Recognition for work in the Gulf Region

2TG is described as “strong at both KC and silk level, with a growing presence in the UAE”. Charles is identified as a “detailed, methodical and quick-witted advocate, whose calm manner and matter-of-fact demeanour is effective in winning over judges. His busy practice reflects his popularity.”, while Lucas is lauded as “a fantastic counsel for any commercial dispute and is extremely easy to work with… (he) has supreme intellect, masterful advocacy and an affable personality to put anyone at ease.”

Timothy Killen remains Band 1 ranked for the sixth year in the Legal 500 Guide to the EMEA region in recognition of his commercial disputes work in the Middle East. Tim is also ranked as a Band 1 junior in the Chambers Global Guide which was released earlier in 2024.

Described as ‘a first-class legal mind’ whose ‘pleadings are a work of art’, Tim spends a considerable amount of time working in the UAE; in 2023/24 he was in trial in DIFC and acting on arbitrations in the regions for much of the year. His practice focuses on commercial disputes. Many of the claims and arbitrations he works on are related to the insurance, construction, and financial sectors.

This follows hot on the heels Tim being awarded “Commercial Junior of the Year” at the inaugural Legal 500 EMEA Awards 2024 for his work in the Gulf Region.

2TG’s continues to host an annual Dubai conference on current issues in Commercial Litigation “The View from London and Dubai”. Ten members of chambers and staff visited the region in late January 2024 and enjoyed catching up with many clients and friends.

The year 2023 wrapped up with another period of impressive growth for the whole set in the GCC and we appeared in two ‘firsts’ in the DIFC and ADGM Courts in the course of the year.

• Charles Dougherty KC, Timothy Killen and Lucas Fear Segal all appeared in the first COVID-19 business interruption insurance case decided by DIFC Court in Lals Holding Ltd and Ors v (1) Emirates Insurance Company (2) SIACI Insurance Brokers LLC.
• Charles Dougherty KC and Lucas Fear-Segal acted successfully in the first substntative appeal ever to be heard by the Abu Dhabi Global Markets Court of Appeal in (1) Global Aerospace Underwriting Managers Ltd (2) XL Insurance (3) Swiss Re and Ors v Global Private Investments Ltd.

The set generally continues to benefit from heightened activity in the UAE market. Typically, cases relate to major commercial and contract disputes between local and international companies where sums at stake are high and matters are complex and often of a highly sensitive nature.

Highly regarded Silk, Bob Moxon Browne KC has also been busy with arbitration and litigation work in the region in the past year, while junior members, such as Steven Flynn, Emily Albou, Emma Walker and James Partridge, are also establishing themselves as sought after practitioners.

We were delighted to be able to host our annual conference in Dubai at the start of the year and look forward to being back again later in 2024 and in 2025. Joint Deputy Senior Clerk, Billy Hammonds, visited the region in May and will also be back for the Dubai Arbitration Week in November 2024.

Our Senior Clerk, Lee Tyler, will be attending Dubai with Timothy Killen in September 2024 to celebrate the launch of 2^nd Edition of DIFC Courts Practice (Edward Elgar Publishing). Tim was invited to join the writing team by Rupert Reed KC and Tom Montague-Smith KC. The book is the leading text on DIFC Law and Practice.

Work with an international dimension forms a significant part of many of our barristers’ work at 2TG. We appear in international courts and arbitral tribunals all over the world, frequently acting on complex multi-jurisdictional disputes. We are particularly well-known for managing cross border litigation on matters of jurisdiction and applicable law and appear regularly in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.

For more information on our international and cross-jurisdictional work please click here.