Joe Durkin is an Investment Manager and arbitration specialist focused on disputes in the Middle East region.

Joe’s background in actuary and law provides him with a deep understanding of litigation risk. Prior to joining LCM, Joe had been based in the Middle East since 2008 as a partner with a Dubai based law firm for several years and prior to that was a lawyer with the international law firm Maples and Calder.

Joe has a deep understanding of the litigation and arbitration process in the region and has taken conduct of over one hundred commercial disputes in LCIA, ICC, DIAC, ADCCAC, DIFC Courts and DWT proceedings.

Joe has acted as legal advisor for several GCC headquartered banks, including Emirates NBD and First Gulf Bank and for the representative offices of Swiss banks in the Middle East.

Leading publishers have published his work, which includes the World’s Leading Offshore Jurisdictions, published by Sweet & Maxwell and Bloomsbury professional.

Described in Legal 500 as being “highly competent” in international dispute resolution, Joe provides “clear advice on the legal issues, but also understands the political and emotional stakes”.

Joe featured in the Expert Guides as a recommended expert in both the Construction and Real Estate and Commercial Arbitration guides. Joe is variously described and recognised as having “a masterful knowledge of dispute resolution and arbitration and combines that with an urbane charm that puts clients at their ease. I would say that he is the ‘go to’ man for any dispute before the DWT and DIFC.”

Joe is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) and faculty member and lecturer in law with DREI, of the Government of Dubai Real Estate Regulatory Agency and a visiting lecturer at the University of Dubai, Master of Laws (LLM) in Arbitration and Dispute Resolution. He is admitted as a Solicitor in England, and Wales and Ireland.