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Shalagh Massingham

Partner

Shalagh is a partner in the litigation and dispute management practice. She is based in the Dubai office and has worked with the firm since 2005. 

During her career with Eversheds Sutherland, Shalagh has worked for three of our offices including Newcastle Upon Tyne, Doha and Dubai.

Shalagh advises on English law, Qatari law and UAE law and has a deep understanding of the law and culture in the region. Her practice centres around international construction disputes (arbitration and litigation) and in particular ICC, DIFC-LCIA, DIAC and LMAA. She also advises on commercial disputes, contract interpretation and dispute management/avoidance across the Middle East.

Shalagh has extensive experience of local court related matters and works “hand in hand” with local counsel in providing seamless client service to clients regardless of location. This includes working on QFC and DIFC court matters as well as advising on local court proceedings at all levels  (Court of First Instance, Court of Appeal, Court of Cassation and Enforcement proceedings).

Shalagh also regularly works with Counsel in the region with experience in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman.

Some of Shalagh’s recent experience includes:

Construction

  • Defending a Spanish contractor on a USD 32 million delay, disruption and acceleration claim pursuant to the ICC Rules, English law and seated in Qatar.
  • Defending an energy company in DIFC-LCIA construction arbitration proceedings (delay, disruption and liquidated damages) pursuant to English law. This arbitration was seated in the UAE and heard before a panel of three arbitrators over a five day hearing
  • Appearing as Advocate in Emergency Arbitration proceedings brought in DIFC-LCIA arbitration on behalf of a blue energy company. The matter in question involved matters of UAE and English law and related to bond calls (the underlying dispute valued at over US$70m). Shalagh obtained an order in her client’s favour
  • Representing a Qatari government entity in a US$50m ICC Qatari law/seated dispute with a sub-contractor on a polysilicon plant pursuant to Qatari law and seated in Qatar. Shalagh also successfully defended over 5 interim applications brought before the local courts on this matter and then worked with the client on enforcement issues in Qatar
  • Representing a Spanish water plant manufacturer in ICC construction arbitration proceedings as Claimant pursuant to English law. The dispute is valued at US$20m and is seated in Qatar
  • Representing a well-known Malaysian subcontractor in ICC proceedings brought by a Singaporean entity. The proceedings related to a construction on Salwa Road in Qatar. The proceedings were ultimately dismissed on jurisdictional grounds which was an excellent result for this particular client
  • Acting as effective in-house counsel to well-known Spanish/Italian unincorporated joint venture appointed as Main Contractor on a solar power project. Shalagh advises Main Contractor on relevant issues arising out of the EPC contract on an ad hoc basis

Commercial

  • Defending a client in US$50 million proceedings brought in the DIFC Courts subject to DIFC law. Shalagh worked hand in hand with a London QC/ junior counsel team and secured an exceptional results in her client’s favour.
  • Representing a client in commercial arbitration proceedings related to an ongoing project in Iraq (English law, DIFC-LCIA) valued at US$20m.
  • Working with local counsel on US$ billion claims brought in the UAE courts against well-known international banks
  • Advising an international bank on recovery of US$100m loan defaults in the UAE and internationally
  • Representing a Qatari government entity (established in a Free Zone) as Claimant in an ICC arbitration seated in Qatar. This arbitration had a construction/real estate focus and involved defending a substantial counterclaim
  • Advising a Qatari company in a partnership dispute and liability for inappropriate usage of IP by a former partner in Europe and the Middle East. This matter is multi-jurisdictional with proceedings being issued in England, Qatar and also the UAE.
  • Advising on agency and distribution agreements in Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait currently before the local courts

Employment

  • Advising a major international professional services firm in respect of a long running employment dispute with a former partner. We assisted the client in successfully defending the initial claim before the Employment Standards Office (ESO) of the Qatar Financial Centre on the basis of jurisdiction. The claim then came before the Qatari Court (Court of First Instance, Appeal and Cassation) where Shalagh worked “hand in hand” with Qatari Counsel from start to finish. The claim was successfully resolved in our client’s favour with the Court of Cassation dismissing the claim. This matter was also multijurisdictional with proceedings being brought in Egypt and the US on the same matter
  • Advising an international engineering and construction firm in relation to a claim for unpaid wages from a former general manager. This dispute involved assisting the client with claims in the Court of First Instance and Court of Appeal. Again this claim was successfully defended with Court of Appeal finding for our client. The matter has now successfully settled on favourable terms to our client
  • Advising a multinational engineering firm on a claim for end of service benefit from a former employer. Court proceedings were issued but the majority of our work in this matter involved negotiating a settlement to avoid lengthy court proceedings
  • Shalagh is individually recognised in Chambers Global for  Dispute Resolution in the UAE and Qatar (Expertise Abroad) and quoted as: "She is hard-working, calm and a safe pair of hands." "Shalagh is excellent at providing clear and practical advice on complicated disputes." "She is extremely responsive, never misses a deadline and manages to make it seem like you are her only client." – Chambers Global 2022, UAE Dispute Resolution
  • Ranked in Chambers Global 2020, 2021
  • Advanced Diploma in Litigation (Distinction), Nottingham Trent University, UK, 2006
  • LPC (Distinction), University of Northumbria, UK, 2003
  • Graduate Diploma in Law, University of Northumbria, UK, 2002
  • BA (Hons) in English and History (Double First Class Honours), University of Northumbria, UK, 2001
Shalagh Massingham

Partner

Shalagh Massingham

Partner

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