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Sophia is an Associate in the firm's Trial and Global Disputes Practice Group. She has extensive experience of high-value, cross-border international and construction arbitration along with Dubai International Financial Court (DIFC) and English High Court litigation. 

Sophia has a broad practice of litigation and international arbitration in various sectors such as construction, finance, telecommunications, and energy. She is qualified as a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales and holds Higher Rights of Audience (Civil Proceedings). Sophia has acted in complex cross-border international and construction arbitrations under a number of governing laws and institutional rules, including the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Lebanese Arbitration and Medication Centre (LAMC) rules. Sophia also has experience acting for clients in high-value disputes in the DIFC Court of First Instance and Court of Appeal along with the Courts of England & Wales. 

Prior to joining the Dubai office of King & Spalding, Sophia trained at a Magic Circle law firm in London before returning to Dubai, where she grew up. She subsequently worked as an Associate in the Dubai disputes practices of US law firms.

Full Bio

Credentials

L.P.C., University of Law, London

M.A., Law, University of Cambridge, UK

Dubai International Financial Centre Courts

England and Wales

Co-Secretary of IBA Arbitration Committee’s Task Force on Res Judicata

Recommended in Dispute resolution: arbitration and international litigation, United Arab Emirates


Legal 500 EMEA, 2025

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Recognition

Recommended in Dispute resolution: arbitration and international litigation, United Arab Emirates


Legal 500 EMEA, 2025

Matters

Commercial Arbitration

Acted on a shareholder dispute between members of an oil and gas joint venture in high-value LCIA arbitration proceedings.

Acted for a publicly listed conglomerate in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in multiple ICC and LAMC arbitration proceedings relating to a failed investment.

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Matters

Commercial Arbitration

Acted on a shareholder dispute between members of an oil and gas joint venture in high-value LCIA arbitration proceedings.

Acted for a publicly listed conglomerate in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in multiple ICC and LAMC arbitration proceedings relating to a failed investment.

Acted for a large conglomerate in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in ICC arbitration proceedings relating to a joint venture dispute in Bahrain.

Acted for a major bank in an LCIA arbitration concerning the financing of an oil refinery and allegations of predatory lending.

Construction Arbitration

Acted on a high-value ICC arbitration relating to the construction of a gas treatment facility in Africa.

Acted for an Employer in relation to prospective Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) proceedings concerning a large-scale construction project in the Gulf.

Litigation

Rassmal Investments LLC v Mubarak Abdullah Al Suwaiket & Sons and Others (Royal Court of Jersey - claim involving a multi-million pound real estate development project in London, England).

Hexagon Holdings (Cayman) Limited v (1) DIFCA (2) DIFCI (CFI-013-2019 and CA-003-2020) (DIFC Court of Appeal and Court of First Instance Judgments - claim relating to a multi-million dollar real estate development project in the DIFC).

Acted for a private equity company in defence of a claim in the DIFC Courts arising from the acquisition of a holding company.

Acted for a major Kuwaiti conglomerate in DIFC Court of Appeal proceedings relating to service and enforcement of a DIFC-seated Arbitration Award.

Matters

Commercial Arbitration

Acted on a shareholder dispute between members of an oil and gas joint venture in high-value LCIA arbitration proceedings.

Acted for a publicly listed conglomerate in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in multiple ICC and LAMC arbitration proceedings relating to a failed investment.

See more

Close

Matters

Commercial Arbitration

Acted on a shareholder dispute between members of an oil and gas joint venture in high-value LCIA arbitration proceedings.

Acted for a publicly listed conglomerate in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in multiple ICC and LAMC arbitration proceedings relating to a failed investment.

Acted for a large conglomerate in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in ICC arbitration proceedings relating to a joint venture dispute in Bahrain.

Acted for a major bank in an LCIA arbitration concerning the financing of an oil refinery and allegations of predatory lending.

Construction Arbitration

Acted on a high-value ICC arbitration relating to the construction of a gas treatment facility in Africa.

Acted for an Employer in relation to prospective Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) proceedings concerning a large-scale construction project in the Gulf.

Litigation

Rassmal Investments LLC v Mubarak Abdullah Al Suwaiket & Sons and Others (Royal Court of Jersey - claim involving a multi-million pound real estate development project in London, England).

Hexagon Holdings (Cayman) Limited v (1) DIFCA (2) DIFCI (CFI-013-2019 and CA-003-2020) (DIFC Court of Appeal and Court of First Instance Judgments - claim relating to a multi-million dollar real estate development project in the DIFC).

Acted for a private equity company in defence of a claim in the DIFC Courts arising from the acquisition of a holding company.

Acted for a major Kuwaiti conglomerate in DIFC Court of Appeal proceedings relating to service and enforcement of a DIFC-seated Arbitration Award.

Credentials

L.P.C., University of Law, London

M.A., Law, University of Cambridge, UK

Dubai International Financial Centre Courts

England and Wales

Co-Secretary of IBA Arbitration Committee’s Task Force on Res Judicata

Recommended in Dispute resolution: arbitration and international litigation, United Arab Emirates


Legal 500 EMEA, 2025

Close

Recognition

Recommended in Dispute resolution: arbitration and international litigation, United Arab Emirates


Legal 500 EMEA, 2025