Nicholas Sharratt

Head of Dispute Resolution, Middle East
Norton Rose Fulbright (Middle East) LLP

Dubai
United Arab Emirates
T:+971 (4) 3696301
Dubai
United Arab Emirates
T:+971 (4) 3696301
Nicholas Sharratt

Nicholas Sharratt

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Biography

Nicholas Sharratt is a dispute resolution lawyer based in Dubai. He leads the firm's dispute resolution practice in the Middle East where he has been permanently based for over a decade. Nick focuses on international arbitration, litigation, asset recovery and enforcement across EMEA.

Widely regarded for his exceptional client service and project management skills, Nick is ranked as a leading lawyer in the Legal 500 EMEA and Chambers & Partners Global publications with clients commenting that he is a 'brilliant-minded lawyer, who is sharp and always available' and someone that they would 'recommend engaging without any doubt'.

Nick is ranked in the Legal 500's Private Practice Powerlist for Arbitration where he is said to be 'the name to note for arbitration proceedings in the Middle East' and described as 'dynamic, a great leader and a real hit with clients'. 

Nick is listed as a "Future Leader" in the Lexology Index: Arbitration 2025 and was also listed as one of the most prominent lawyers in the Middle East and North Africa region in the "MENA Super 50 Lawyers" list issued by Thomson Reuters' ALB publication and is consistently named as one of Thomson Reuters' most "Stand-Out Lawyers" where he is described as having 'a deep knowledge of litigation' and as 'very responsive and creative'.  In their feedback, clients also describe Nick as an 'extremely professional and highly competent lawyer' who 'goes the extra mile extra mile in providing top quality legal advice round the clock'.

Nick is based in the firm's Dubai office but works across the region, including extensively in Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia. His practice covers banking and finance, commodities, construction, energy and hospitality. He also acts as strategic counsel to some of the region's leading GCs and UHNWI.

Professional experience

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  • Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales 2010
  • Acting for a UAE government entity in relation to a dispute with a global contractor relating to a number of technical issues, including extension of time claims, the right to delay penalties and other matters connected with the construction of a new flagship 5 star hotel and residential tower in the UAE;
  • Representing one of the world's largest asset recovery funds in pursuing multi-jurisdictional recovery proceedings arising out of unpaid facilities owed by multiple debtors around the globe. The matter involves a large scale asset recovery strategy with proceedings in the UK, US, Canada and Middle East valued at over US $250m;
  • Acting for a global developer specialising in the wastewater sector in relation to a dispute with two government-owned entities concerning an outstanding debt for the supply and installation of five polishing plants used in the construction of a power and desalination plant located along the Red Sea coast in Saudi Arabia;
  • Acting on behalf of a prominent UK PLC in responding to a number of third-party freezing orders served on it in connection with one of the most highly publicised pieces of litigation in the High Court in recent years;
  • Advising a major oil and gas services company in bringing arbitral enforcement proceedings in multiple jurisdictions across the Middle East. The matter involved bringing the first successful enforcement action in respect of a London seated arbitration award in Iraq;
  • Acting on behalf of a global commodities trader in proceedings brought by it in England, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the UAE. The proceedings arose out of a facility provided to the defendants for the purposes of mining metals in the DRC. In response, the defendants commenced over 10 sets of proceedings in Africa and the Middle East aimed at dismantling the security, all of which were successfully defended;
  • Representing one of the world's largest engineering companies in a multi-million-dollar contractual dispute concerning a district cooling plant in Abu Dhabi under the rules of the DIFC-LCIA.
  • Listed as a "Future Leader" – Lexology Index: Arbitration 2025;
  • Listed as a “Thought Leader” – Mondaq Thought Leader Awards 2024 – Arbitration and Dispute Resolution;
  • Listed in "Private Practice Powerlist for Arbitration" – Legal 500 Private Practice Powerlist: Middle East, 2022 and 2023;
  • Listed in "Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyers" – Thomson Reuters' Stand-out Lawyers in Private Practice, 2022 and 2023;
  • Listed in "MENA Super 50 list" – Thomson Reuters' ALB MENA Super 50 Private Practice lawyers' list;
  • Commended "External Counsel of the Year" - In-House Community - Asian-MENA Counsel Awards, 2020 to 2022;
  • Listed in the Thomson Reuters "Acritas Stars" list: stand-out lawyers in private practice;
  • Ranked as a "Next Generation Partner/Lawyer" for " Dispute resolution: arbitration and international litigation"– Legal 500 EMEA, UAE, 2016-23;
  • Awarded "Client Choice Award" for litigation – Lexology Awards, UAE, 2019; and
  • Finalist for "Rising Star – Private Practice" Award - Middle East Legal Awards 2019.
  • Author of "Enforcing arbitral awards in the United Arab Emirates", published by Lexis Nexis Middle East;
  • Author of "Challenging arbitral jurisdiction and anti-suit injunctions in the United Arab Emirates", published by Lexis Nexis Middle East;
  • Author of "Interim remedies and arbitration in the United Arab Emirates", published by Lexis Nexis Middle East;
  • Author of "State immunity and arbitration the United Arab Emirates", published by Lexis Nexis Middle East;
  • Author of "Greenwashing – What it is and how to avoid it", published by The Oath – Middle East Law Journal for Corporates;
  • Author of "Monetising arbitration awards against assets in the UAE", Stephenson Harwood LLP alert;
  • Author of "Enforcement of arbitral awards in the United Arab Emirates", Stephenson Harwood LLP alert;
  • Author of "Termination of contracts in the United Arab Emirates", Stephenson Harwood LLP alert;
  • Author of "Top tips for the effective management of construction disputes in the Middle East", Stephenson Harwood LLP alert;
  • Author of "Dispute resolution clauses: drafting principles and concepts", Stephenson Harwood LLP alert;
  • Author of "Virtual arbitration hearings: top 10 tips", published by The Oath – Middle East Law Journal for Corporates;
  • Author of "Third party funding in international arbitration", Stephenson Harwood LLP alert;
  • Author of "Top tips for effective debt recovery", Stephenson Harwood LLP alert;
  • Co-author of "COVID-19: 'Top tips' for effective contract management", Stephenson Harwood LLP alert - please click here to view;
  • Co-author of "The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the workplace and commercial contracts", published by Menas Associates - please click here to view;
  • Co-author of "Key measures taken by arbitral institutions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic", Stephenson Harwood LLP alert;
  • Co-author of "Key measures taken by the UAE Courts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic", Stephenson Harwood alert LLP;
  • Co-author of "COVID-19: Legal and contractual implications, Stephenson Harwood LLP alert;
  • Co-author of "Recognition of UAE judgments - an easier path to enforcement in India" published by Practical Law Company; and
  • Co-author of "Force Majeure and the escalation of US-Iran tensions" Stephenson Harwood LLP alert.
  • English

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