News & Events
News & Events
Outer Temple’s David Russell KC has been appointed as Chair of DIFC’s Expert Advisory Council, commencing 16th February 2026. The Expert Advisory Council serves as a strategic pillar of the DIFC Family Wealth Centre, reinforcing its mission to support family businesses and ultra-high-net-worth individuals with world-class guidance and insights. Comprising leading experts across legal, financial, governance and regulatory fields, the Council helps shape the Centre’s long-term vision while ensuring it remains aligned with the evolving needs of families across generations. Through their expertise and collective experience, Council members play a vital role in enhancing the Centre’s robust ecosystem and advancing its commitment to building a sustainable, globally connected platform for family wealth. Many congratulations to David Russell KC on this…
News 17 Feb, 2026
The Chambers Global 2026 Guide rankings have been announced, and we are pleased to share that Outer Temple Chambers has been ranked yet again in Dispute Resolution: The English Bar (Middle East-wide). Our members have also been ranked for their individual expertise. We are delighted to be ranked in the Chambers Global 2026 Guide as a Band 3 Set in Dispute Resolution: The English Bar (Middle East-wide). Outer Temple Chambers has been in the Middle East for close to a decade with a Dubai office which serves as the hub of our Middle East operations. We are the only set of barristers’ chambers with a registered office and members on the ground, within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and…
News 13 Feb, 2026
Sean Yates will be joining an array of speakers for a panel session at The Mediation Summit 2026, taking place on Thursday 22nd January at Sofitel Downtown, Dubai. The Mediation Summit 2026 is organised by The Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), in collaboration with The Mediation Hub MENA. This landmark summit will bring together distinguished leaders from the fields of mediation, judiciary, and dispute resolution-both regionally and internationally-to exchange expertise and advance the practice of mediation across the Middle East and North Africa. The day’s event will take place from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Sean will be joining the third panel discussion of the day on ‘Sector-Specific Disputes Relevent to the Region.’ This panel session will be divided into three parts. Sean Yates, alongside Bruce Edwards,…
News 19 Jan, 2026
We are delighted to welcome John Gower as Professional Associate to Outer Temple’s award-winning International Team. Based in Abu Dhabi, UAE, John has over 25 years of tax law experience, specialising in UK and UAE tax, with an expertise in cross-border tax matters. His practice focusses on UAE, UK and international tax advisory services to law firms, sovereign funds, family offices, companies, and individuals. Prior to setting up his tax consultancy practice in 2023, John spent 11 years as head of Asia-Pac tax at ADIA, a very significant Abu Dhabi based sovereign wealth fund, focussing on structuring its investments in infrastructure, private equity, real estate and hospitality, and dealing with the multi- jurisdictional tax, regulatory and legal complexities of those…
News 3 Dec, 2025
We are thrilled to share that Outer Temple Chambers has won ‘Litigation Team of the Year’ at the inaugural LAW Middle East Awards 2025, held in Dubai. The LAW Middle East Awards ceremony recognised achievements across a range of categories, reflecting the breadth of innovation and excellence shaping legal teams in the Middle East. We are overwhelmed to have been recognised as ‘Litigation Team of the Year’ in the region, amongst 11 firms being nominated at the ceremony held on 4th November at the Palazzo Versace, Dubai. Outer Temple Chambers has been in the Middle East for close to a decade with an office in Dubai which serves as the hub of our Middle East operations and provides support to…
News 6 Nov, 2025
Dubai based barrister Philip Punwar has once again been ranked as Global Elite Thought Leader for Commercial Litigation in the Client Choice category in the Lexology Index 2025 report, previously known as Who’s Who Legal. Established in 2005, Client Choice recognises those law firms and partners around the world that stand apart for the excellent client care they provide and the quality of their service. The Lexolology Global Elite Thought Leaders are categorised as the best of the best across their research, achieved by only around 5% of listed practitioners. Individuals ranked as Thought Leaders are considered leaders in their field. Fewer than 50% of individuals considered are selected for inclusion. Philip Punwar has been ranked as a ‘Recommended Barrister’ in the Client Choice Thought Leaders…
News 30 Oct, 2025
