Ahmed Habib

Experience

Ahmed is an Attorney-at-Law, Member of Paris and Cairo Bars, practicing at DWF.

His practice is focused on advising and representing clients, including States, State-owned companies and multinationals, in disputes and international arbitration proceedings. He also acts as arbitrator and is on the list of arbitrators of the ICC French National Committee.

He has handled international arbitrations subject to a variety of applicable laws (civil and common law), covering several jurisdictions and conducted under the auspices of various arbitration centres (notably the ICC, ICSID, CRCICA, DIAC, LCIA and PCA) as well as ad hoc arbitration proceedings conducted notably under the Rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law.

His experience has covered a wide range of industries such as construction, infrastructure, automotive, hospitality, transport, banking & finance, defence & aerospace, commodities, telecommunications and oil & gas.

He has advised clients prior to the initiation of arbitration proceedings, conducted settlement negotiations and acted as Counsel in post arbitration proceedings (setting aside and enforcement of arbitral awards). He has also advised parties during the drafting of their contracts to enhance their protection in case of a dispute.

Ahmed is a member of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR, a member of the Editorial Board of the ICC Dispute Resolution Bulletin, an ICC YAAF Regional Representative for the Middle East and was appointed in March 2022 by Egypt's Ministry of Justice as member of the arbitration experts' committee entrusted with the review of the Egyptian arbitration law and advice on its potential reform.

He is fluent in Arabic, English and French and worked in each of those three languages. Prior to joining DWF, he practiced at leading law firms in Paris and Cairo.

Ahmed holds an LL.M. in Private International Law and International Trade Law and an LL.B. in International Business Law from Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne University in France, as well as an LL.B. in Law from Cairo University in Egypt.

Memberships

• Attorney-at-Law, Paris and Cairo Bars
• ICC Young Arbitration & ADR Forum (YAAF) Representative for the Middle East
• Member of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR
• Member of the Editorial Board of the ICC Dispute Resolution Bulletin
• Member of the arbitration experts' committee entrusted with the review of the Egyptian arbitration law and advice on its potential reform (appointed by a Decree of Egypt's Ministry of Justice dated 22 March 2022
• Member of LCIA Young International Arbitration Group (YIAG), Young ICSID, Young CRCICA and CFA-40.

Testimonials

• “Having had the privilege to work with Ahmed for several years on a very complex international arbitration case, we, at Veolia, have experienced his talent, commitment at work and ability to advice and optimise his client’s position in order to reach the best results efficiently. We look forward to continuing to work with him – whoever assigns him can be assured of a service of the highest quality” (Bruno Masson, Veolia Environment, Deputy Group Chief Legal Officer, Vice Chairman of the Ethics Committee).
• “Working with Ahmed on an international investment arbitration was an outstanding experience. His addition to the team was required and I’d say was the right decision, not only for his expertise in the field but also for his professionalism in handling hardships. Thank you for making a difficult time a little easier and less stressful” (A State’s representative).

Recent Cases

• Representing a local subsidiary of a British multinational construction company and another Qatari construction company in an ICC arbitration in relation to an iconic city re-development project.
• Representing a leading civil engineering, infrastructure and building construction company in an ICC arbitration in connection with the construction of the Doha Metro.
• Representing Pathfinder Minerals PLC and IM Minerals Limited in an ICSID arbitration against the Republic of Mozambique (ICSID Case No. ARB/24/4). The claim is brought under UK-Mozambique bilateral investment treaty and arose in respect of two mining concessions.
• Sole Arbitrator in an ICC Arbitration initiated by a UAE company against another UAE company in relation to an agreement for supply of mining equipment.
• Co-arbitrator in an ICC arbitration initiated by a Chinese company against American and Spanish respondents in relation to a construction project in Egypt.
• Advised and represented the Egyptian Ministries of Foreign Affairs and of Higher Education in relation to the construction of an Egyptian House at the “Cité Internationale Universitaire” in Paris from March 2018 until the completion of works in 2023.
• Representing a Qatari automotive distribution company in an ICC arbitration brought against a European automotive manufacturer arising from the termination of a distribution agreement.
• Advising a European construction company in a dispute with a Middle Eastern State, prior to the initiation of an investment arbitration. The dispute arose from a major urban development project.
• Representing the Arab Republic of Egypt in an ICSID arbitration initiated by Future Pipe International B.V. (ICSID Case No. ARB/17/31). The claim was brought under the Egypt-Netherlands bilateral investment treaty and arose in respect of the Egyptian Ministry of Housing’s Policy of Purchasing pipes for sewerage and potable water projects.
• Representing a high net worth individual ranked by Forbes’ magazine among the World’s billionaires in an ICC arbitration in Paris arising out of an agreement restructuring the family assets.
• Representing a European leading Company in a CRCICA arbitration brought against an African Public Entity in respect of a contract assigning to the Company the supply of public services.
• Representing North-African and European Banks in an ICC Arbitration brought by a Middle Eastern Company on the basis of a shareholders’ agreement in relation to the creation of a joint-venture.
• Representing a Turkish oil and gas State-owned company in proceedings initiated before the Paris Court of Appeal to seek the annulment of an award rendered in an ICC arbitration. The underlying dispute arose out of a construction project and a related agreement executed with another Turkish company.
• Representing a leading Saudi food production company in an ICC Arbitration brought against a French Company in relation to the dismantling and transnational industrial transfer of a refinery for the purpose of re-erection.
• Representing a leading European hotel management company in an ad hoc arbitration governed by the UNCITRAL Rules brought against a Middle Eastern hotel-owning company in relation to a hotel management agreement.
• Representing a Middle-Eastern telecommunication company in an ad hoc arbitration governed by the UNCITRAL Rules brought against another Middle-Eastern telecommunication company arising from their interconnection agreement.

Articles

• Enforcing arbitration awards in Qatar: overview", Practical Law UK, Practice Note, 1 November 2024, co-authored with Alexander Kelsall, William McLaughlan and Marah Badran
• Arbitration and insolvency – Paris Court rules based on public policy (Vergnet v Hydro Construction), LexisNexis, 1 September 2022
• “Interim Measures in International Arbitration: An Arab Perspective”, Yearbook of Private International Law, Volume 21 (2019/2020), pp. 259-278, co-authored with Karim El Chazli
  
• “The New French Arbitration Rules Under the 13th January 2011 Decree”, 20 (June 2013) Journal of Arab Arbitration, pp. 5-27, co-authored with Sally El Sawah