Shahed is an Associate based in Fenwick Elliott’s Dubai office. He has experience in both non-contentious and contentious matters. Shahed previously worked in-house at one of the largest construction conglomerates in the ME region and prior to that, at an international design and engineering consultancy, where he advised on largescale design and build projects often adopting an ‘advisor’ role from tender stage up to completion. This involved Shahed drafting and negotiating construction contracts, and preparing ancillary documentation such as subcontracts, collateral warranties, and novation agreements.
Shahed has also acted for clients in complex, high profile arbitrations and local litigation concerning construction matters involving government entities, major property developers and tier one contractors in the MENA region.
Specialist expertise
Examples of Shahed’s contentious expertise include:
- acting for a government entity in a final account dispute worth more than AED5 billion against a contractor JV on a major airport development project;
- acting for a top-tier contractor in a DIAC arbitration arising from a termination and payment dispute for a value in excess of AED1 billion relating to a high-profile racecourse stadium in the UAE;
- acting for an international contractor in a claim valued in excess of AED500m commenced against a major Dubai based developer on a multi-million dirhams mall extension project;
- advising a large multinational tier one contractor on the merits of its extension of time and additional costs claim against an Abu Dhabi based developer on a multi-million dirhams mall project;
- advising high net worth individuals on the strategic and commercial options available with a view to resisting and defending the ratification and enforcement of a Final Award issued against them under a DIAC arbitration; and
- acting for a contractor operating in the GCC in defending a claim against it in local court proceedings from its MEP subcontractor.
Examples of Shahed’s non-contentious expertise include:
- advising high net worth individuals on the strategic and commercial options available with a view to resisting and defending the ratification and enforcement of a Final Award issued against them under a DIAC arbitration;
- advising a large multinational tier one contractor on the merits of its extension of time and additional costs claim against an Abu Dhabi based developer on a multi-million dirhams mall project;
- advising a Korean-based contractor on the merits of defending a claim for decennial liability relating to a multi-million dirhams power plant project in Abu Dhabi;
- advising a major developer in respect of the merits of its defence against a contractor’s payment claim in relation to two major housing development projects;
- advising an employer client in connection with the procurement of a contractor in relation to the development of a new school in Abu Dhabi including drafting the underlying construction contract and ancillary documents; and
- advising a significant healthcare provider on various contractual issues as part of due diligence work arising from the acquisition of a children’s hospital in Abu Dhabi.
Academics
Shahed holds a Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB) and has been admitted as a Solicitor in England & Wales since 2015.
Other activities and memberships
- member of the Society of Construction Law Gulf; and
- qualified football coach currently undertaking his UEFA B License. He is first team coach of Dubai United FC who participate in the UAE Professional League.
