Sadique Mohd

Lead Counsel (Sin.,DIFC)
Int'L Arbitration

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Sadique was admitted to the Singapore Bar in 2000. He possesses full Rights of Audience before several distinguished international courts, including the Singapore Supreme Court, Dubai International Financial Centre Courts (Part II), Abu Dhabi Global Markets Courts, the Singapore International Commercial Courts, and the Astana International Financial Centre Courts.

With over 23 years of experience as a seasoned commercial litigator, Sadique had the privilege of representing a diverse and prestigious clientele, including industry giants like Ernst & Young, Carrefour, China Construction, Downer EDI and Five Hotels as well as various public-listed organisations and Fortune 500 companies.

Sadique specialises in complex commercial disputes, particularly high-value construction and hotel management disputes, with a strong focus on international arbitration and litigation.

King’s Counsels describe Sadique as “an A grade litigator”, “technically excellent”, “always thinking 3 moves ahead”, having “a sharp focus on the underlying commercial issues” and “highly effective in dealing with any strengths or weaknesses in the dispute”.

His extensive experience spans various sectors and stakeholders, including developers/owners, main contractors/subcontractors, engineering firms, and law firms. Sadique’s expertise extends to arbitrations under various international arbitration rules, including ICC, LCIA, SIAC, DIAC, and ADDCAC, across multiple arbitration seats.

Sadique has a unique perspective as a former general counsel of state-owned and large organizations. This background equips Sadique with valuable insights into the challenges and requirements of in-house legal teams.

PROFESSIONAL ARBITRATION EXPERIENCE

  • Acting for Respondent as lead counsel in an AED 1 billion claim and an AED 650 million counterclaim construction dispute concerning a 5-star hotel in Abu Dhabi before three arbitrators.
  • Acting for Respondent as lead counsel in an AED 326 million construction dispute involving a residential city in Abu Dhabi before three arbitrators.
  • Acted for Claimant as lead counsel in an AED 42 million claim related to a dispute pertaining to ownership of car parks in Dubai.
  • Acted for Respondent in an arbitration case as co-counsel before three arbitrators involving an AED 20 million luxury Penthouse in Dubai in 2017.
  • Acted for Respondent in an arbitration case as co-counsel before three arbitrators concerning an AED 30 million hotel apartment dispute in Dubai in 2017.
  • Acting for Respondent as lead counsel in a construction dispute involving a commercial/residential building in Dubai, UAE.
  • Acted for Claimant as supervising counsel in a construction dispute involving two substations for DEWA in Dubai in 2021.
  • Acting for Respondent as lead counsel in a construction dispute involving a commercial/residential building in Dubai, UAE.
  • Acted for Respondent as counsel in an arbitration case involving an AED 22 million hotel apartment dispute in Dubai in 2018.
  • Acting for Respondent as lead counsel in a construction dispute involving a commercial/residential building in Dubai, UAE.
  • Acted for Respondent as lead counsel before three arbitrators in an AED 276 million construction dispute involving the construction of commercial/residential – hotel in Dubai, UAE.

