Paul Hughes photo
Paul Hughes
Lawyer
Dubai
Office 27-01, Level 27
ICD Brookfield DIFC
P.O. Box 506778, Dubai, UAE
+971 4 454 3903
Dubai
Office 27-01, Level 27
ICD Brookfield DIFC
P.O. Box 506778, Dubai, UAE
+971 4 454 3903

Paul Hughes focuses on advising international clients on high-profile disputes, in which he deploys creative strategies designed to monetize or dilute cross-border claims. He has extensive experience enforcing judgments and arbitral awards in matters involving global asset recovery, with particular focus on the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the wider Middle East region and the United Kingdom.

A leading practitioner in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and English Courts, Mr. Hughes has further extensive experience in fraud investigations, contentious shareholder disputes, and banking litigation. He is also regularly engaged in private client disputes for UHNWIs and has served as litigation counsel in high-value multi-jurisdictional bankruptcy matters.

Mr. Hughes has been practising in the UAE for over twelve years and has been described by Chambers & Partners as having solutions that are “intricately intertwined with business considerations, effectively harmonizing the legal strategies with [a client’s] overarching commercial goals.” He is also recognized by Legal 500 as a "superb legal strategist who has a strong grasp of the legal and commercial drivers in any case" and is "relentless in pursuing the interests of his client in advancing their case," as well as "an exceptional litigator" who is "incredibly hard-working, knows how to lead and delegate where necessary and is measured, but aggressive where appropriate."

Admissions

  • Dubai International Financial Centre
  • England & Wales, Solicitor
  • Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Fellow)
  • Abu Dhabi Global Market Courts

Education

  • College of Law (Chester), Legal Practice Course, distinction
  • College of Law (Chester), Graduate Diploma in Law
  • University of Leeds, BA

Accolades

  • Global Chambers and Partners, Band 5 United Arab Emirates
  • Legal 500, EMEA 2021
  • Legal 500, EMEA 2020

 

Publications & Presentations

  • Panelist, "Disputes Trends Across the Middle East" (Dubai Arbitration Week, Dubai, November 2021)
  • Speaker, “Enforcement of UAE Judgments in India” (Asian Legal Business India In-House Legal Summit 2020, Mumbai)
  • Speaker “Arbitration in East Africa” (NCIA and Kenyan branch of CIARB, Dubai, November 2019)
  • Co-author, “Springboard injunctions to take off in the DIFC courts?” (In House Lawyer, Autumn 2019)
  • Author, “Profitable partnerships - how to avoid disputes in overseas retail joint ventures” (Lexology, May 2016)

Credentials

Admissions

  • Dubai International Financial Centre
  • England & Wales, Solicitor
  • Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Fellow)
  • Abu Dhabi Global Market Courts

Education

  • College of Law (Chester), Legal Practice Course, distinction
  • College of Law (Chester), Graduate Diploma in Law
  • University of Leeds, BA

Accolades

  • Global Chambers and Partners, Band 5 United Arab Emirates
  • Legal 500, EMEA 2021
  • Legal 500, EMEA 2020

News

Publications & Presentations

  • Panelist, "Disputes Trends Across the Middle East" (Dubai Arbitration Week, Dubai, November 2021)
  • Speaker, “Enforcement of UAE Judgments in India” (Asian Legal Business India In-House Legal Summit 2020, Mumbai)
  • Speaker “Arbitration in East Africa” (NCIA and Kenyan branch of CIARB, Dubai, November 2019)
  • Co-author, “Springboard injunctions to take off in the DIFC courts?” (In House Lawyer, Autumn 2019)
  • Author, “Profitable partnerships - how to avoid disputes in overseas retail joint ventures” (Lexology, May 2016)

"Paul Hughes is a fantastic lawyer possessing extensive subject matter expertise and a strong commercial acumen. His wealth of experience enables him to navigate complex legal matters with exceptional proficiency."

-- Chambers & Partners