Arbitrator
Nationality: British
Languages: English, French (working knowledge)
Alec Emmerson is a pedigree independent arbitrator with a wealth of experience in the UK, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Since 2008, Alec has sat in more than 270 arbitrations as co-arbitrator, chair or sole arbitrator under ADCCAC, arbitrate AD, DIAC, DIFC-LCIA, EMAC, GCCAC, ICC, LCIA, LMAA, SCCA and SIAC rules as well as in UNCITRAL and other ad hoc arbitrations. The disputes have been subject to a wide range of substantive and procedural laws across many business sectors involving shipping and shipbuilding, insurance, international trade, energy, commercial contracts, agency & distributorships, hospitality and leisure, joint ventures, investments, real estate, telecommunications and infrastructure.
Prior to this, Alec was a leading partner at an international law firm with one of the largest arbitration practices globally, where he practised for 40 years. Alec spent time as an associate and then partner in England for 7 years, managing partner in Asia, based in Hong Kong, for more than 12 years, international partner with strategic responsibility for the firm’s offices outside the UK for 3 1/2 years (based in London) and finally a partner and consultant for 18 years based in Dubai, where he moved to develop the firm’s MENA disputes practice. He was also a member of the firm’s global arbitration executive committee from its formation until the end of 2017.
Alec is a national of the United Kingdom but is based in Dubai. He is qualified as both an English and Hong Kong solicitor and also has many years of experience advising on and arbitrating disputes subject to civil laws in Asia and the Middle East. He was a trustee and chief executive of DIFC Arbitration Institute from November 2015 to 20 September 2021. He was a member of the LCIA Court from 2015-2020. In 2017 he became vice chairman of the ICC – UAE Commission on Arbitration and ADR and continues as a member of the Commission until 2024. Alec is a member of the SCCA Global Advisory Committee since 2019 (formerly the Rules Advisory Committee) and the SCCA Court since 2022. He takes a commercial approach to arbitration and mediation.
Appointments over the last few years include:
Co-Arbitrator in an LCIA arbitration seated in Singapore relating to the construction of a terminal and pipeline. English law.
Sole Arbitrator in a DIFC-LCIA arbitration in Muscat relating to the operation and maintenance of a desalination plant. Omani law.
Sole Arbitrator in a SIAC arbitration in the maritime sector relating to a loan and share sale agreement. Singapore law and seat.
Co-Arbitrator in a consolidated DIFC-LCIA arbitration with a London seat arising out of a shareholders’ agreement and a share purchase agreement for fast food franchised restaurants around the GCC.
Sole Arbitrator in ICC Rules dispute between Iraqi and S. Korean parties in relation to a water supply construction contract in Iraq. Paris seat, English language and Kurdistan law.
Presiding Arbitrator in a DIFC-LCIA arbitration between a UAE subsidiary of a global oil field services supplier and a company based in Saudi Arabia arising out of a representation agreement subject to the laws of Saudi Arabia and with DIFC as the arbitral seat.
Co-arbitrator in an ICC Rules dispute between a multinational main contractor j.v. and a subcontractor in relation to a refinery project in Kuwait.
Co-Arbitrator in ICC Rules Muscat seated arbitration arising from a subcontract dispute in relation to an airport construction project. Omani law.
Chairman in a DIAC Rules construction dispute relating to a major residential villa and facilities development between the employer and main contractor. UAE law and Dubai seat.
Co-Arbitrator in a DIAC Rules shareholder dispute between the seller of shares in a retail group and the purchaser. UAE law and Dubai seat.
Co-Arbitrator in ICC Rules Doha seated arbitration arising from a dispute between two professional firms. Qatari law.
Co-Arbitrator in a Doha seated LMAA arbitration in relation to the detention of a vessel and dispute with the vessel’s agents.
Sole Arbitrator in an LCIA Rules arbitration with a Singapore seat arising out of an English law agency contract between a UAE company and an Australian company in connection with services in Egypt.
Co-arbitrator in an ICC Rules construction sub-contract arbitration arising out of the construction of a hotel and apartments in UAE. Dubai seat and UAE law.
Co-Arbitrator in a Muscat seated ad hoc arbitration arising out of a contract for construction of a grid substation and overhead transmission lines. Omani law and Muscat seat.
Co -Arbitrator in an LCIA arbitration with a DIFC seat relating to a settlement agreement of a shareholder dispute relating to a major Gulf group. English law.
