Stephen York to head Lovells disputes practice in Dubai

Stephen is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a chartered arbitrator, a member of the LCIA and a member of the board of the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution ("CEDR"). Over the course of his 30 year international career, Stephen has been particularly active in the Middle East and in India. He is a panel member of the Dubai International Arbitration Center ("DIAC") and has acted on a number of disputes in the region including disputes relating to oil and gas assets, construction disputes, and commercial contracts involving the telecoms, healthcare and transport sectors. Stephen is rated in the leading international independent directories for International Commercial Arbitration, ADR and Commercial Litigation/Energy.

Stephen will join a flourishing dispute resolution practice in the Middle East. Over the last few months in particular we have acted on a large number of significant matters in the region for clients across a number of sectors, including representation in the DIFC Court.
The proposed combination of Lovells and Hogan & Hartson announced in December 2009 will see the new firm Hogan Lovells operating with an expanded presence in the region with offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and with associated offices in Saudi Arabia.

Commenting on the hire, Lovells joint local managing partner for Dubai, Rahail Ali said:
"Stephen joins us at a very exciting time ahead of our merger with Hogan. Our Middle East capabilities will no doubt benefit from this welcome addition".

Patrick Sherrington, Lovells dispute resolution practice stream leader said:
"Stephen's hire bolsters our dispute resolution capability in a region which we believe will offer considerable opportunities for the development of our international disputes practice over the next few years".

Commenting today, Stephen York said, "Lovells has established a fantastic track record in Dubai and the Middle East in a comparatively short period of time. It is clear that the firm is committed to the region and is taking a very strategic approach to the development of its capabilities there.

I look forward to being based in one of the world's most dynamic markets, with one of the world's leading dispute resolution practices, at a firm which is about to embark upon one of the most transformative mergers I've seen over the course of my career.'"