Claimant may reply to such evidence by 4pm (GST) on 28 August 2026.
4. The Application is to be provisionally listed for a one day hearing in public not before 14 September 2026.
5. By 14 August 2026, the parties are to liaise and seek to agree a date for the hearing of the Application but if the parties have not agreed such a date, they are to identify their respective positions by 21 August 2026.
6. There is liberty to apply in relation to all matters in this Order.
7. The costs of the hearing and these directions be in the committal proceedings
Issued by:
Hayley Norton
Assistant Registrar
Date of issue: 27 July 2026
Date of Re-issue: 28 July 2026
At: 3pm
SCHEDULE OF REASONS
1. The Application is for committal in respect of what, on their face, are serious allegations of contempt against the Respondents to the Application.
2. The Affidavit sets out extensive efforts which have already been made to serve the Application and the Affidavit on the Respondents to the Application.
3. The Court is satisfied that there is good reason to authorise service by alternative methods of the Application and the Affidavit as set out in the Order.
4. The Court also considers it sensible to issue directions in relation to the committal proceedings. These directions appear sensible upon what is presently known but they are necessarily provisional for two reasons. First the ambit and scope of the committal proceedings are not yet apparent and secondly the Respondents to the committal proceedings have not been heard.
5. If the Respondents to the committal proceedings consider that other directions should be given, they should liaise with the Claimant and seek agreement as soon as possible. In the absence of agreement, the matter should be referred to the Court.