Co-Arbitrator in a Dubai seated ad hoc arbitration in connection with a dispute between members of a professional services firm, subject to UAE law.
Chairman in an LCIA arbitration with a London seat relating to a commodity contract dispute between Swiss & Spanish parties. English law.
Co-arbitrator in an ad hoc arbitration with a Delhi seat subject to Indian procedural law and proper law between service providers in the education sector. Indian law.
Sole Arbitrator in SIAC English law expedited arbitration seated in Singapore arising out of a term sale contract for propane and butane.
Third arbitrator in documents only English law, London seat, ad hoc arbitration (LMAA) arising out of a time charter following the withdrawal of the vessel from hire in a North African Country.
Co-arbitrator in a Dubai seated LCIA arbitration in connection with the financing of certain telecommunications infrastructure in an African Country.
Co-arbitrator in an LMAA arbitration arising from cancellation of the sale & purchase of a tanker. English law, London seat.
Co-arbitrator in an ICC Rules construction sub-contract dispute arising out of the marine works for a desalination plant in the Middle East. UAE law and Dubai seat.
Co-arbitrator in an ADCCAC Rules arbitration in a claim by a hotel developer against the architects. UAE law and Abu Dhabi seat.
Co-arbitrator in an LCIA arbitration arising from alleged breaches of a tanker charterparty. English law and London seat.
Co-arbitrator in a QICCA Rules arbitration in relation to a highway construction subcontract dispute. Qatari law and Doha seat.
Co-arbitrator in an LMAA C/P arbitration as a result of alleged contamination of gas oil. English law and London seat.
Sole Arbitrator appointed by DIFC Courts in an English law DIFC seat ad hoc charterparty dispute for unpaid hire and bunkers.
Co-arbitrator in an ICC Rules arbitration between a main contractor and subcontractor arising out of a railway construction contract. Dubai/UAE law and ADGM seat.
Sole Arbitrator in an Omani ad hoc arbitration between main contractor and a government entity arising out of a long running dispute in previous arbitration and the courts relating to a hotel construction contract. Omani law and Muscat seat.
Co-arbitrator in an ICC arbitration arising out of the salvage of a VLCC and a previous arbitration. Iraqi law and Dubai seat.
Co-arbitrator in an LCIA arbitration between a major global manufacturer and a distributor in the Middle East subject to English Law & London seat.
Emergency Arbitrator appointed by DIAC to determine an emergency application for an anti-suit injunction in a construction dispute. Dubai seat and law.
Sole Arbitrator in SIAC Rules fuel oil sale & purchase dispute between Singapore & UAE companies concerning demurrage/detention. English law and Singapore seat.
Chair in DIAC Rules shipping dispute between a Saudi Arabian and a Hong Kong company involving long term handling, export and transportation to Riyadh. Dubai seat, English language and HK law.
Chairman of the Tribunal in a subcontract construction case in relation to audio visual and other packages for a luxury hotel. DIAC Rules, Dubai seat and UAE and Dubai law.
Sole arbitrator in a construction subcontract dispute relating to a library project in Qatar. QICCA Rules, Doha seat and Qatari law.
Chairman of the Tribunal in a subcontract construction case relating to certain substructure works on a Dubai project. DIAC Rules, Dubai seat and Dubai law.
Co-arbitrator in DIAC Rules dispute relating to the construction of a hotel between the Employer in a ME state and the main contractor in UAE with claim & counterclaim of around AED900m. Dubai seat & UAE/Dubai law.
Co-arbitrator in a DIAC Rules commodity dispute relating to gas oil, naptha and gasoline product contracts with claim in excess of USD 90m. Dubai seat and English law.
Co-arbitrator in a related DIAC Rules commodity dispute for about USD142 million. Dubai seat and English law.
Co-arbitrator in an SCCA Rules dispute relating to an asset sale and purchase contract in the fast-food sector (SAR 30million). Riyadh seat and Saudi law.
Co-arbitrator in an LCIA Rules dispute arising from a Settlement Agreement in a complex shareholder dispute involving household names in the Middles East and Australia. DIFC seat and English law.
Chairman of the Tribunal in a DIAC Arbitration between a global financial services provider and a Russian company arising out of a marketing agreement and its termination. DIFC seat. English Law.
Co-arbitrator in an ICC Rules railway construction subcontract arbitration between a UAE subcontractor and an unincorporated international joint venture contractor. Dubai seat. UAE law.
