R&A Legal Solutions advises on the avoidance and resolution of disputes arising out of construction, infrastructure, real estate, hospitality and aviation projects across the UAE, wider GCC, Africa and the UK. We act for developers, contractors, investors, project companies and family offices in high-value disputes where strategy, timing and outcomes are critical.

Our practice encompasses dispute avoidance and advisory work, arbitration and litigation, together with enforcement of awards and judgments. We combine technical legal expertise with a clear commercial perspective, ensuring that dispute strategies support the wider objectives of the project or business.

We prefer to help clients avoid disputes where possible. Our dispute avoidance and advisory work includes:

• Reviewing contracts and risk allocation during project planning and negotiation.
• Providing early-stage advice on variations, delay, disruption, payment and performance issues.
• Assisting with drafting contractual notices, correspondence and claims responses.
• Supporting negotiations and without-prejudice discussions.
• Advising boards and senior management on litigation and settlement strategy.

Our involvement at an early stage often helps to prevent issues from escalating into formal disputes or to position clients more favourably if proceedings are unavoidable.

We act in complex commercial and construction arbitrations under leading institutional rules. Our experience includes matters governed by:

• ICC
• DIAC
• DIFC-LCIA
• ADCCAC
• Other regional and international rules and ad hoc procedures.

Our arbitration services include:

• Drafting and responding to notices of arbitration.
• Preparing statements of claim, defence, counterclaim and reply.
• Managing document production and disclosure.
• Working with technical, quantum and delay experts.
• Preparing witnesses and drafting witness statements.
• Representing clients at hearings and in post-hearing submissions.
• Advising on enforcement and challenge of awards.

We understand the particular procedural and strategic issues that arise in construction and infrastructure arbitrations and tailor our approach accordingly.

We manage commercial litigation in the UAE courts through a network of trusted local firms. Our role is to provide overall strategy and co-ordination, ensuring that court proceedings support our clients’ wider commercial objectives.

Our litigation-related work includes:

• Co-ordinating UAE court litigation relating to construction, real estate, infrastructure and commercial contracts.
• Reviewing and guiding pleadings, expert reports and submissions prepared by local counsel.
• Advising on parallel proceedings, jurisdictional considerations and interactions with arbitration.
• Evaluating settlement options, enforcement prospects and overall risk.
• Supporting clients with board and stakeholder reporting on significant disputes.

We assist clients with the enforcement of arbitral awards and court judgments in the UAE and the use of UAE assets to support enforcement from other jurisdictions.

Our enforcement services include:

• Advising on the most appropriate forum for enforcement, including DIFC Courts and onshore courts.
• Assessing prospects and potential obstacles to enforcement.
• Designing practical enforcement strategies, including asset identification and interim measures where available.
• Preparing expert legal opinions on UAE law for use in foreign court and arbitral proceedings.

We deal with a wide range of disputes, including:

• Construction and infrastructure claims relating to delay, disruption, variations and defects.
• Payment and performance disputes under construction and consultancy contracts.
• Real estate and development disputes, including issues relating to sale and purchase agreements, development agreements and leasing.
• Hospitality and branded residence disputes involving owners, operators and brands.
• Corporate and shareholder disputes connected with project vehicles and joint ventures.

• Sector focus: Extensive experience in disputes arising from construction, infrastructure, real estate, hospitality and aviation projects.
• Strategic insight: Strong emphasis on early assessment, strategic options and commercial outcomes rather than purely procedural wins.
• Procedural expertise: Experience of major arbitral institutions and of working alongside local counsel in UAE court proceedings.
• Enforcement capability: Practical understanding of how to convert awards and judgments into recoveries in the UAE.
• Partner-led service: Direct involvement of senior lawyers with experience of high-value, complex disputes.