Bridging the Gulf: opportunities for young lawyers from recent developments in the UAE and India

Dr. Zeina Obeid is a Partner at Obeid & Partners in the UAE and Paris, where she practices in the Arbitration department. She has acted as lead counsel in major international arbitration cases across the Middle East and North Africa region. She also acts as arbitrator and as an administrative secretary in several domestic and international arbitrations, both ad hoc and under international institutional arbitral rules, including those of the ICC, DIAC, LCIA, CRCICA, BCDR-AAA, and DIFC-LCIA. Zeina holds a PhD from the University Panthéon-Assas (Paris II) in France and an LLM from Columbia University in New York. Zeina is qualified to practice law both in Beirut and Paris. She frequently publishes articles on various topics notably in arbitration. In 2017, she published her book “Setting aside arbitral awards in the Arab Countries”, which has been cited as a reference book for practitioners around the MENA region. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) and committee member of the UAE branch. She is also member of the International Bar Association (IBA) where she holds the position of Officer in both the IBA Young Lawyer’s Committee (as co-secretary) and the IBA Anti-Corruption Committee (as Middle Eastern representative).

Pranav is a partner based in the New Delhi office of the Firm and focusses his practice on technology (including IT and FinTech), life sciences, healthcare, infrastructure, power, oil and gas and EPC/ construction sectors. In these sectors his practice comprises advising clients on transactional work as well as representing them on high-value commercial disputes. His transactional experience includes advising clients on cross-border (both inbound and outbound) investments, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, joint ventures, corporate restructuring, appointment of contractors (including by conducting bidding processes) and general contracting work.

Arush Khanna (FCIArb) is an Advocate & Legal Consultant enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi. He started his practice in 2012 after graduating from the Symbiosis Law School, Pune and has also done his Masters (Business Laws) from the National Law School of India University, Bangalore. He co- founded Numen Law Offices in 2019. A multi-disciplinary law firm having its office at New Delhi and Mumbai. Arush specializes in Commercial Disputes in the field of Arbitration, Insolvency, Real Estate, Projects & Infrastructure. He has advised and represented several fortune 100, multinational as well top Indian companies before several courts and tribunals across India. Arush is deeply rooted in legal academia and writing. He has over 25 publications for international and national law journals. Arush is also a regular lecturer and speaker at leading international associations. Some of his noteworthy accomplishments include: • Admitted to the “Fellowship” at the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), London. • Appointed the “Asia Pacific Regional Forum Liaison Officer” of the Young Lawyers Committee, International Bar Association. • Appointed the “Vice Chair” of the IBA India Working Group. • Appointed to the ‘Steering Committee’ of the Young Members Group of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb India) • Appointed as member of the “CII National Task Force on Legal Services” by the Confederation of Indian Industry.