Paul J. Neufeld, FCIArb

Paul Neufeld's practice is focused on international arbitration and litigation in a wide range of industries including energy and construction.

As counsel, Paul has acted on behalf of clients in U.S., English and DIFC courts as well as in proceedings under all major arbitration rules (e.g., ICC, LCIA, ICDR, SCC, DIAC, ICSID, UNCITRAL) in both commercial and treaty arbitration cases, whether governed by civil, common, shariah or public international law.

In addition to trying cases and helping clients resolve disputes, Paul also advises on cross-border transactions and investments, particularly those involving Latin America, the Middle East and North Africa.

He is admitted in Texas, New York, England and Wales (Solicitor), has full rights of audience in the DIFC Courts in Dubai, is a registered arbitrator with Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

As an undergraduate, Paul attended the Universität Leipzig in Germany with the support of the DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst) and received the Swiss Ambassador to Canada award for German language studies. While in law school, Paul was Editor in Chief of The Review of Litigation. He received the SSHRC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada) Fellowship for his Ph.D. at Brown University and previously taught at the University of Rhode Island and Providence College. Paul currently teaches Advocacy in ‎‎International Arbitration at the University ‎‎of Houston Law Center and has published ‎‎articles on many topics in international ‎‎arbitration and litigation, including “Saudi ‎‎Arabia” for the Dispute Resolution ‎Review.‎

Paul's representative experience includes:

Energy

• Represented German off-shore oil service supply companies in a contractual dispute filed in English courts under English law
• Represented megaproject contractor in an oil refinery construction arbitration involving state-owned entities in Latin America (English law)
• Represented mining services company in a Stockholm seated arbitration governed by Russian law and SCC rules concerning a mining project in Russia
• Represented numerous energy and ‎‎power companies in disputes with ‎‎sovereigns in relation to energy and infrastructure projects brought under bilateral and multilateral investment treaties governed by ICSID, UNCITRAL and ICSID Additional Facility rules
• Represented Saudi oilfield service company in relation to arbitration and litigation proceedings under Saudi and Texas law
• Advising claimant in ICC arbitration under New York law in relation to an agency agreement dispute in Saudi Arabia concerning midstream operations
• Represented natural gas supplier in an LNG gas pricing dispute
• Represented international oilfield services company in UNCITRAL arbitration brought by state-owned entity relating to drilling services
• Advising multinational entities on pre- and post-dispute matters in the United Kingdom, China, Singapore, Venezuela, Mexico, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel and other states in the Middle East and North Africa concerning oil and natural gas holdings

Construction

• Represented claimant in a dispute concerning the construction of a chemical plant in China under ICC rules
• Represented contractor in a refractory construction dispute governed by English law in the Technology and Construction Court (TCC) involving claims regarding delay, prolongation and variations
• Represented Swiss claimant in a series of UNCITRAL arbitration proceedings regarding the construction of, and supply of desalination equipment to, one of the largest desalination plants in the world
• Represented claimant in a DIAC arbitration concerning the construction of a sheet metal processing plant in the UAE
• Represented the contractor in a DIAC arbitration against the employer concerning a residential tower construction project dispute in the United Arab Emirates governed by UAE law
• Represented a UAE architectural firm in a dispute over a construction project in Saudi Arabia
• Represented Respondent in a Dubai-based residential construction project dispute in DIAC proceedings under UAE law
• Represented construction contractor in the Dubai World Special Tribunal (DWT) in a dispute with a property developer regarding the completion of the Palm Jumeirah

Investor-State Disputes

• Represented an American multinational energy company in ICSID arbitration under NAFTA against the Government of Canada
• Represented North American power company against a South American government in arbitration proceedings brought under a bilateral investment treaty
• Represented a multinational energy company in a contractual dispute against a Latin American state-owned entity in UNCITRAL arbitration and parallel 28 USC 1782 actions
• Represented a multinational energy company in ICSID arbitration against a Latin American governmental energy agency concerning long-term electrical power purchase agreements
• Represented North American energy company against a South American government in ICSID proceedings relating tax stabilization commitments
• Advised energy clients regarding numerous host-country bilateral and multilateral investment treaties in Latin America, Asia and the Middle East

Defense and Security

• Represented contractor in a Dubai-seated arbitration under UAE law involving a contractual dispute over security services provided in Afghanistan
• Advised Respondent in a contractual dispute concerning the sale of armored vehicles in Iraq
• Represented Respondent in DIAC arbitral proceedings (and related international litigation) regarding a contractual dispute over security services provided in Afghanistan
• Represented an international organization in UNCITRAL arbitration regarding the supply of goods and services by a Saudi Arabian company
• Advising a MENA-based supply chain company regarding international operations and corporate governance

Hospitality, Entertainment and Sports

• Represented UAE-based auto racing and manufacturing company in disputes and operations worldwide
• Represented U.S.-based drag racing company in U.S. disputes and operations
• Represented MENA-based sky diving company in disputes worldwide
• Represented a hotel owner in a Cairo-seated UNCITRAL arbitration against an international hotel management company regarding a hotel management agreement inMENA
• Advised Respondent in ICDR proceedings concerning a restaurant franchise-agreement dispute
• Represented claimant in an LCIA arbitration regarding a shareholders' dispute over media holdings in the Middle East
• Advised sports broadcasting company in the Middle East in multi-jurisdictional broadcasting rights and payment dispute
• Represented a U.S. media technology company against a European entity in proceedings under AAA/ICDR rules and English law

Banking, Real Estate and Insurance

• Advised contractor with respect to the settlement of its claims against a Dubai World company through a restructuring and settlement process set up to deal with creditor claims
• Represented contractor in a Dubai World Special Tribunal case concerning a real estate development project
• Represented a family office in a Dubai-seated ICC arbitration under English law concerning various asset allocation agreements
• Represented UAE Bank in DIFC Court proceedings involving employer and contractor
• Represented UAE Bank in multi-jurisdictional investment fund dispute
• Represented a Middle Eastern technology company ‎in relation to multijurisdictional IP ‎‎litigation in the UAE, Germany, Italy, ‎‎Japan, United States and Germany‎

Criminal

• Tried numerous criminal jury trials to verdict as a prosecutor in Municipal Court