Paul Hughes advises clients on matters involving cross-border shareholder and company disputes that have a nexus to the United Arab Emirates, splitting his practice between international arbitration and courts in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
With over eleven years of experience in the region, Mr. Hughes focuses on cross-border disputes by offering creative strategies designed to monetize or dilute high-stakes, complex, multijurisdictional claims. Specifically, he has extensive experience in the enforcement of judgments and arbitral awards, asset tracing, fraud investigations, banking litigation and other contentious shareholder disputes.
A leading practitioner in the DIFC, Mr. Hughes has handled high-profile, multi-billion-dollar disputes and enforcement actions in the financial center. He has been recognized by the 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." Chambers and Partners called Mr. Hughes "absolutely excellent," offering "a good mix between practicality and legal knowledge" and is "an all-round lawyer."
Before joining Kobre & Kim, Mr. Hughes led the GCC Dispute Resolution team at Addleshaw Goddard’s Dubai office. Prior to that, he practiced at Clyde & Co LLP.
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
- Chambers Global 2024 Recognizes Kobre & Kim and Multiple Global Lawyers
- Paul Hughes Examines UAE Recovery Options for International Creditors in Law.com International
- Who's Who Legal 2023 Global Guide Recognizes Kobre & Kim and 13 Lawyers
- Paul Hughes to Chair Panel on Best Practices in Obtaining Information for Lawyers During RILPA Conference in Dubai
- Chambers Global 2023 Recognizes Kobre & Kim and Multiple Global Lawyers
- Paul Hughes and John Han Explore Middle East Insolvency Disputes Trends in Dubai Seminar
- Kobre & Kim and Lawyers Recognized in Multiple Chambers Global 2022 Categories
- Paul Hughes and Nada Oteifi Unpack Middle East Dispute Trends at Dubai Arbitration Week Seminar
- Kobre & Kim Enhances Capabilities in Dubai and the Middle East
- Enforcement in Dubai Just Got Easier
- Enforcing a Foreign Judgment in the UAE: New Opportunities
- New Pathways for International Creditors to Fight Fraudulent Conveyance in Dubai
- Enforcing Minority Shareholder Rights in Asia: A Comparative Guide to Just and Equitable Winding Up
- Middle Eastern Investors Have Options to Protect Their Investments in China
- Powerful Option for Creditors Enforcing Judgments from Common Law Courts in the United Arab Emirates
- Defending Your Offshore Trusts from Onshore Attacks
- How Israeli, Middle Eastern and African Individuals Should Respond to Criminal Allegations from Foreign Governments
- Maximizing Recovery Against a Sanctioned Sovereign
- Cracking Delaware’s Notoriously Tough Trusts
- International Creditors Can Crack Delaware's Notoriously Tough Trusts
- More Routes to Recovery for Global Creditors in the Middle East
- Global Creditors Can Successfully Fight Fraudulent Conveyance in Dubai
- How International Creditors Can Crack Delaware's Notoriously Tough Trusts
- Don’t Overlook China in Difficult Chapter 11 Asset Recovery Efforts
- Lessons from LBRY: Standing Up to Regulatory Oversight
- Global Crisis Management For Targets of Large-Scale Crypto Fraud
- Enforcing Minority Shareholder Rights in Asia: A Comparative Guide to Derivative Actions
- Enforcing Minority Shareholder Rights in Asia: A Comparative Guide to Unfair Prejudice
- Pathways for Global Bondholders to Effectively Oppose Unjust UK Restructuring Plans
- Bringing a Global Perspective to Challenge Offshore Awards Successfully
- Cross-Border Strategies for Maximizing Returns Against Sovereign Debtors
- Russian Litigants Can Still Access Critical Legal Tools in U.S. Courts
- Companies and Individuals in Greater China Can Protect Themselves from U.S. Sanctions Overreach
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
- Chambers Global 2024 Recognizes Kobre & Kim and Multiple Global Lawyers
- Paul Hughes Examines UAE Recovery Options for International Creditors in Law.com International
- Who's Who Legal 2023 Global Guide Recognizes Kobre & Kim and 13 Lawyers
- Paul Hughes to Chair Panel on Best Practices in Obtaining Information for Lawyers During RILPA Conference in Dubai
- Chambers Global 2023 Recognizes Kobre & Kim and Multiple Global Lawyers
- Paul Hughes and John Han Explore Middle East Insolvency Disputes Trends in Dubai Seminar
- Kobre & Kim and Lawyers Recognized in Multiple Chambers Global 2022 Categories
- Paul Hughes and Nada Oteifi Unpack Middle East Dispute Trends at Dubai Arbitration Week Seminar
- Kobre & Kim Enhances Capabilities in Dubai and the Middle East
- Enforcement in Dubai Just Got Easier
- Enforcing a Foreign Judgment in the UAE: New Opportunities
- New Pathways for International Creditors to Fight Fraudulent Conveyance in Dubai
- Enforcing Minority Shareholder Rights in Asia: A Comparative Guide to Just and Equitable Winding Up
- Middle Eastern Investors Have Options to Protect Their Investments in China
- Powerful Option for Creditors Enforcing Judgments from Common Law Courts in the United Arab Emirates
- Defending Your Offshore Trusts from Onshore Attacks
- How Israeli, Middle Eastern and African Individuals Should Respond to Criminal Allegations from Foreign Governments
- Maximizing Recovery Against a Sanctioned Sovereign
- Cracking Delaware’s Notoriously Tough Trusts
- International Creditors Can Crack Delaware's Notoriously Tough Trusts
- More Routes to Recovery for Global Creditors in the Middle East
- Global Creditors Can Successfully Fight Fraudulent Conveyance in Dubai
- How International Creditors Can Crack Delaware's Notoriously Tough Trusts
- Don’t Overlook China in Difficult Chapter 11 Asset Recovery Efforts
- Lessons from LBRY: Standing Up to Regulatory Oversight
- Global Crisis Management For Targets of Large-Scale Crypto Fraud
- Enforcing Minority Shareholder Rights in Asia: A Comparative Guide to Derivative Actions
- Enforcing Minority Shareholder Rights in Asia: A Comparative Guide to Unfair Prejudice
- Pathways for Global Bondholders to Effectively Oppose Unjust UK Restructuring Plans
- Bringing a Global Perspective to Challenge Offshore Awards Successfully
- Cross-Border Strategies for Maximizing Returns Against Sovereign Debtors
- Russian Litigants Can Still Access Critical Legal Tools in U.S. Courts
- Companies and Individuals in Greater China Can Protect Themselves from U.S. Sanctions Overreach
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