Q. Tell us about you and how you landed on the CIArb UAE Branch Committee?
A. I am Partner at Obeid & Partners (Dubai, Paris, Beirut) where I practice in the litigation & Arbitration Department. I have acted as counsel in major international arbitration cases across the Middle East and North Africa region and sat as arbitrator 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. I hold a PhD from the University Panthéon-Assas (Paris II) in France on the topic of “setting-aside arbitral awards in the Arab Countries” and an LLM from Columbia University in New York.
I have been and continue to be significantly involved in the CIArb activities as fellow and tutor, member of the CIArb Approved Faculty List. When I moved to Dubai with my firm which opened a branch here, I was keen to join the CIArb UAE Branch Committee and contribute to its continued growth in this jurisdiction.
Q. How has your experience been so far and what have been your contributions since joining?
A. The CIArb UAE Branch is a very active and dynamic branch. It has been and still is a pleasure to be part of the committee working with a group of professionals coming from different backgrounds, with significant expertise and who are all collectively engaged in supporting the branch and ensuring its continued success at different levels.
I have been particularly involved in the organization of branch events. We have taken a number of initiatives to involve our members and organized several successful events such as the two flagships CIArb conferences during the Dubai Arbitration Week Conference in 2021 and 2022. We were also keen to build collaborations with other institutions such as DIAC and have accordingly introduced the “how to events” series, which received very positive feedback. We also worked on enhancing our relationship with other CIArb branches by organizing webinars in collaboration with the Iberian Chapter and the CIArb Qatar Branch. Our events tackle several topics from arbitration, to mediation to other sector-focused topics such as construction, oil & gas, mining, maritime and technology disputes. Our aim is to involve our members as much as possible and tackle all hot topics in the dispute resolution arena. We have many other events in the pipeline during the course of this year and very much encourage you all to follow the CIArb newsletter and upcoming events.
Q. What are you seeking to achieve during your time on the Committee?
A. In my role as event coordinator, my aim is to promote the CIArb as a leading educational institution in dispute resolution. I am seeking to attract practitioners, who are not yet members, encourage them to join the CIArb community and see the benefit of being part of this great professional network. I am also looking forward to consolidate collaborations with other institutions, participate in spreading education, and ensure that the branch is at the forefront in tackling the latest developments in our field.
Q. What does the CIArb strategy 2021-2023 represent for you?
A. The CIArb strategy is an important milestone taken by the institution which shows the institution’s will and adaptability to a changing world. The CIArb strategy is a very positive step that reassures its members that they are part of an institution that is adapting to the changes and challenges of the new era, an institution that is innovative and that would not hesitate to the lead in putting into place a plan to remain a competitive and pioneer institution. This also means that each member has a key role to play in pulling together their efforts to help the institution meet its goals.
Q. What message do you have for others who would like to join the Committee and be more active in helping the CIArb meet its goals.
A. I highly encourage all practitioners and especially young practitioners to join CIArb. It is a wonderful community, a great opportunity to meet likeminded practitioners, to network and to be part of an evolving institution. In short, don’t hesitate to get involved!
Zeina Obeid is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and Event Coordinator of the CIArb UAE Branch. She is a Partner with Obeid & Partners and can be contacted on zeina@obeidpartners.com
CIArb UAE Branch News 