Humayun is a Partner within the dispute resolution department specialising in contentious Engineering & Construction matters. He is an experienced arbitration practitioner with 20 years’ experience of advising developers, funders, main contractors (sole and JV), subcontractors (sole and JV), employers (private and government-related), engineers and architects on bringing and defending complex and high-value claims relating to issues such as time, cost and quality, extensions of time, loss and expense, variations, payment and final account claims.

Specifically, Humayun has represented clients in arbitrations seated in various jurisdictions including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. These have been governed by prominent institutional rules, including those of DIAC, SCCA, LCIA, ICC as well as ad hoc and UNCITRAL Rules. Such disputes have been resolved under a variety of national laws. Humayun also advises construction clients during the execution of their projects. Working in a Project Counsel role, Humayun advises on contractual entitlements and advises on correspondence, notices, variation and claim submissions brought during the life cycle of the project. He has worked on a variety of projects across the Middle East including building, construction, engineering, rail, infrastructure, healthcare, mining and oil and gas projects.

Humayun has considerable expertise in the Gulf region, having moved here in 2008. He initially spent three years in Saudi Arabia and was one of the first Western-qualified arbitration specialists to be permanently based there. Thereafter, Humayun worked for four years in Oman and has been subsequently based in the UAE since 2016. He has previously been recognised in the legal directories as "...a first-rate, high class lawyer who provides excellent legal and commercial advice" and as a "senior lawyer who is very approachable and does not seek to over-complicate his advice" in relation to construction, oil and gas, energy and general commercial disputes.

Admissions

• Solicitor, England & Wales

• Acted for an Abu Dhabi based contractor in an ad hoc arbitration, against a developer in relation to a multi-million dirham claim emanating out of a terminated infrastructure project. Issues in dispute related to extension of time claims, prolongation, variation claims and liquidated damages.
• Acted for an international joint venture contractor in an ICC arbitration and a DIFC-LCIA arbitration in relation to upstream and downstream disputes emanating out of a project in Abu Dhabi. Claims were in excess of USD 500 million with proceedings in adjudication, arbitration as well as work involving the onshore and offshore courts.
• Acted for a Dubai based contractor in a DIAC arbitration, seated in Dubai, against a developer concerning an AED 105 million claim arising out of a UAE based infrastructure project. Issues in dispute related to the illegality of a termination under local law, delay and disruption claims as well as final account issues.
• Acted for a Dubai based Contractor in a DIAC arbitration in relation to a final account claim totaling AED 32 million against a UAE entity on a confidential construction project.
• Acted for a regional subcontractor in a DIFC-LCIA arbitration seated in Dubai against the local branch of an international contractor concerning cladding and façade works to an iconic and award winning mixed use building. Sums in dispute totalled approximately AED 80 million and issues included claims for extensions of time and associated costs, value of work done, variations and dissolution of a subcontract under UAE Law.
• Acted for a regional subcontractor against a Japanese contractor in an ICC arbitration in relation to claims arising out of the civil and buildings works on a regional power project. Issues included claims of variation, retention monies, changes to scope of works, delay and disruption.
• Acted for a contractor in an ad hoc arbitration against a government entity in relation to amounts owed (circa AED 170 million) by way of differences in rates applicable for road reinstatement works and in relation to numerous unapproved variations.
• Acted for a UAE developer of a multi-villa project in Dubai in its disputes with main contractor as well as upstream arrangements with the master developer and downstream DIAC arbitrations with project purchasers. Issues in dispute included delays, non-completion of works, force majeure and termination.
• Acted for an international contractor in an ICC arbitration relating to an LNG project in the Middle East with multi-million dollar claims. Issues in dispute included delay and prolongation, disruption and variations.
• Acted for a Kuwaiti based developer against a UAE contractor in an ICC arbitration, seated in the ADGM, in relation to a dispute concerning termination and final account calculation. Issues in dispute included valuation, legality of termination, delay and prolongation.