Assad is an Associate in the Dispute Resolution Department. Assad brings with himself a unique blend of international experience and local understanding to every matter and has worked on many complex cross-border disputes through years of international law firm experience in both the UK and the UAE.

His practice encompasses major arbitral institutions (ICC, DIAC, BCDR) and complex commercial litigation. With a strategic focus on aligning dispute resolution strategies with clients' business objectives. Assad provides practical solutions across a range of high-stakes matters, including hotel management disputes, distribution agreements and cross-border litigation.

A Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb) and a published author in international arbitration, he brings expertise in managing multi-jurisdictional disputes, investor-state arbitrations, and complex commercial matters across the MENA region. Assad is fluent in Arabic, English, Russian and French.

• Successfully defended the a Middle Eastern sovereign in a USD 424 million arbitration under a multilateral trade treaty to achieve a victory and avoid significant financial liability.
• Advised a Bahraini hotel operator on the termination of a management agreement, managing mediation, and preparing for potential arbitration under BCDR Rules.
• Provided strategic advice on a USD 9 million dispute, including termination rights, UAE/DIFC law implications, and a structured settlement approach.
• Currently representing a senior insolvency practitioner in criminal proceedings before Dubai Courts concerning the alleged interference with judicial enforcement proceedings. Matter involves complex cross-border elements regarding a Guernsey company's UAE operations and the scope of liquidator duties. Successfully challenged initial conviction through strategic defense focusing on jurisdictional issues and procedural irregularities. Coordinating comprehensive regulatory strategy across multiple jurisdictions including UAE, UK, and Channel Islands, managing parallel proceedings before professional bodies and regulatory authorities.
• Acting for a creditor in respect of enforcement proceedings through the Dubai Courts system, involving comprehensive asset tracing across multiple jurisdictions. The case has progressed significantly, with the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Court issuing a judgment to annul transactions designed to hide and transfer the judgment debtors' assets. The enforcement of this judgment has achieved international recognition, notably in Singapore among other jurisdictions.
• Representing a multinational healthcare management company in complex commercial litigation proceedings before Dubai Courts, with a claim value exceeding AED 2.1 billion. The case involves intricate management agreement disputes, financial audit challenges, and restructuring proceedings across multiple Emirates. The matter involves navigating between parallel proceedings in Abu Dhabi Bankruptcy Court and Dubai Commercial Court, particularly focusing on the interplay between UAE Civil Law and restructuring regulations. The matter includes critical analysis of corporate governance issues, financial management disputes, and the interpretation of management agreements within the context of UAE healthcare regulations.