Aleem specialises in international dispute resolution, focusing on large and high-value construction and engineering disputes, as well as other areas of commercial practice. He has acted in litigation and arbitration proceedings in multiple jurisdictions, including England & Wales, the Sultanate of Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan, where he is also registered as an Advocate of the High Court.
An experienced advocate, Aleem has appeared as counsel before international tribunals under the rules of various arbitration institutes including ADCCAC, DIAC, DIFC-LCIA, ICC, LCIA, SIAC and in related litigation. As a litigator, Aleem has a particular interest in commercial disputes involving elements of public and private international law. The cases Aleem is involved in tend to be document-heavy, and often involve complex technical issues which are subject to expert evidence. With an eye for detail and case strategy, Aleem has a strong track record for delivering results against the odds.
Aleem advises and acts for both private-sector and government clients in the international market across a range of industry sectors, including mass transit, rail, road, oil and gas, power, water treatment, infrastructure works and real estate development projects.
Aleem is used to working with lawyers from different jurisdictions, as well as with in-house counsel and independent experts.
Specialist expertise
Examples of Aleem’s expertise include:
- advising one of the UK’s leading construction companies on a substantial extension of time claim relating to a high-profile port redevelopment project in the northeast of England;
- advising an Asian international design contractor in relation to a potential USD 80m investment treaty claim against a Southeast Asian state under two Bilateral Investment Treaties;
- acting as Tribunal Secretary in an ad hoc international arbitration of a USD 42m insurance claim arising from damage to a gas turbine in a power plant in Bangladesh, raising complex issues under Bangladeshi, Korean and Japanese laws;
- aounsel for the respondent manufacturer in an English Law DIFC-LCIA arbitration concerning the supply of armoured vehicles from the UAE to Iraq. The respondent succeeded in obtaining a rare award for nominal damages;
- acting for a joint venture contractor against a well-known international design house in parallel ICC arbitration proceedings in connection with a major metro project in the Middle East, valued in excess of USD 500m. The dispute involved some 200 individual variation claims, delay claims and design liability issues;
- acting for an Asian international contractor in a multiparty USD 400m ICC arbitration against a West African state arising from the development of a flagship infrastructure project in West Africa, involving underlying allegations of corruption and illegality in the contract award;
- Counsel for a Chinese international contractor in proceedings before the Islamabad High Court (Pakistan) for the recognition and enforcement of an interim ICC arbitration award under the New York Convention (1958) and Recognition and Enforcement (Arbitration Agreements and Foreign Arbitral Awards) Act (2011). This was a case was of first impression for the Pakistani courts;
- successfully acted for a Chinese international contractor in two consolidated ICC arbitrations) in relation to a motorway project in Pakistan, with delay, disruption, late design in issue. The amount in dispute was USD 30m;
- Counsel for the claimant contractor in a high-value DIAC arbitration relating to the construction of a 5-star hotel in Dubai, involving claims for extensions of time, disruption, and prolongation. The claimant succeeded with over 75% of its claims being awarded;
- acting for a Kuwaiti real estate developer in an ADCCAC arbitration concerning a stalled residential development in Abu Dhabi;
- advising a European international contractor in connection with a dispute relating to the design and construction of a large-scale residential development in Qatar;
- acting as Tribunal Secretary in a DIAC arbitration arising from the sale and purchase of aviation fuel in Afghanistan. The dispute raised complex conflict of law issues under English and Afghan law;
- Counsel for the claimant contractor in a DIFC-LCIA arbitration concerning the fit-out and interior design of a VVIP penthouse project in Abu Dhabi;
- acting for an international EPC contractor in TCC proceedings against a state-owned corporation in a high-value dispute arising out of the termination of a bespoke EPC contract relating to the world’s largest single stream LDPE plant;
- defending a top GCC-based steel producer in a US $56 million cross-border shareholder action before the Omani courts;
- Counsel for the respondent Omani public utility in ad hoc arbitration proceedings arising from the construction, engineering and operation of a mobile water desalination plant in Oman;
- advising an international syndicate of 20 reinsurers in relation to a US$100m subrogated recovery claim resulting from a fire at an oil refinery in Oman; and
- advising and representing a group of individuals in high-profile corruption investigations and trials relating to the oil, gas and construction industries in Oman.
Aleem's memberships include:
- Hon. Society of Gray’s Inn
- Law Society of England and Wales
- Islamabad District & High Court Bar Associations, Pakistan
- Society of Construction Law.
- British Institute for International and Comparative Law
- ICC Young Arbitrators’ Forum
- Young ICSID
