Reza is a partner in the London office. In his more than 25 years of practice, he has represented clients as counsel and advocate in arbitrations conducted under a variety of arbitral rules in many different jurisdictions. He also appears as an advocate before domestic and international courts in arbitration-related matters.
Reza has previously practiced in Paris, New York and Dubai, where he established the Middle East dispute resolution practice of a leading international law firm. He has particular expertise in disputes arising in emerging markets, including in investor-state arbitrations.
Reza regularly acts as arbitrator and has been appointed in more than 20 arbitrations. He serves or has served in a variety of leadership positions, including as trustee of the Bahrain Chamber of Dispute Resolution, Vice-Chair of the IBA Arbitration Committee, president of the LCIA Arab Users’ Council, trustee of the DIFC-LCIA Arbitration Centre, and member of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR.
Reza is a qualified English solicitor-advocate and was appointed King’s Counsel in recognition of his advocacy skills in 2018. He is consistently recognised as a Global Elite Thought Leader in Arbitration by Lexology Index. Lexology notes Reza is “extremely highly regarded”, with Chambers highlighting his ability to provide “clear and authoritative advice on matters of strategy and case development”, as well as his capacity to “advise with a helicopter view and understand the best way to manage the subject”. Legal 500 recognises him as “sharp, solutions oriented and thinks ahead”. He speaks English, French, and Farsi.
Bar and court admissions
Languages
English
Farsi
French
"He is very highly regarded as counsel"
Lexology Index
Securing a $1.98 billion award on behalf of Crescent Petroleum and Dana Gas in an LCIA arbitration and ancillary English court proceedings brought against the Kurdistan Regional Government arising out of the operation of a gas field
representing nine independent power producers in consolidated LCIA arbitrations seated in London and related English court proceedings against the Pakistani state-owned off-taker in a dispute arising under power purchase agreements
representing the power and water authority of a Middle East country in expert determination and ICC arbitration against the owner/operator of an independent power plant in relation to the construction, operation and tariffs of the power plant
securing a landmark award in an UNCITRAL arbitration against Libya brought on behalf of Lebanese and Jordanian investors under the OIC Investment Agreement. The tribunal found that the investors had suffered a denial of justice at the hands of the Libyan judiciary
obtaining a successful settlement on behalf of Beijing Urban Construction in an ICSID arbitration against the Republic of Yemen following a landmark decision on jurisdiction
representing a consortium of Asian contractors in an ICC arbitration against the owner of a coal-fired power plant in an East African country in relation to the construction and technical capacity of the plant
representing an Asian national oil company in a Singapore-seated UNCITRAL arbitration against its joint-venture partner in relation to disputes arising out of the development and production of gas fields in the East China Sea
obtaining a favourable award for a leading European energy company in an ICC arbitration seated in London arising out of an insurer’s failure to pay on demand under a performance guarantee governed by English law
representing a multinational telecoms operator in an LCIA arbitration arising under a sale and purchase agreement for the sale of its African business
“He is the real deal, especially when it comes to his business acumen and ability to craft strategy”
Chambers UK
“He is sharp, solutions oriented and thinks ahead”
Legal 500
- University of Cambridge
- University College London
