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Patrick O’Grady

Special Counsel

Dubai +971 4 247 2119

  • About
  • Representative Matters
  • Credentials
  • About

    Patrick O'Grady is special counsel in the firm's international arbitration and disputes practice, based in Dubai. He was shortlisted for the ‘Rising Star’ award at the 2024 Middle East Legal Awards.

    Patrick has common and civil law experience advising clients from various industries and jurisdictions and focuses on large-scale, high-value energy, infrastructure and construction disputes in the Middle East. Patrick has extensive experience advising on matters of UAE law and speaks conversational Arabic. Particular areas of interest include matters commonly arising on large infrastructure projects, including liquidated damages and extension of time claims (including natural and political force majeure), variations, performance security, defects, and termination.

    Patrick has experience in international commercial proceedings (including emergency proceedings) under the LCIA, DIAC, SIAC, LMAA and ICC rules addressing matters of UAE, Omani, Jordanian, Swiss and English law. He also has experience acting for sovereign states in investment treaty arbitration under the UNCITRAL, SCC and ICSID rules.

    Pro bono work forms a significant part of Patrick’s practice. He routinely provides legal and policy planning assistance to prominent political and transitional justice stakeholders advising on post-conflict legislation, war crimes prosecution, and transitional justice. Recent projects relate to Sudan, the Central African Republic, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Practices and Industries
  • Representative Matters
    • Representing a Korean biotechnology company in an arbitration against a multinational pharmaceutical company concerning a distribution agreement, including emergency proceedings (SIAC, Swiss law, Singapore seat).
    • Representing the owner of a combined-cycle power plant in a $50 million dispute with a national power company concerning a power purchase agreement (ICC, Jordanian law, London seat).
    • Representing a telecommunications operator in a dispute with a multinational networking and telecommunications company concerning the installation and operation of a 5G network (LCIA, English law, London seat).
    • Representing the owner of a desalination plant in the Middle East in a $40 million dispute with an EPC contractor concerning a negative variation claim, defective equipment claims, extension of time claims, and performance bond call (ICC, English law, London seat).
    • Representing a Middle Eastern utility in a London-seated LCIA arbitration in a dispute concerning breach of warranty claims under a sale and purchase agreement governed by English law.
    • Acting for sponsors in relation to claims submitted by an EPC contractor in relation to a greenfield water treatment plant in Saudi Arabia, involving variations, extensions of time, prolongation and acceleration costs, force majeure, and disruption.
    • Acting for one of the world’s largest producers of phosphate and phosphate-based products, in relation to a dispute with a supplier regarding late delivery under a long-term supply contract.
    • Acting for a project company in relation to claims submitted by an EPC contractor in relation to a desalination plant in Saudi Arabia, involving force majeure / extension of time claims.
    • Representing a Saudi Arabian company on claims for additional cost and extensions of time arising from a hotel and shopping mall project (ICC, UAE law, London seat).

    • Representing an international EPC contractor in connection with disputes concerning delay, disruption, defects, and cost claims arising from the construction of a luxury hotel in the UAE (ICC, UAE law, London seat).
    • Representing an international architecture firm in an LCIA arbitration relating to the construction of an embassy building, with the underlying contract governed by the laws of UAE/Abu Dhabi (LCIA, UAE law, London seat).
    • Representing an international oil and gas company in relation to an offshore pipeline in the Caspian Sea (LCIA, English law, London seat).
    • Representing one of the world’s largest construction companies in relation to a major transportation project in Saudi Arabia.
    • Advised an international construction company in relation to claims and significant counterclaims arising out of a subcontract agreement relating to a high-profile landmark project in Dubai.
    • Advising an international bank in relation to parallel Dubai court proceedings relating to payment of outstanding debts and breaches of guarantees.
    • Acting for the UAE subsidiary of a Japanese trading company in relation to a complex transfer pricing dispute, involving DIAC arbitration proceedings and a criminal investigation in Oman.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Credentials
    Education
    • The University of Law, L.P.C., 2015
    • The University of Law, G.D.L., 2014
    • University of Cambridge, 2013
        • English literature (MA Cantab)
    Bar Admissions
    • Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales
    • Solicitor, Ireland
    Languages
    • English
    • Arabic
    Pro Bono
    • Working alongside PILPG, a global pro bono law firm and Nobel peace prize nominee, to provide legal and policy planning assistance to prominent political and transitional justice stakeholders of the Republic of Sudan, Republic of Kenya, Ethiopia and Republic of South Sudan advising on post-conflict legislation, war crimes prosecution, and transitional justice.
    • Secondment to Reprieve UK (a legal action non-governmental organisation which focuses on defending marginalised people who are facing human rights abuses), including work on the landmark supreme court case of Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs v Rahmatullah (2016).
    • Advising a tribal community in relation to human rights claims against a sovereign state in the Middle East.

    Areas of Expertise

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