Arif’s deepest experience lies in the energy and natural resources sector, where he has acted as arbitrator, counsel and strategic adviser across the oil and gas, LNG, renewables and utilities industries. His energy practice spans renewable energy investments, electricity supply arrangements, tariff and regulatory measures, foreign direct investment claims and long-term energy infrastructure projects. His experience includes commercial arbitrations, investor-State disputes and State-to-State matters arising across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Americas.

In the oil and gas sector, he has advised and acted in disputes spanning upstream, midstream and downstream operations, including production sharing agreements, concession agreements, joint operating agreements, LNG supply and transportation, pipeline construction and pricing, taxation and royalty regimes, stabilisation agreements and resource nationalism measures. He has represented international oil companies, national oil companies, sovereign States and investors under both commercial contracts and investment treaties, including the Energy Charter Treaty.

Arif has extensive experience in disputes across the power sector, encompassing generation, transmission and distribution. His work includes power purchase agreements, the design, construction and commissioning of generation facilities — including combined-cycle plants and gas turbines — and electricity supply and tariff arrangements. He has acted as arbitrator and counsel in commercial and treaty-based proceedings concerning independent power projects and long-term electricity infrastructure across multiple jurisdictions.

Arif has acted as arbitrator and counsel in significant mining and extractives disputes involving metallic and non-metallic minerals, precious metals and quarried materials. His experience includes mining concessions, offtake and supply contracts, share and asset acquisitions, and investment treaty claims arising from regulatory and environmental measures affecting mining projects. He has handled matters spanning Latin America, the Middle East, Asia and Africa, including disputes concerning the social and environmental dimensions of resource development.

Arif has substantial experience in complex construction, engineering and infrastructure disputes arising from major projects worldwide, including power plants, pipelines and processing facilities, transport infrastructure, industrial and public works, and telecommunications networks. He has acted in both commercial arbitrations and treaty-based proceedings involving large-scale infrastructure investment. His work covers procurement; scope of work and change orders; design errors, omissions and defects; delay, disruption and scheduling; defective and substantial performance; breach of performance guarantees; site conditions, access and interference; project sequencing; sub-contractor responsibility; liquidated damages; and retainage. He is experienced across EPC, EPCM and FIDIC contracts, concession arrangements and project financing structures.

Arif has acted in disputes in the life sciences and pharmaceuticals sector, including matters concerning the supply, distribution and procurement of pharmaceutical products and related regulatory and contractual issues. His work in this area draws on his broader experience in cross-border supply arrangements, intellectual property and the regulation of specialised products.

Arif has acted as arbitrator and counsel in telecommunications disputes, including matters concerning network and tower infrastructure, licensing regimes, and supply and services agreements. His experience includes commercial arbitrations relating to telecommunications tower programmes and construction, as well as investment treaty claims brought by telecommunications investors against host States.

Arif has extensive experience in hospitality disputes, in particular those arising under hotel management agreements, having acted in numerous commercial arbitrations across a range of governing laws and seats. His experience also includes investment treaty and tourism-related disputes concerning hotel and resort investments.

Arif has acted in a broad range of technology and intellectual property disputes, including technology and IP licensing agreements, software and services arrangements, and shareholder and partnership disputes involving technology businesses. He has particular experience in domain-name and registry disputes, having acted in a series of arbitrations concerning the delegation of top-level domains, and his background includes senior positions at the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center.

Arif has acted as arbitrator, counsel and adviser in banking and finance disputes, including matters concerning private equity and fund management, mergers and acquisitions, post-acquisition adjustments, and project and structured finance. He has advised financial institutions in investment treaty proceedings and is co-author of leading works on international investment protection for the banking and finance sector.

As Arbitrator (Selection)

Arif is sought out as an arbitrator for the breadth of his industry and jurisdictional experience, his knowledge of civil, common and Shari’a law, his detail-oriented case preparation, his multicultural awareness, and his use of procedural tools to promote the efficient resolution of disputes.

