Alain Farhad is a full-time independent international arbitrator based in Abu Dhabi, with extensive experience across a wide range of disputes, including complex construction and infrastructure matters throughout the Middle East and globally. He has acted as sole arbitrator, co-arbitrator, or presiding arbitrator in more than 100 arbitration proceedings, involving several billion US dollars in dispute.

Before establishing his independent arbitral practice in March 2024, Alain spent nearly two decades in private practice with leading international law firms in Paris and Dubai, most recently as Partner and Head of International Arbitration at Mayer Brown LLP in Dubai. During that time, he represented parties in a broad spectrum of commercial, construction, and investor–State disputes.

As an arbitrator, Alain has issued awards in disputes arising out of EPC and EPCM contracts, major infrastructure and energy projects, power generation facilities, LNG and oil and gas installations, hospitals, schools, shopping malls, and large-scale real estate developments. His arbitral experience spans proceedings seated in Dubai, the DIFC, ADGM, Doha, Riyadh, Cairo, Muscat, Geneva, Singapore, Paris, and London, under a wide range of institutional rules.

Alain brings a practical and commercially grounded approach to construction arbitration, with deep familiarity with claims relating to delay and disruption, variations, defects, termination, payment disputes, and complex quantum issues. His work frequently involves multi-party and technically intensive disputes requiring close engagement with experts and detailed project documentation.

Educated in both civil law and common law traditions, Alain studied law at Paris Panthéon-Sorbonne University and Cornell Law School. He is admitted to the Paris Bar and the New York Bar and speaks French, English, and Farsi.

Alain is consistently recognised by leading directories as one of the most in-demand arbitrators in the region and as a thought leader in international arbitration. Among other accolades, Legal 500 has described him as “exceptionally competent,” “clever and highly strategic in his thinking,” and as having “great technical expertise from both common law and civil law perspectives, having qualified in both New York and Paris.”

Alain serves as a member of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR, sits on ICC task forces addressing corruption in arbitration and expedited procedures, and is a co-chair of the ICC Advanced Arbitrator Academy for the MENA region.