About Sabih Medhat

Sabih is a legal consultant in our International Arbitration Group and Global Projects Disputes Practice.

Sabih is a disputes lawyer specialising in international commercial arbitration. His experience spans a wide range of disputes across a number of industry sectors including construction, insurance, shipping, international trade, oil & gas, energy and technology. He is also adept at dealing with nuanced and complex contractual claims.

Sabih’s background and experience also makes him particularly well-placed to deal with post-M&A disputes encompassing a variety of areas such as price adjustments, breaches of representations and warranties, indemnification claims and earn-out disputes. He regularly represents clients in both institutional and ad hoc arbitrations.

Recent work

• Advising one of the leading global financial and insurance services firms on a potential post-acquisition dispute that may arise as a result of the seller’s anticipated breach of the warranties and indemnities under the SPA.
• Advising and representing one of the region’s largest automotive companies in respect of a regulatory inquiry concerning anti-competitive behaviour.
• Acting for two of the world’s largest contractors in a USD 2.4 billion ICC arbitration proceedings brought against the project owner in relation to the construction of a large-scale fertiliser complex.
• Advising and representing a private investment firm in relation to performing regulated activities and a voluntary disclosure to the relevant regulator.
• *Acting for a former CEO of one of the region’s largest telecommunications companies in a USD 250 million DIFC-LCIA arbitration governed by DIFC law in respect of a claim for cover under a worldwide D&O insurance policy.
• *Acting for a prominent Emirati family in a GBP 27 million breach of contract claim in the High Court of Justice in London.
• *Acting for a JV comprising a publicly-listed corporation in Europe and an Italian company in a USD 400 million ICC arbitration concerning the construction of a stadium for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
• *Regularly acting for and advising one of the world’s largest technology companies in/on a range of contentious and non- contentious matters including, but not limited to, putting together escrow and distribution agreements and the recovery of USD 22 million.
• *Acting for an onshore drilling company in a DIAC arbitration proceeding under English law in which it is seeking USD 13 million in contractual damages against an engineering consultant in respect of a collapsed oil rig.
• *Defending one of the region’s largest publicly listed general insurers in a AED 400 million ICC arbitration in respect of a claim brought by the insured, which is one of the world’s largest oil companies, for cover under a group life insurance policy.
• *Acting for a large GCC-based retail group in a USD 60 million business interruption claim - arising from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 – in the DIFC courts.
• *Acting for an Abu Dhabi-based aluminium extrusions company in a AED 250 million ADCCAC arbitration (ICC Rules for Expertise) in respect of a delay claim.
• *Acting for a ship owner in a USD 1.5 million EMAC (now DIAC) arbitration proceeding under English law and involving issues of non-payment of demurrage, assignment and novation.
• *Advising the government of a G7 country on entering into international free trade agreements.

*Lawyer experience prior to joining Freshfields.