Lucas Pitts

I'm a Dispute Resolution partner based in our Dubai office, where I specialise in complex financial, fraud and tech cases from a broad range of sectors and jurisdictions.

I have advised on matters throughout the Middle East for over ten years and have extensive experience advising on disputes in a wide range of sectors, including telecommunications, banking, insolvency, aviation, fraud and breach of fiduciary duty, as well as general commercial disputes.

My practice is inherently international in nature, and I've worked on cases from a wide variety of jurisdictions outside of the Middle East, including the United Kingdom, New York, Uganda, Rwanda, Ivory Coast, Mauritius, Italy and Switzerland.

I've advised on cases proceeding under the Civil Procedure Rules of the English Court, DIFC, ICC, LCIA, GCC Commercial Centre and DIAC arbitrations as well as arbitrations proceeding under the 1996 Arbitration Act and the Oman Arbitration Act.

I've also handled cases before tribunals in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of England and Wales; the Bahrain Centre for Dispute Resolution, the SAMA Committee, Board of Grievances and Committee for the Resolution of Securities Disputes in Saudi Arabia and the Commercial Court in Mauritius. My work has included obtaining freezing injunctions, pre-action and specific disclosure orders, Norwich Pharmacal orders, search orders, as well as preparing cases and pleadings for foreign proceedings.

As well as being a qualified solicitor in England and Wales, I'm also admitted to practise in the United Arab Emirates, meaning I am qualified to advise on matters of UAE law.

I have developed a deep knowledge of a wide range of dispute resolution procedures both in the Middle East and internationally and my clients recommend me for my creative and thoughtful approach to resolving their disputes. I always work with them to find sensible, cost efficient strategies to obtain the results they require.

• Acting for the Central Bank of Bahrain in respect of the collapse of The International Banking Corporation as a result of the largest fraud perpetrated in the Middle East. The work involved claims of approximately $7 billion including a $3.9 billion claim against the bank's former auditors.
• Acting for the telecommunications arm of the Libyan Investment Authority in respect of claims arising from fraud relating to subsidiaries operating throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
• Acting for the investors in a US based technology start-up in respect of claims for fraud and breach of fiduciary duty.