Roberta is a legal director in the litigation and dispute management practice group in the Abu Dhabi office.
Since moving to the Middle East in 2011, Roberta has developed a broad practice that encompasses non-contentious and contentious construction, along with internal investigations and regulatory advice. She works on matters across the Gulf and beyond, with a particular focus on UAE, Iraq, KSA, and Qatar.
In addition to representing clients in arbitrations under DIAC, ICC and ADCCAC rules, she advises on procurement and pre-dispute matters arising from leisure developments, roads & utilities projects, process plants, and tower projects.
Roberta has previously practised law in the Environmental Group of a leading global law firm in the United States, where she represented international and Fortune 500 clients in disputes and on regulatory matters across numerous jurisdictions.
Prior to joining Eversheds Sutherland, Roberta was a senior associate at Reed Smith in the Middle East.
Some of Roberta’s experience includes:
- representing European contractor in dispute under Iraqi law in ICC arbitration; claim and counterclaims in excess of $210million
- representing an Abu Dhabi-based infrastructure contractor in ADCCAC-administered dispute, with developer arising out of major greenfield development. Claims exceeded $80million
- defended a major Dubai developer against $23million claim under ICC arbitration by landscaping company for alleged breach of a construction contract for a golf course development. Resulted in favourable settlement before hearing
- represented a Dubai developer in DIAC-administered arbitration involving substantial claims arising from construction of major sporting and leisure venue.
- advised a major Dubai developer regarding its strategy to limit liability associated with stalled development of property in the Dubai International Financial Centre.
- advised a developer of a hotel complex on St. Kitts & Nevis with respect to contractual obligations to the master developer
- successfully represented an Abu Dhabi branch of European subcontractors in a $20million fee dispute against a general contractor, resulting in full payment of fees and execution of substantial contract for further work
- acted as project counsel to a builder on a shipbuilding contract worth more than $40million. Advised on issues arising from extension of time claims, variations, quality disputes, and insurance
Roberta is a frequent speaker at construction community events in the UAE.
- admitted to the U.S. District Court- Northern District of Illinois and also All State Courts – Illinois
- professionally affiliated with the Abu Dhabi American Chamber of Commerce, the British Business Group and also the Society for Construction Law (Gulf)
- J.D. (Magna cum laude), New York University School of Law, USA, 2004
- M.Phil (Economics), University of Oxford, UK, 2001
- B.A. (Summa cum laude) Economics, Bryn Mawr College, USA, 1999
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