Rob Lawrence
About Rob
Rob is a dispute resolution partner in HFW’s leading shipping practice in the Middle East, where he has a particular focus on offshore marine, international trade and marine insurance.
An English qualified lawyer, Rob has been based in the Middle East since 2006, splitting his time between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, where he has gained significant experience handling complex disputes centred around the marine and offshore industry. He has advised on some of the region’s largest claims arising from offshore casualties (rig punch-throughs, fires/explosions, collisions and allisions), EPC contracts, ship building/ship conversion projects as well as commodity trades. Rob also has experience advising on commercial disputes generally, including shareholder, JV, distribution and franchise.
As well as litigating before the English Courts and various courts throughout the GCC, Rob regularly acts as counsel in both domestic and international arbitral forums including the DIAC, ADGM, SCCA, SCMA, ICC, LCIA, LMAA, GAFTA and FOSFA. Rob is likewise experienced in dealing with matters ancillary to arbitration, including obtaining freezing injunctions, obtaining and defending security for costs orders, as well as both enforcing awards and challenging defective awards.
Rob has been recognised for several years by Legal 500, Chambers and Who’s Who Legal as a leading shipping lawyer in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Clients describe Rob as “smart and astute in litigation” saying that “he knows how to win cases” Chambers Global, UAE 2024.
They also praise him as an “exceptionally likeable first-class lawyer and trusted advisor” Chambers Global, UAE 2022 who has “in-depth industry knowledge” and “impress[es] with his grasp of the key issues and assessments of how far to go in negotiations” Legal 500, UAE 2022 and 2021.