Mira Khayyat

Mira is an Associate in the Dispute Resolution team in Abu Dhabi. She advises local and international clients on a broad range of civil and commercial disputes, including contractual, construction, real estate, shareholder, maritime and shipping matters. Her experience also includes bankruptcy, financial crime proceedings, employment disputes and enforcement.

Her work covers contentious matters and written legal advice on contractual rights and obligations, payment claims, termination, liability and recovery. She prepares pleadings and court and expert submissions, advises on litigation strategy and settlement, and has experience with the recognition and enforcement of foreign court judgments and arbitral awards in the UAE.

Her maritime and shipping work covers both litigation and advisory matters relating to vessel arrest and release, yacht ownership and management, cargo and bunker claims, shipbuilding contracts and payment disputes arising from international trade.

Admissions

• Palestinian Bar Association

• Advised an engineering consultancy on potential claims arising from an infrastructure project, including alleged design breaches, delay and contractual defences.
• Acted for a private client in yacht ownership and management disputes, including claims for repayment of purchase funds and unpaid charter income.
• Acted for industrial companies in marine cargo loss litigation involving insurers and marine surveyors, including expert evidence and appeal and cassation proceedings.
• Acted for shipowners and marine fuel suppliers in vessel arrest and release proceedings arising from bunker claims, including advice on security and enforcement.
• Acted for a shipping company in proceedings concerning funds paid through an intermediary for two voyages, including submissions to a court-appointed expert committee.
• Advised on the diversion and detention of containerised cargo and assisted a shipbuilder in a dispute over outstanding milestone payments under a shipbuilding contract.
• Prepared legal advice on the recognition and enforcement in the UAE of an LMAA arbitral award arising from a time charterparty.
• Acted for a corporate client in a real estate brokerage dispute concerning entitlement to commission and advised on a shareholder exit including share transfer requirements and disputed entitlements.
• Acted for a company in bankruptcy proceedings involving creditor claims and intercompany balances and assisted with related criminal proceedings concerning alleged unauthorised corporate payments.
• Acted for an energy sector company in defending employment claims and related appeal proceedings concerning end-of-service entitlements and alleged employer liability.