Benjamin Hopps

Ben has worked on a wide range of complex commercial disputes for local and international clients.  Ben’s experience includes dispute resolution through litigation in the English, DIFC and regional courts and international arbitration in ICC, LCIA, DIFC-LCIA, DIAC, ADDCAC, GCC and ad hoc arbitrations, with a focus on disputes in the construction & infrastructure, energy, leisure and financial services sectors, shareholder disputes, anti-bribery & corruption matters, regulatory & governance issues and corporate crime & investigations. 

Ben also heads our ME Employment Practice, advising on all aspects of contentious and non-contentious employment law in the UAE and its free zones (including the DIFC and ADGM), Saudi and the wider MENA region.

Ben has worked in our Dubai office for 13 years, before which he was based in London.

Ben's experience includes advising:

• the minority shareholders in relation to a joint venture dispute with a prominent Emirati family, including two DIAC arbitrations seated in Dubai, two Dubai Court claims in support of the arbitration, and one set of court proceedings in Mauritius in support of the arbitration
• the owner/operator of a Bahrain IWPP in an expert determination and subsequent ICC arbitration proceedings in connection with disputes with the off-taker worth $1.5 billion over the construction and operation of the plant
• Sky UK Limited in UKHC litigation in a claim with 2 co-claimants against insurers for £130 million relating to damage during construction to Sky's UK flagship HQ building
• a global management consultancy in related UKHC and Dubai Court proceedings arising from an allegation of senior employee solicitation by a competitor
• an internal investigation for a Saudi-state owned entity into allegations of senior employee misconduct
• the Board of Control for Cricket in India in ad hoc arbitration proceedings brought by the Pakistan Cricket Board for substantial damages (US$70 million) for breach of contract relating to an alleged agreement to play a series of home and away tours

Background

Ben holds a Bachelor of Laws with Honours from Brunel University London. He also has a Masters Degree in International Business Law from the University of London.