Sajid Suleman appeared in the DIFC Court of Appeal for the successful Appellants in the landmark anti-suit injunction dispute in Nashrah v Najem (1) and Nex (2) – ARB 005/2025. The case involved a complex jurisdictional dispute concerning an anti-suit injunction granted by the DIFC Court of First Instance, which halted proceedings in the English High Court. The English proceedings included an expedited application for a stay under section 9 of the Arbitration Act 1996, and a hearing for an anti-arbitration injunction – scheduled to take place the day after the DIFC anti-suit injunction was obtained. The Respondent also commenced arbitration proceedings in the DIAC. The contract at the heart of the dispute, signed after Dubai Decree No. 34 of…
News 24 Oct, 2025
David Russell KC will be lecturing at the Aurifer GCC Tax Certificate course in collaboration with Middlesex University Dubai. Launched in 2022, the Aurifer GCC Tax Certificate is the first executive programme on taxation in the Gulf region. This unique programme offers a comprehensive overview of tax systems in the GCC countries and the UAE in particular. The Certificate delves into the essentials of direct and indirect taxation in GCC countries, including Corporate Tax, VAT, Excises, and Customs. It also features modules on key aspects of international taxation, with a specific focus on their practical application in the tax systems of the GCC countries and the UAE. For the 2025 edition, the programme introduces two specialised tracks, designed to meet the…
News 14 Oct, 2025
We are thrilled to announce that Outer Temple Chambers has been shortlisted for ‘Litigation Team of the Year’ at the premier of the Law Middle East Awards 2025. The awards ceremony will be taking place on Tuesday 4th November 2025 at Palazzo Versace Dubai. The awards will recognise achievements across a range of categories, reflecting the breadth of innovation and excellence shaping legal teams in the Middle East. This premier gathering for the region’s legal elite is set to be the most prestigious event on the Middle East legal calendar, honouring the best and brightest minds. This year’s shortlist was selected by the Law Middle East editorial team from over 350 nominations submitted by 120 firms. Outer Temple Chambers is delighted to…
News 9 Oct, 2025
Seven members of Outer Temple Chambers will be involved in the ‘Advanced Advocacy Skills’ training, part of the DIFC Laws Certificate Programme 2025 in October at the DIFC Academy, Dubai. The DIFC Academy have invited Outer Temple Chambers to deliver the Advanced Advocacy Skills course as part of their DIFC Laws Certificate Programme 2025. This course will be presented by six KCs and barristers, of Outer Temple Chambers in association with the DIFC Courts, including one member acting as a mock judge. This comprehensive training explores the application of traditional advocacy skills to activities routinely performed by lawyers. There will be series of both unassessed and assessed advocacy exercises. These exercises take the form of mock hearings covering submissions (written and oral), witness…
News 8 Oct, 2025
Philip Punwar has been recognised in The 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Litigators Guide, published on Thursday 24th July 2025. The Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Litigators Guide, now in its 4th year, focuses on Global Litigation. The Guide features attorneys who specialize in international arbitration, public international litigation and global controversies and investigations that increasingly define the portfolio of the world’s best dispute lawyers. The 500 recognised individuals are selected through a robust nomination process including submissions, journalistic research and editorial vetting from a board of peers. Philip Punwar has been recognised in International Arbitration & Litigation in Dubai. Philip is an English qualified practitioner with more than twenty-five years’ arbitration experience. He has acted as sole, party nominated and presiding arbitrator in ad…
News 25 Jul, 2025
Dubai based barrister Philip Punwar was invited to deliver a training session on ‘Interim Remedies’ at the DIFC Academy as part of their DIFC Laws & Courts Procedures course on Tuesday 27 May 2025. The ‘DIFC Laws & Courts Procedures’ course is part of the DIFC Laws Certificate Programme 2025, and comprises of 11 sessions in total. The series of lectures aims to provide education and training on the DIFC Laws and DIFC Courts Procedures to civil law lawyers, DIFC Courts practitioners, Emirati advocates, In-house counsel and other professionals whose work involve exposure to common law systems and jurisdictions. The course, in association with Outer Temple Chambers and Middlesex University Dubai commenced on 6th May 2025, and will be completed on…
News 4 Jun, 2025
