专业法律服务

Head, International Practice & Special Projects
Dubai Office

Eric is the Head of International Practice in United Advocates headquartered in Dubai. Prior to setting up his practice with United Advocates, he was a Partner with an international law firm based in Dubai.

Eric specialises in matters concerning the construction, real estate, infrastructure and energy sectors.  He was a project engineer in the construction industry before qualifying as a lawyer and has since practised law with top tier regional and international law firms in Dubai, Australia and Malaysia.  He is presently engaged by several companies from the GCC and Far East regions including several foreign law firms to provide specialist legal and strategic advice.

In the GCC region, Eric advises various stakeholders such as employers, financiers, consultants, main contractors, subcontractors and suppliers in the construction, real estate, infrastructure and energy sectors.  He has hands on experience in managing operational issues, contracts and disputes in these sectors.  In legal proceedings, Eric has advised on several complex and high value construction disputes in the UAE courts and under the DIAC, ADCCAC, ICC and DIFC-LCIA rules of arbitration.

Eric regularly work with experts in the fields of engineering, quantity surveying and forensic delay analysis, and has instructed various senior legal counsels and advocates from the Middle East and Western jurisdictions.  He has also acted as an adjudicator and sole arbitrator in several construction and real estate related disputes.

In the independent Legal 500 EMEA directories, Eric’s expertise has been acknowledged in the practice areas of construction, real estate and dispute resolution.  In 2012, the directory reported that Eric impresses with his ‘in-depth knowledge and high level of competency combined with his prompt care, personal touch and attention to complex legal issues’ and in 2014 it was reported he is ‘particularly well versed in construction contracts‘ and ‘sensitive and proactive in responding to clients’ needs‘.

In 2017, Eric won the International Law Office (ILO) and Lexology Client Choice Award for the construction practice category in the UAE.

Professional qualifications

•Arbitrator and adjudicator appointed by the Dubai International Arbitration Center
•Lawyer of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and Western Australia, Australia
•Advocate & Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya, Malaysia
•Bachelor of Laws (Hons.), University of London
•Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Hons.), University of Malaya

 Advisory and risk management experience

•Providing commercial and legal advice to several foreign investors in relation to the setting up and operation of businesses relating to real estate development and construction & engineering contracting. Recent matters include:

• -assisting several foreign and public entities in the setting up of their businesses in the GCC region.

• -advising several Far East investment groups involving major residential and mixed-use real estate projects in Dubai.

• -advising Chinese State-Owned companies on UAE laws in relation to a potential IPP Project and a Design & Build building project.

• -advising a UK based real estate developer on a potential real estate project in Dubai.

•Advising clients in the negotiations of contracts and settlement of claims on various projects for example, a LNG process plant (Qatar), a major rail project (Saudi), a manufacturing plant (Saudi), an oil storage terminal facility (Fujairah), an oil & gas works project (Abu Dhabi) and various residential, commercial and mixed use development projects in the UAE.

•External legal advisor to the developer of a 5-star hotel project in Dubai featuring 352 hotel rooms and 128 executive apartments.

•External legal advisor to the main contractor of a government housing project in Abu Dhabi (construction value exceeds USD220million).

•External legal advisor to an EPC contractor in relation to several process plant projects in the GCC region.

•External legal advisor to a Chinese state owned EPC company specialising in power generation and distribution projects.

•External legal advisor to several Far East public listed construction companies.

•External legal advisor to a local MEP contractor in relation to an over USD50million worth of subcontract works package on a major real estate development project in Dubai.

•Providing contract review and risk analysis services to project owners and contractors in relation to various forms of construction and engineering contracts, consultancy services agreements, material and equipment supply agreements.

•Introduced pre and post contract risk management plans and strategies covering tendering, procurement, contracts administration and claims management activities.

•Conducted trainings and onsite advisory services on contractual and operational issues for project directors, project managers, contracts managers, quantity surveyors and engineers.
 
Litigation and Arbitration Experience

•Instructing and advising local court advocates on several construction related litigations in the Abu Dhabi and Dubai Courts including various summary proceedings involving applications for precautionary attachment, appointment of court experts and preservation of evidence.

•Representing a major subcontractor in relation to claims against a major EPC contractor in respect of an ICC arbitration involving a gas plant project in Qatar. Claims circa USD 80 million

•Appointed by the Dubai International Arbitration Center (DIAC) to act as the sole adjudicator of a subcontract dispute involving the construction of a 5-star hotel. Received several other appointments and nominations by DIAC to act as sole arbitrator on real estate related disputes.

•Advising a consortium of foreign contractors in relation to a major design & build mixed use development project in Abu Dhabi involving construction claims exceeding USD 200 million.

•Advising a major foreign contractor in relation to claims circa USD 100 million in respect of a high rise mixed use project located in Abu Dhabi.

•Representing a major foreign contractor in Dispute Adjudication Board (DAB) proceedings in respect of its claim against a developer for the completion of a high-rise building in Dubai.

•Representing a property developer in DIAC and ICC arbitration proceedings involving a major mixed use commercial development project in Dubai. Claims circa USD 130 million.

•Representing a property developer in DIAC arbitration proceedings involving the construction of an international sports and leisure venue in Dubai. Claims circa USD 800 million.

•Representing a local contractor in ADCCAC arbitration proceedings against a quasi-government entity in respect of the construction of a sport and club-house facility. Claims circa. USD 20 million.

•Assisting instructing solicitors in a number of Western Australian court litigations involving disputes arising from various types of projects including a shipping port infrastructure project, a metro railway project, an offshore oil and gas exploration project and a natural gas pipeline project.

•Assisting lead Counsel in several arbitration proceedings in Malaysia involving claims in relation to a metro railway station, an oleo-chemical plant, earthworks of a major hydro power project and etc.