• Presiding Arbitrator, ad hoc arbitration under Saudi Arabian law between European and Saudi parties relating to a pipeline construction project. (Construction)
• Presiding Arbitrator, Singapore-seated SIAC arbitration under Saudi Arabian law between Saudi Arabian parties relating to various mega-project construction contracts. (Construction)
• Presiding Arbitrator, São Paulo-seated ICC arbitration under Brazilian law relating to the design and construction of a gas pipeline. (Oil & Gas; Construction)
• Presiding Arbitrator, London-seated ICC arbitration under New York law relating to a distributorship agreement for agricultural equipment. (Agriculture)
• Party-Appointed Arbitrator, Singapore-seated SIAC arbitration under Bangladeshi law between Japanese and Bangladeshi parties arising out of a joint venture agreement relating to bridge construction projects. (Construction)
• Party Appointed Arbitrator, São Paulo-seated ICC arbitration under New York law between Brazilian and American parties relating to a suite of contracts. (Construction; Power)
• Party-Appointed Arbitrator, New York-seated ICC arbitration under New York law between a Middle Eastern and American party relating to a raw minerals offtake contract. (Mining)
• Party-Appointed Arbitrator, New York-seated ICDR arbitration under New York law between Colombian and Costa Rican parties arising out of contracts relating to a telecommunications towers program. (Telecommunications)
• Party-Appointed Arbitrator, Singapore-seated SIAC arbitration under English law between Mongolian and Russian state-owned parties relating to a Share Purchase Agreement. (Mining)
• Party-Appointed Arbitrator, Madrid-seated LCIA arbitration under New York law between Spanish and Irish parties relating to LNG shipments. Languages: English and Spanish. (Oil & Gas)
• Party-Appointed Arbitrator, New York-seated ICC arbitration under New York law between Singaporean and Brazilian parties concerning the consequences of changes in Brazilian tax legislation. (Construction; Oil & Gas)
• Party-Appointed Arbitrator, New York-seated ICC arbitration under New York law between Dutch, Singaporean, and Brazilian parties relating to a project in Brazil. (Energy; Construction)
• Party-Appointed Arbitrator, New York-seated ICC arbitration under Argentine and New York law between Argentine and Brazilian parties involving claims of fraud and breach of contract arising out of a multi-million dollar acquisition. (Chemicals)
• Party-Appointed Arbitrator, Washington, D.C.-seated ICDR arbitration under D.C. and federal contracting law between U.S. and Nigerian parties relating to the performance of a supply contract. (Government Contracting; Pharmaceuticals)
• Party-Appointed Arbitrator, New York-seated ICDR arbitration under English law relating to intellectual property and contractual issues in the energy sector. (Energy; Oil & Gas)
• Party-Appointed Arbitrator, Geneva-seated ICC arbitration between Bangladeshi and Spanish parties under Bangladeshi law relating to a telecommunications towers construction project. (Energy; Construction)
• Party-Appointed Arbitrator, Cairo-seated ICC arbitration under Saudi Arabian law relating to an airport construction project in Saudi Arabia. (Construction)
• Party-Appointed Arbitrator, Erich Utsch Aktiengesellschaft and others v. Arab Republic of Egypt, ICSID Case No. ARB/13/37. (Transportation; Logistics)
• Party-Appointed Arbitrator, in an arbitration between an Egyptian party and a Middle Eastern State under the OIC Investment Agreement. (Real Estate; Tourism)
• Party-Appointed Arbitrator, Dubai-seated ICC arbitration under Qatari law relating to the construction of an oil platform. (Oil & Gas; Construction)
• Party-Appointed Arbitrator, New York-seated ICC arbitration under New York law relating to the design and commissioning of gas turbines for a combined-cycle power plant. (Energy; Oil & Gas; Construction)
• Party-Appointed Arbitrator, Washington, D.C.-seated ICDR arbitration under Texas law relating to a refinery construction project in Guatemala. (Energy; Oil & Gas; Construction)
• Sole Arbitrator, California-seated ICC arbitration under New York and California law between U.S. and Turkish parties relating to a distributorship agreement. (Defense)         
• Sole Arbitrator, San Francisco-seated ICDR arbitration under Delaware law relating to the dissolution of a general partnership. (Information Technology; Private Equity)
• Sole Arbitrator, Dubai-seated DIAC arbitration under UAE law relating to a real estate project. (Real Estate; Construction)