PROFESSIONAL LITIGATION EXPERIENCE

  • Lead representative for the Respondent/Claimant in the landmark appeal before the DIFC Court of Appeal (and, earlier, in the DIFC Court of First Instance) in relation to a stay of proceedings by reason of an application made to the Joint Judicial Committee (the “JJC”) established pursuant to Dubai Decree No 19 of 2016.
  • Lead representative for the Respondent/Claimant in applications before the DIFC Court of First Instance (Justice Shamlan) for the setting aside of a judgment in default and striking out of a claim.
  • Lead representative for the Claimant in a claim filed before the DIFC Court of First Instance.
  • Lead counsel for the Respondent/Claimant before the Singapore Court of Appeal in relation to a claim for the civil recovery and disgorgement of proceeds of funds.
  • Lead counsel for the Appellant/Claimant (Carrefour) before the Singapore High Court in relation to a claim for the civil recovery and disgorgement of proceeds of funds.
  • Lead counsel for the Appellant before the Singapore Court of Appeal in a matter involving administrative law and judicial review whether the Court had power to grant leave for judicial review.
  • Lead counsel for the Claimant in a full trial before the Singapore High Court in a contractual claim based on the total failure of consideration.
  • Lead counsel for the Claimant before the Singapore High Court involving an application relating to jurisdiction of High Court judge to hear further arguments before the order is extracted under the Singapore Supreme Court of Judicature Act.
  • Lead counsel for the Plaintiff in a full trial before the Singapore High Court in a breach of confidentiality and trade secrets suit.
  • Lead counsel for Plaintiff in a full trial before the Singapore Courts in a matter involving a claim on a lease agreement.
  • Lead counsel for the Claimant before the Singapore High Court in relation to whether grounds exist for the setting aside of an award made by independent assessor and whether terms of reference obliging independent assessor to give reasoned award existing.
  • Lead counsel for the Claimant before the Singapore High Court involving an extension of time application for leave to appeal against order of High Court judge in chambers for interlocutory judgment with damages to be assessed.
  • Lead counsel for the Defendant/Appellant before the Singapore Courts in an application for the setting aside of a judgment.
  • Co-counsel for the Defendant in a minority oppression trial involving the issue whether Singapore Courts had jurisdiction to grant relief under the Companies Act where no finding of oppression made.
  • Lead counsel for the Plaintiff before the Singapore Courts involving a stay of court proceedings and the Court’s discretion under Arbitration Act to grant stay after defendant taken step in proceedings.
  • Lead counsel for the Appellant/Defendant in a summary judgment application before the Singapore Courts.
  • Lead counsel for the Defendant in a full trial involving a claim for the breach of statute and regulations under the building and construction law before the Singapore Courts.
  • Co-counsel acting for Plaintiff in two appeals wherein the plaintiff sued the defendant for the refund of various sums of money paid pursuant to a franchise agreement.
  • Lead counsel for the Defendant in a full trial in a claim for the breach of statute and regulations under the building and construction law before the Singapore Courts
  • Lead counsel for the Defendant in a full trial before the Singapore High Court for a breach of contract claim.
  • Lead counsel for the Defendant in a full trial in a claim for the breach of statute and regulations under the building and construction law before the Singapore Courts
  • Lead counsel for the Respondent/Claimant in a summary judgment appeal before the Singapore Courts.
  • Co-counsel for one of the petitioning creditors in a winding up application before the Singapore Courts under the Companies Act.
  • Lead counsel for the Appellant/Defendant in a summary judgment application before the Singapore Courts.
  • Master’s (First Class) in Construction Law & Dispute Resolution, King’s College London (Buid), 2014
  • LLB (HONS.), National University of Singapore, 1999 
  • Liquidated Damages in the UAE, Construction Law Quarterly, Volume 2, Issue 4, March 2013
  • Capacity to Arbitrate in the UAE, The Oath Legal Magazine, Issue 79, November 2018
  • COVID-19 – Insurers’ Comeuppance? The Oath Legal Magazine, Issue 94, June 2020
  • DIFC Courts, Dubai and China: Trading Securely, Dubai Resolution Authority, Dubai, March 2017
  • Major Projects & Infrastructure – Contract Management & Dispute Resolution, Doha, Qatar, January 2014
  • Construction Litigation & Dispute Resolution in the Gulf, Innovative Tactics and Strategies for Successful Dispute Resolution, Dubai, UAE, 2012
  • Best General Counsel Middle East, Oath Legal Awards 2016
  • General Counsel Award by US Global Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) 2013
  • Ranked Top 5 General Counsels in Middle East for the consecutive years – 2012, 2013 and 2014 Legal Department of the Year Middle East 2013
  • Legal Innovation Award Middle East 2013
  • American Bar Association (ABA)
  • Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC)
  • International Bar Association (IBA)
  • London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA)
  • Singapore Academy of Law
  • Law Society of Singapore
  • English – Native
  • Bahasa – Business Proficient