William Prasifka

Full Profile

William is a legal director with a practice focusing on arbitration as well as litigation before the DIFC and ADGM Courts. He has represented major financial institutions, media and technology companies and various firms operating in the energy and marine sector. William acts as an advocate in complex international arbitrations, freezing injunctions and a variety of commercial disputes. Having been based in Dubai over three years, he has a thorough knowledge of the freezone courts and their integration into the UAE’s legal system.

William holds a degree in history from Columbia University and a law degree from the University of Cambridge. He is called to the bar of England and Wales.

Experience

• Anti-suit injunction in support of DIFC seated arbitration clause: acted for an international passenger airline in bringing an injunction in the DIFC Courts to enforce an arbitration agreement. Dispute involved proceedings in the onshore Dubai Courts as well as an application to the Conflicts of Jurisdiction Tribunal. In a written judgment dated 25 September 2024, Justice Rene Le Miere delivered the first written judicial analysis of the effect of Decree 29 of 2024.
• LMAA Arbitration: acted for commodities trader in resisting a claim for c.US$24 million stemming from disputed supply agreement.
• Elnaggar v. ADGM Registration Authority [2023] ADGMCFI 0016. Successfully represented the ADGM Authority in the first public law challenge of an administrative decision. Written judgment of Justice Stone outlines key duties of public regulators under ADGM law.
• MAD Atelier International v. Axel Manes (CFI-030-2022): Represented the receiver of a trading DIFC business in the apportionment of funds to creditors following a major asset sale.
• Injunction in support of DIAC Arbitration: Represented the claimant, the provider of services in the oil, gas and shipping industries, in obtaining a worldwide freezing order and proprietary injunction in support of an ongoing DIFC seated DIAC arbitration. Personally appeared before H.E. Justice Shamlan Al Sawalehi to obtain the interim injunction.
• Sandra Holding v. Al Saleh (DIFC CFI-092-2021): Represented the defendants, four individuals from Kuwait, subject to freezing injunction issued by Justice Sir Jeremy Cooke in the sum of $45 million. Vacation application heard over two days in November 2022. Responsible for all oral and written advocacy on what is now one of the leading authorities on the scope of the DIFC Court’s jurisdiction.
• LCIA Arbitration: Successfully represented a leading provider of intellectual property in a five-day arbitral hearing against a prominent broadcaster in the MENA region. The dispute, valued in excess of $24 million, concerned the supply of content over a span of several years. Arbitration chaired by Christopher Style KC, now chairman of the London Court of International Arbitration. Was responsible for all advocacy (including the examination of seven witnesses), pleadings and written submissions.
• Khadour v. Hawash (DIFC CFI-026-2022): Represented the Claimant in a shareholder dispute concerning control of a DIFC registered company. In a written judgment dated 14 June 2023, Justice Michael Black confirmed that the DIFC Court’s duty to supervise DIFC entities can trump a contractual clause which excludes the DIFC Courts’ jurisdiction.
• IEMS v. Emirates Specialty Hospital (DIFC CFI-114-2020): Acted for the claimant, a Japanese owned MEP contractor, in a AED 53 million claim for work carried out during the conversion of a shopping mall to a hospital in Mirdiff, Dubai.
• Gulf Petrochem FZC LLC v. Petrochina International (Middle East) Company Limited (DIFC CFI-040-2023). Represented the Third Defendant, a member of the Intertek group of companies, in successfully setting aside a judgment in the sum of US$ 10,553,253.29. The underlying dispute concerned the provision of two cargoes of fuel oil (high and low sulphur) to a company established in Singapore. Justice Rene Le Miere delivered a written judgment on 23 November 2023.