As Counsel (Selection):

The following are representative matters in which Arif served as lead counsel, provided as background context demonstrating the depth and complexity of his dispute resolution experience.

Investor-State

• A Middle Eastern financial institution in a dispute with an Arabian Gulf State under the OIC Investment Agreement.
• A Hungarian private equity investor in SCC arbitration proceedings against the Kingdom of Spain under the Energy Charter Treaty.
• A Hungarian oil and gas company in a dispute with the Republic of Croatia under the Energy Charter Treaty. MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas Public Limited Company v. Republic of Croatia, ICSID Case No. ARB/24/19.
• A Singaporean mining company in a dispute with the People’s Republic of China under the Singapore–China BIT. AsiaPhos Limited and Norwest Chemicals Pte Ltd v. People’s Republic of China, ICSID Case No. ADM/21/1.
• A Kuwaiti telecommunications company in a dispute with the Democratic Republic of Congo under the DRC foreign investment law. AAN Digital Services Holding Company (Kuwait) v. The Democratic Republic of Congo, ICSID Case No. ARB/19/24.
• The State in Chevron Overseas Finance GmbH v. The Republic of the Philippines, PCA Case No. 2019-25, under the Philippines–Switzerland BIT.
• A Hungarian oil and gas company in PCA Case No. 2014-15, an UNCITRAL arbitration brought by the Republic of Croatia to terminate shareholder and gas master agreements based on allegations of corruption.
• The State in WNC Factoring Limited v. The Czech Republic, PCA Case No. 2014-34-UNCITRAL, under the UK–Czech and Slovak Federal Republic BIT.
• The State in EDF International v. Hungary, PCA Case No. 2009-13, under the Energy Charter Treaty.
• A consortium of oil and gas companies in Pluspetrol Perú Corporation and others v. Perupetro S.A., ICSID Case No. ARB/12/28. Language: Spanish.
• The investor in annulment proceedings in Duke Energy International Peru Investments No. 1 Ltd v. The Republic of Peru, ICSID Case No. ARB/03/28.
• A U.S. energy company in Duke Energy International Peru Investments No. 1 Ltd v. The Republic of Peru, ICSID Case No. ARB/03/28, concerning breach of legal stabilization investment agreements.
• A U.S. energy company in Duke Energy Electroquil Partners and Electroquil S.A. v. The Republic of Ecuador, ICSID Case No. ARB/04/19, under the US–Ecuador BIT.
• A U.S. mining company in Pac Rim Cayman LLC v. Republic of El Salvador, ICSID Case No. ARB/09/12, under CAFTA-DR and El Salvador’s foreign investment law.
• A U.S. mining company in Adel A Hamadi Al Tamimi v. Sultanate of Oman, ICSID Case No. ARB/11/33, under the US–Oman Free Trade Agreement.
• A U.S. hospitality company in H&H Enterprises Investment Inc. v. Arab Republic of Egypt, ICSID Case No. ARB/09/15, under the US–Egypt BIT.

