A key area of expertise for Law & Arbitration Centre is the legal frameworks governing land transport and new land transport projects, focusing on the Middle East. Additionally, we specialize in the legal aspects of multimodal transport systems involving the Middle East, such as freight transit between Europe and Asia and the integration of maritime and land transport.
Given the region’s heavy reliance on a combination of sea and land transport for the import, export, and transit of goods and passengers, LAC is well-versed in navigating these complex legal landscapes. We are members of the Transportation Lawyers Association, with access to the training and materials needed to tackle these issues.
To provide our clients with full legal security and the best prospects in disputes before courts in the region or in third countries, our firm leverages three sources of law related to land transport. Beside the national and international law, as well as bilateral agreements, countries in the region are signatories to nearly all international conventions in this field, making international law even more significant in disputes that span multiple countries, often involving companies based in countries other than those where the dispute arose.
The Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF): This key international convention is applicable in Europe and the Middle East and was established by the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF).
The Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail is just one of the areas of activity of OTIF, the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail, an international body with wide-ranging activities, of which our legal practicioners are members.
Our expertise covers two key areas in support of regional clients and foreign investors operating in the Middle East:
Providing services in the realm of road and rail transport inherently carries certain risks, and companies engaged in these services may occasionally face lawsuits for substantial amounts from private individuals and even governments. Additionally, companies involved in transport often engage in disputes with one another or with suppliers and companies from other sectors. In all these cases, our team of attorneys is available to assist all transport companies, including through ongoing representation agreements.
Among the most common services in this area are:
Insurance matters. Companies providing transport services must be insured against accidents and other adverse events. Our firm assists clients in selecting the best insurance offers and reviews contracts for potential loopholes that could be detrimental to the client.
Representation and/or legal assistance in lawsuits involving cases of death, injury, loss of goods, loss of income, environmental damage, and other potential claims from private individuals and institutions against companies engaged in land transport.
Representation, mediation, and arbitration in disputes with companies in the transport sector or other sectors, whether concerning disputes within a single country or disputes involving companies from different countries and/or activities conducted in various jurisdictions. Representation in court and mediation may occur simultaneously, and in the event of successful mediation, the plaintiff may discontinue the lawsuit.
Consult with LAC arbitration lawyers
Contact usIn both areas of our work – development projects and support for economic actors – we have extensive experience in the legal framework concerning the transport of energy resources and raw materials. In the Middle East, energy transport is of vital economic importance, necessitating a high degree of cooperation among countries. In addition to energy resources, primarily fossil fuels, the region is increasingly discovering rare metal and mineral deposits, which introduces a relatively new domain of business and law that our firm closely monitors and understands well.
Alongside innovations in energy and raw materials essential for the 21st century, the Middle East is experiencing a significant surge in public transport, particularly railways, including high-speed trains and rail transport. Railway traffic is governed by a larger number of legal regulations compared to road transport, making it often more challenging for attorneys with less experience, especially in international law. This is precisely why it is imperative to consult experts specializing in railway law regarding all legal matters, and some of the region’s top experts are among our staff and consultants.
All our services, from assessing the legal complexity of entering a specific market, to finalizing the legal framework for operations, and providing court representation, are available to clients from around the world, particularly those planning activities in the Middle East, as well as businesses and institutions from the Middle East participating in projects in other countries.
For further information please contact us at railtransport@lac.ae.