Dubai Arbitration Week connects arbitration practitioners in the UAE with arbitration practitioners globally.

Exponent will attend the conference and host a special panel with light breakfast.

PANEL PRESENTATION

"The Three Cs for Avoiding & Resolving Construction Disputes Involving GigaProjects: Communication, Collaboration, and Commitment"

Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025 | TIME 9 A.M. — 11 A.M.

Mega- and giga-projects in the MENA region are vast in scope and budget and serve critical functions as airports, energy plants, commercial property, and other infrastructure. Claims and disputes due to defects, delays, disruptions, and cost overruns on these projects can be complex, requiring specialized significant resources and specialized knowledge to resolve.

This panel will offer perspectives from technical experts and solicitors on effective methodologies for avoiding and mitigating these claims using a proactive and practical approach known as the "Three Cs": communication, collaboration, and commitment to a common goal. 

Join Exponent for this special breakfast and panel discussion at the Ritz Carlton during Dubai Arbitration Week with a select group of our clients and industry colleagues.

Schedule:

8 — 9 a.m. Networking & Light Breakfast  
9 — 10:30 a.m. Panel Discussion 
10:30 — 11 a.m. Networking

Moderator

Jeffrey Hunt, Ph.D., P.E., Principal Engineer, Exponent
Dr. Hunt is a licensed engineer and specializes in the design, construction, and performance of buildings, facilities, and infrastructure. He performs root-cause failure investigations and provides engineering and construction consulting services for resolutions of disputes between owners, design professionals, contractors, and fabricators. He has led investigations of construction defects, design errors and deficiencies on projects located in Australia, Asia, North America, and the Middle East.

Panelists

Karie Akeelah, Partner, Trowers & Hamlins
Ms. Akeelah is a Partner at Towers & Hamlins and based in Dubai. She has over 18 years' experience in the construction sector and specializes in contentious construction matters, international arbitration, and Middle East law. Ms. Akeelah has been practicing in the UAE since 2008 and has established herself as a trusted adviser to a range of private and government clients in the MENA region and internationally in arbitration (DIAC, ADCCAC, ICC, LCIA, UNCITRAL), litigation (DIFC Courts), expert determination, and adjudication. As project counsel, she works closely with clients to avoid or achieve early resolution of disputes through structured negotiation, risk management, and contract compliance measures.

Subodh Medhekar, Ph.D., P.E., CFSE, Principal Engineer, Exponent
Dr. Medhekar is a Chemical and Process Engineer with more than 30 years of industry experience. His current practice is increasingly focused on international arbitration and litigation, where he serves as an expert witness. Over the course of his career, he has been directly involved in the design, construction, and commissioning of large Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) projects, often working on-site alongside project engineers, designers, managers, and equipment vendors. Dr. Medhekar has evaluated process designs and operations for over 100 projects worldwide, including in Kuwait, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, the UK, Germany, Russia, Poland, Egypt, Mexico, Canada, and the United States. Having lived and worked on-site — sometimes for months at a time — he has gained first-hand insight into the realities of project execution, disputes, and resolutions. In his current role, Dr. Medhekar testifies on matters involving process-related issues that contribute to startup and commissioning delays, which often lead to project cost overruns. He has also collaborated with independent quantum experts to assess and quantify the process-related drivers of delays in major EPC projects. His unique combination of technical expertise and practical project experience provides a strong foundation for his arbitration and litigation work.

Claire Miller, Partner, Beale & Co
Ms. Miller is the Managing Partner of Beale & Co (Middle East). She has over 20 years of experience in all forms of dispute resolution, specializing in construction disputes for clients in the Middle East, Central Asia, Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region. With a focus on international arbitration, Ms. Miller regularly manages large-scale complex cross-border international arbitrations, DAB proceedings, and mediations. She also sits as an Arbitrator and has arbitrated under the rules of all the major arbitral institutions including, ICC, DIFC-LCIA, DIAC, ADCCAC, UNCITRAL and Ad Hoc proceedings.

Thembela Ndwandwe, Senior Associate, Freshfields
Mr. Ndwandwe is a senior associate in Freshfield's Global Project Disputes Practice and is based in Dubai. He is broadly experienced in the energy and infrastructure sectors with both private and public sector experience, including litigation and alternative dispute resolution processes, as well as drafting of construction agreements. Mr. Ndwandwe has advised on a broad range of projects within the construction and engineering practice area, including energy, oil and gas, industrial plants, rail and road transport, and commercial property. In doing so, he has worked extensively with various standard form construction contracts and bespoke contract regimes.