Commercial/Construction

• Geneva-seated UNCITRAL arbitration under Croatian law relating to royalties under a gas master agreement.
• London-seated LCIA arbitration under Mauritian law relating to the termination of a private equity fund management agreement.
• Islamabad-seated arbitration under Pakistani law regarding a technology licensing agreement.
• Paris-seated ICC arbitration under English law relating to a mining concession in Guinea.
• New York-seated JAMS arbitration under New York law relating to a post-acquisition price adjustment clause.
• Paris-seated ICC arbitration under Brazilian law arising out of a power purchase agreement.
• Zurich-seated ICC arbitration under Greek law relating to the refurbishment of a refinery, arising under an EPCM contract.
• Washington, D.C.-seated ICC arbitration under New York law arising out of a hotel management agreement.
• Paris-seated ICC arbitration under Lebanese and Maryland laws arising out of a hotel management agreement.
• London-seated ICC arbitration under UAE law arising out of a hotel management agreement.
• Houston-seated ICC arbitration under Texas law relating to the construction and commissioning of a gas processing facility.
• Montevideo-seated ICC arbitration under Uruguayan law relating to the construction of a gas pipeline.
• Dublin-seated ICDR arbitration under Irish law arising out of a hotel management agreement.
• Miami-seated ICDR arbitration under Guatemalan law arising out of a power purchase agreement.
• New York-seated UNCITRAL arbitration under lex mercatoria relating to a procurement debarment dispute.
• London-seated LCIA arbitration under Chinese law arising out of the breach of a steel supply contract.
• Singapore-seated SIAC arbitration under Indian law relating to the termination of a licensing agreement.
• Dubai-seated DIAC arbitration under UAE law relating to a shareholder dispute.
• Series of ICDR and ICC arbitrations against ICANN relating to top-level domain disputes, including on behalf of Amazon.com, Afilias plc, Altanovo Domains, DotConnect Africa, Dot Registry LLC, Employ Media LLC, and ICM Registry.

• AHALI Dispute Resolution LLC, Washington, D.C. & London, Independent Arbitrator and Mediator (2025 – Present).
• Dechert LLP, Washington, D.C., Head of International Arbitration and Public International Law Practice (2015 – 2024).
• Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, Washington, D.C., Head of International Arbitration and Public International Law Practice (2012 – 2015).
• Crowell & Moring LLP, Washington, D.C., Head of International Arbitration and Public International Law Practice (2005 – 2012).
• Fulbright & Jaworski LLP, Houston & Washington, D.C., Partner / Counsel, International Arbitration Practice (2001 – 2005).
• World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Arbitration and Mediation Center, Geneva, Senior Counsel (2000 – 2001).
• Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Associate, International Arbitration Group (1996 – 2000).
• United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC), Legal Officer and Section Chief (1993 – 1996)
• Private Practice, Washington, D.C., Associate (1990 – 1993).

Academic

• Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science (Summa cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa), Columbia College, Columbia University (1986).
• Juris Doctor degree, New York University School of Law (1990).

Professional Positions

• Advisory Board, International Federation for Investment Law and Arbitration (IFILA)
• Committee for International Tax Law, International Law Association (ILA)
• Task Force on Addressing Issues of Corruption in International Arbitration, ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR
• Executive Council, American Society of International Law (ASIL)

Bar Admissions

Arif is admitted to the bar in the District of Columbia and New York. He is a Registered Foreign Lawyer of England and Wales.

Books

• International Investment Law Protections in Global Banking and Finance – Empirical Study (2025, British Institute of International and Comparative Law), co-author.
• International Investment Protection for Global Banking and Finance: Legal Principles and Arbitral Practice (2021, WoltersKluwer, 591 pages), co-author.
• The International Arbitration Rulebook: A Guide to Arbitral Regimes (2019, WoltersKluwer, 580 pages), co-author.
• Inversiones Españolas en el Extranjero: Mecanismos de Protección (2017, Thomson Reuters Aranzadi, 140 pages), co-author.
• A Liber Amicorum: Thomas Waelde: Law Beyond Conventional Thought (2009, Cameron May), co-editor.

