Suzannah Newboult

Partner
International and Global Board Member
Suzannah Newboult is an excellent partner who is cool under pressure and great with clients.
Client, The Legal 500 EMEA 2021
About

Suzannah's work on disputes across the Middle East spans construction and engineering in power, oil and gas, and processing facilities; hard infrastructure; social infrastructure and complex engineering world first- type developments. She acts for contractors, engineering companies, specialist sub-contractors, developers, consultants and lenders. Suzannah primarily handles dispute in arbitration (ad-hoc as well as those in major international and Middle East based institutions) and everything which comes with that including strategy setting, engaging in mediation and negotiations and reporting to client's boards. 

Suzannah is a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales and has been based in the Middle East since 2010. She is well known as a thought leader in the construction industry. She is appointed to the RICS Market Advisory Board, the UAE Construction Think Tank, and the British Business Group Construction Focus Group. Suzannah is ranked in Chambers & Partners, a Leading Individual in Legal 500, and a Thought Leader in Who's Who Construction. She is praised for her "strategic thinking, good risk appraisal and construction industry knowledge".

Market sources say: "There's nothing that can faze her."

Suzannah is an elected member of DLA Piper’s International Board and appointed to the Global Board.

Professional QualificationsSolicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales

Highlights

EXPERIENCE

Suzannah's experience includes acting for:

  • A UK contractor in a DIFC-LCIA arbitration in the education sector
  • A Dutch company in an ad-hoc arbitration in KSA in the oil and gas sector
  • A Korean contractor in an ICC arbitration seated in the UAE in respect of a JV dispute relating to a water storage facility in Abu Dhabi
  • An English contracting company in a dispute over the construction of a hospital project in KSA
  • A major Middle Eastern based contractor in respect of a USD600 million dispute in relation to a gas plant in Qatar; subject to Swiss law and ICC arbitration seated in Geneva
  • A major Middle Eastern based contractor in respect of a USD100 million dispute in relation to a gas plant in KSA; subject to English law and ICC arbitration seated in Geneva
  • An Indian Developer in a DIFC arbitration in the residential sector
  • A South African company in a construction arbitration under DIAC rules
  • A major Middle Eastern based contractor in respect of a USD300 million dispute in relation to a sports stadium in Qatar
  • A Korean contractor in a dispute with the developer and various sub-contractors in relation to the construction of a landmark leisure project in Dubai
Education
  • University of Wales, LLB (Hons)
  • Cardiff Law School, Legal Practice Course (Distinction)
  • Nottingham Trent University, Post-Graduate Diploma in Advanced Litigation

Awards and recognition

  • Leading individual, Construction, United Arab Emirates, The Legal 500 EMEA 2022
  • Recommended lawyer, Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and International Litigation, United Arab Emirates and Dispute Resolution, Saudi Arabia, The Legal 500 EMEA 2022
  • Ranked lawyer, Construction: Dispute Resolution, United Arab Emirates, Chambers Global 2022

Publications

  • Tackling construction claims in the Middle East
  • The A to Z of Construction Law in the UAE
  • The A to Z of Construction Law in Qatar
  • Contributor to Women, Business and the Law 2020, World Bank Group
  • Suzannah frequently writes for other publications including The Legal 500, The Edge, Construction Law, Gulf Times, Qatar Construction Sites and the Peninsular

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