Damian Wright

Full Profile

Damian is a regulatory & investigations and dispute resolution specialist. His innovative approach to dispute resolution, combined with his deep understanding of the legal landscape, positions him as a leading figure in his field. His ability to navigate complex legal territories and deliver comprehensive solutions to his clients underscores his value as a legal practitioner.

Damian’s practice includes guiding clients through the complex terrains of regulatory compliance, corporate investigations, and white-collar crime, employing pioneering legal strategies to address and resolve disputes. He has a wealth of experience in financial services disputes, corporate fraud and regulatory investigations, and has provided litigation support in several forensic investigations. Damian acts for a diverse clientele across the Middle East. His practice is characterised by a strategic handling of high-profile cases, employing cutting-edge techniques to ensure comprehensive solutions.

Damian has also acted in DIFC jurisdictional disputes, and in several matters to have foreign awards recognised and enforced in the DIFC, and obtained orders to freeze assets located in DIFC, UAE and jurisdictions around the world. This highlights his capability to navigate the legal landscape effectively, ensuring his clients' interests are protected in multiple legal territories.

Experience

• Represented a multi-national company in a precedent setting case representing the first decision of the DIFC Courts to consider the DIFC Courts’ jurisdiction to enforce a matter in the DIFC where the parties had agreed to an exclusive jurisdiction clause in favour of the Lebanese Courts on the grounds that a party would not obtain justice in the agreed forum.
• Acted in several matters to obtain worldwide freezing orders, freezing assets located in DIFC, UAE, and various jurisdictions around the world. 
• Represented a multibillion-dollar investment fund as lender in enforcing various securities provided in respect of finance agreements, including an application to set aside the winding-up of the borrower, and entities within its group of companies on the basis that the winding-up was done for an ulterior purpose and to defeat the rights of the security holders. 
• Represented the liquidators of the Small and Medium Enterprises Bank of Namibia (SME Bank) in a colossal cross border fraud on the part of SME Bank perpetrated by the SME Bank's top-level management from which hundreds of millions of Namibian Dollars were siphoned from SME Bank to various entities in Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
• Represented a global asset management company in arbitration proceedings relating to damages arising from an alleged unlawful termination of a billion-dollar agreement, in terms of which fund administrative services were to be provided. 
• Represented a global asset management company in cross-border arbitration proceedings relating to damages arising from the alleged unlawful termination of an agreement, in terms of which financial fund administrative services were to be provided. This dispute involved complex matters pertaining to the quantification of damages arising from the repudiation of administration services agreement.
• Successfully defended a global financial institution regarding a disputed trigger event arising from an alleged change in ultimate control, which in terms of certain agreements, caused an irrevocable deemed offer for the sale of shares in a multibillion Dollar solar energy project.