Articles: Investor-State Arbitration and Public International Law

• The Interaction Between Administrative Courts and Investment Tribunals in Egypt (2024 Arab Law Quarterly, 1-24)
• Mining Arbitration in Latin America: Social and Environmental Issues in Investment Arbitration Cases in The Guide to Mining Arbitration (2019, Global Arbitration Review)
• The Arbitration of Corruption Allegations (2018, The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Investor State Arbitration)
• Adverse Inferences: A Proposed Methodology in the Light of Investment Arbitrations Involving Middle Eastern States (2017, Journal of the Bahrain Centre for Dispute Resolution)
• The Energy Charter Treaty and Related Jurisprudence (2015, The Leading Practitioners’ Guide to International Oil & Gas Arbitrations, Gaitis, J., ed.)
• Principles of Valuation Taken from the UNCC Perspective (2015, War Reparations and the UN Compensation Commission – Designing Compensation After Conflict, Feighery, T., Gibson, C. and Rajah, T., eds)
• Improving the Process and Institutions of Investment Arbitration: A Modest Contribution to a Complicated Debate (2014, Essays in Honor of Kamal Hossain, Bhuiyan, S., Sands P., and Schrijver, N., eds.)
• In the Eye of the Storm: Spain’s Nexus to Investment Disputes (2013, Spain Arbitration Review – Revista del Club de Arbitraje, No.18/2013)
• Duke Energy International Peru Investments No. 1 Ltd. v. República del Perú – (2011, Anuario Latinoamericano de Arbitraje 3, Carlos A. Soto Coaguilia ed.)
• 10 Golden Rules for U.S. Investors to Follow in Dispute Resolution Negotiations with a Foreign State or State Entity – (2010, AAA Handbook on International Arbitration and ADR, American Arbitration Association)
• The Effect of BITs on the International Body of Investment Law: The Significance of Fair and Equitable Treatment Provisions – (2009, The Future of Investment Arbitration)
• Breves Notas sobre el Arbitraje de Inversión – (2009, Revista Peruana de Arbitraje, Vol. 9, P. 3)
• ICSID Arbitration in the Americas – (November 2007, The Arbitration Review of the Americas 2008, a Special Report of Global Arbitration Review)
• Peru’s Foreign Investment Framework Put to the Test: A Review of the Jurisdictional Award in Duke Energy International Peru Investments No. 1 Ltd. v. The Republic of Peru – (2007, Homenaje a Fernando de Trazegnies)
• The New Argentine Hydrocarbons Law: A Protected Bay for Energy Investors – (June 2007, Latin Lawyer)
• Is Arbitration Unfair to Parties from Developing Countries: A Study Proposal – (May 2007, ABA International Law Section Annual Meeting)

