Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP has announced that Simon Ward has joined the international law firm as Counsel based in its Muscat office. Mr. Ward had been the head of disputes at Al Busaidy, Mansour, Jamal & Partners, the largest local firm in Oman and an affiliate of Clifford Chance.
Simon Ward is an experienced litigator who has acted as both arbitrator and lead counsel before the Omani Courts and in domestic and international arbitrations, including under the auspices of the ICC and the London Court of Arbitration. He also has substantial experience in Omani/UNCITRAL ad hoc arbitration and general dispute resolution before Omani courts, and has recently been appointed to the Oman Court of Appeal Roll of Arbitrators.
Mr. Ward brings a wide range of litigation experience to Curtis, including commercial, construction, regulatory, health and safety, environmental, and employment, both in Oman and overseas.
Mr. Ward is listed in Chambers for Dispute Resolution in Oman, where he is “highly commended for his arbitration practice.” Chambers also lists Curtis partner James Harbridge for Dispute Resolution in Oman.
We are very happy that Simon Ward has decided to move to Curtis,” said Bruce Palmer, managing partner of Curtis in Oman. “Simon’s experience and reputation in commercial arbitration, especially here in Oman and the other GCC countries, will further strengthen our position as a leader in the field of arbitration throughout the Gulf region.”
“Curtis was a natural choice for me, given its strong international reputation in arbitration and the respect with which the firm is held in this region,” said Mr. Ward. “I am very enthusiastic about moving to Curtis and collaborating with my new colleagues both in the Middle East and around the world.”
Mr. Ward is the latest prominent addition to Curtis’ global arbitration practice. Within the past year, Jean-Claude Najar and Nadia Darwazeh moved to Curtis in Paris from General Electric and the ICC’s International Court of Arbitration, respectively, while Professor Tullio Rodolfo Treves joined Curtis in Milan.
Mr. Ward began his career in his native New Zealand, where he regularly appeared for top tier clients at all levels of courts. He has also acted as prosecution counsel for an environmental protection agency there.
Mr. Ward earned his LLB, with first class honors, at the University of Waikato, New Zealand, where he has since lectured part time in law and has presented several seminars on arbitration and risk management. His article, “Litigation and Dispute Resolution in Oman,” was published in The Report: Oman by the Oxford Business Group, now in partnership with Curtis.
Curtis Oman has been helping Omani and international companies, financial institutions and governmental agencies in the Sultanate for the past 15 years. Curtis remains the only U.S.-headquartered law firm licensed to practice in Oman.
Related Posts:
- None Found