Sole Arbitrator in LMAA SCP charterparty claim for hire. English law. London seat.
Sole Arbitrator in a DIAC Rules shipping dispute concerning Owner’s claims for charter hire for five vessels and charterers counterclaims. UAE law. DIFC seat.
Chair of a DIAC Rules construction dispute between an Employer/hotel owner and Contractor. UAE law. DIFC seat. Urgent/emergency interim relief applications. (dealt with by the Tribunal as it had just been constituted at the date of the application)
Sole Arbitrator in an arbitrateAD arbitration of a subcontract construction dispute. UAE law and ADGM seat.
Co-arbitrator in an LMAA charterparty dispute (‘X’). London seat and English Law.
Chair in a related LMAA charterparty dispute involving same vessel & same tribunal members as ‘X’. London seat and English law.
Co-arbitrator in a DIAC arbitration relating to a settlement agreement arising from a real estate and development contract. Dubai/UAE law and Dubai seat.
Co-arbitrator in an ICC Rules arbitration concerning an insurance portfolio transfer dispute. DIFC law & seat.
As Mediator
Alec advised regularly on several mediations a year for many years as party counsel. He usually sits several times a year as a mediator covering a wide range of sectors including shipping & shipbuilding, I.T., hospitality, real estate, construction, insurance, healthcare, and employment disputes.
B.A. HONS (OXON)
Solicitor England & Wales (now non-practising)
Solicitor Hong Kong (now non-practising)
Professional Memberships
FELLOW Ciarb
ACCREDITED CEDR MEDIATOR
MEMBER LCIA
FOUNDER MEMBER OF IPBA
MEMBER OF SOCIETY OF CONSTRUCTION LAWYERS
LMAA SUPPORTING MEMBER
FREEMAN OF THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF ARBITRATORS
MEMBER DIFC COURT USERS' COMMITTEE (2006 - FEB 2011 And 2014 To 2016)
CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND TRUSTEE- DIFC ARBITRATION INSTITUTE (November 2015 To 20 September 2021)
MEMBER OF LCIA COURT (From June 2015 To June 2020)
VICE CHAIRMAN – ICC-UAE COMMISSION ON ARBITRATION & ADR (2016 To 2019) AND COMMITTEE MEMBER (2016-2023)
MEMBER OF SAUDI CENTER FOR COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION RULES ADVISORY COMMITTEE (Now SCCA GLOBAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE) (2019 Onwards) & SAUDI CENTER FOR COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION COURT (SCCA COURT) (Nov 2022 - Onwards)
Arbitra Panels
AAA-ICDR
ADCCAC
ADGM Arbitrators Panel
ArbitrateAD
AIAC (formerly known as KLRCA) (& certified adjudicator)
ARIAS - ASIA
BCDR-AAA
CMAC
CRCICA
DIAC
EMAC
HKIAC
KCAB
SCCA
SIAC (INC. EMERGENCY PANEL)
SICAC (Takheem)
SCIA
Also appointed under ICC,GCCAC, LCIA, LMAA & DIFC-LCIA Rules
EMIRATES RACING AUTHORITY APPEAL PANEL (2015-2018 & 2020-2025)
Authored many articles for trade publications and client updates. Has appeared on business radio and T.V. programmes as an arbitration and regional legal expert. Speaks at many international trade, legal and arbitration conferences on diverse topics.
Author of Lexis Nexis Users' Guide to ADCCAC Rules 2014 and DIFC-LCIA Arbitration Centre Rules 2016 & 2021.
Listed as a leading individual for arbitration from 2009 to date by GAR/WWL (now Lexology Index). Recognised as Arbitration Elite Thought Leader. Chambers Global have described Alec as "disputes czar…". Legal 500 described him as "incredibly knowledgeable"; Newton Arbitration as “the dean of arbitration”.
He was also recognised in Who's Who Legal for mediation, transport and insurance/reinsurance and as a highly recommended individual for the UAE in PLC Which Lawyer in the field of Dispute Resolution. He features on the GAR Arbitrator Research Tool ("ART") and is platinum ranked on the Newton Arbitration platform.
He also features in Chambers 2021 to 2025 Directories as one of the most in demand UAE arbitrators (ranked for 20 years) and in the Legal 500 2022 & 2023 Middle East Arbitration Powerlist.