Articles: Commercial Arbitration

• “Corruption Allegations and the Evolution of International Arbitral Procedures,” in The Law and Practice of International Arbitration: Essays in Honor of John Fellas, JurisNet, 2026
• The International Arbitration Comparative Country Guide, USA Chapter (2018, Legal 500)
• Gas Pricing Disputes: Final and Binding Uncertainty (2015, Contemporary Issues in International Arbitration and Mediation, The Fordham Papers 2013)
• La responsabilidad civil de los árbitros y las instituciones arbitrales (2013, Arbitraje Internacional – Pasado, Presente y Futuro: Libro Homenaje a Bernardo Cremades e Yves Derains, Tomo. 1, Instituto Peruano de Arbitraje)
• Case Commentary, ICDR Case No. 236-04 – Part 2B – (2012, ICDR Awards and Commentaries, Grant Hanessian ed., Vol. 1)
• Directrices Prácticas Para la Redacción del Acuerdo Arbitral – (March 2011, Tratado de Derecho Arbitral)
• U.S. Judicial Policies in Arbitration – (2008, Legal Business Arbitration Report
• Shari’a Law Approaches to Arbitration – (2010, International Commercial Arbitration in Practice: 21st Century Perspectives)
• Anti-Suit Injunctions in Support of International Arbitration in the United States and the United Kingdom – (2008, International Arbitration Law Review)
• Project Management - Milestones on the Road to Commercial Operation – (November 2007, Power Magazine)
• Resolving Disputes in Cross-Border Commercial Transactions – (June 2007, Inside the Minds: Best Practices for International ADR)
• A Cross-Comparison of Institutional Mediation Rules – (February 2007, Transnational Dispute Management)
• Best Practices Series No. 7: Best Practices in Drafting International Arbitration Clauses – (2003, UNITAR: Training and Building Programmes in Legal Aspects, Financial Management and Negotiations)
• Considerations in Negotiating Arbitration Clauses with Certain Arab League States and Iran (2002, Rocky Mountain Law Institute, 10-1)
• Risk Management in International Commercial Transactions: Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution – (April 2003, International Quarterly)
• A Cross-Comparison of Institutional Mediation Rules – (July 2002, American Arbitration Association Dispute Resolution Journal)
• Disputas en Materia de Tecnologias de Informacion y Comunicaciones: Arbitraje y Mediacion Como Alternativas a los Litigios Judiciales – (November 2001, Derecho de la Alta Tecnologia)
• From COPEL to CEEE – International Arbitrators and Brazilian Courts Agree on the Capacity of Brazilian Mixed Capital Companies to Arbitrate – (Winter 2007, News and Notes, Institute for Transnational Arbitration)
• Managing Legal Risk in an Uncertain World – (November 27, 2001, LA Daily Journal)

Speeches

Over the course of the past 30 plus years, Arif has delivered more than 200 lectures and speeches around the world on a wide range of topics, including substantive, procedural and evidentiary issues in international commercial and investment arbitration; dispute avoidance and risk management; dispute resolution in the energy, power and extractive industries; evidence before international courts and tribunals; arbitration-related developments in various jurisdictions and regions; international reparations and claims tribunals and procedures; enforcement of arbitral awards and court judgments; EU law and arbitration; cultural psychology and the art of persuasion before international courts and tribunals; the foundations and contours of State responsibility; globalization and the law of international economic development; the Rule of Law and global world order.

• 2025–present: Visiting Professor of Law, IE University, Madrid — teaches International Dispute Resolution and the Law of Economic Development and Investor-State Dispute Resolution.
• 2004–2009: Honorary Lecturer, University of Dundee’s Centre for Energy, Mining and Petroleum Law and Policy — courses on dispute resolution in the oil, gas, and energy industries.
• 2003–2007: Adjunct Faculty, Georgetown University Law Center — taught international commercial arbitration.

For over twenty years, Arif has been recognised and ranked in all of the leading professional directories, including Legal 500, Chambers and Partners (USA, Global and Latin America), Global Arbitration Review, Who's Who in American Law, Who's Who in Public International Law, The Legal Media Group's Guide to the World's Experts in Commercial Arbitration, Lawdragon, PLC Which Lawyer, The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers, Washington Super Lawyers, and The International Who's Who of Commercial Arbitration Lawyers.

Among many recognitions and awards, Arif is a recipient of: 

• The Order of Bahrain (II) — awarded for his role in Bahrain’s representation before the International Court of Justice in Bahrain’s maritime and territorial boundary dispute with Qatar.
• The Financial Times’ Most Innovative Legal Practitioner (North America) Award — awarded for achieving a string of successful client outcomes in high-value complex international arbitrations.
• Law 360’s MVP Award — awarded to a select group of lawyers who have distinguished themselves by securing hard-earned successes in high-stakes disputes and complex global matters.
• BTI’s Client Service All Star Award — recognizing lawyers singled out by corporate counsel for delivering exceptional client service, based solely on unprompted client feedback.
• The Minority Corporate Counsel Association’s Rainmaker Award — awarded to those who have achieved sustained success through innovation, and demonstrated a deep commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and an extraordinary commitment to their community.