David Holloway is a Partner in the Cayman Islands Litigation & Restructuring practice, specialising in advising clients and intermediaries with a presence in UAE, KSA and the wider MENA region on Cayman Islands and BVI law.
David has acted as lead counsel in high value, complex disputes across a broad range of sectors, including banking and finance, joint ventures, energy, insurance, commodities, and international trade. He is particularly well known for his work in the international commercial courts in the MENA region, having been lead counsel in many of the leading cases in the Dubai International Financial Centre (“DIFC”) Court and acted in cases in the ADGM and QFC Courts. He has also appeared in significant international commercial arbitrations, with extensive recent experience in cases in the MENA region, acting for high-net worth individuals, family offices, state entities and multi-national groups.
In addition to his work as counsel, David is regularly appointed as an arbitrator and sits on the panels of several leading international arbitral institutions in the Middle East and Asia. He is also a CEDR accredited mediator and has been appointed in several mediations in the MENA region. David also played a prominent role in the development of arbitration and mediation practice in the MENA region. He is a regular speaker at legal and industry conferences and has led several initiatives providing training and promoting dispute resolution best practices in the region.
Jurisdictions
Experience
- Instructed in a large international fraud case involving the alleged misappropriation of the reserves of a bitcoin trading company (US$500 million). Lead counsel if DIFC proceedings (among the first heard in the Digital Economy Court). Working with overseas counsel in coordination international proceedings in UAE, Hong Kong, Singapore and Cayman.
- Instructed by one of the largest family businesses in the MENA region. LCIA London arbitration and ancillary DIFC Court proceedings in a dispute over the ownership of companies valued at US$700million. Successfully obtained an award obtaining declaratory relief as to the validity of a trust deed and its arbitration clause, declarations as to the beneficial ownership of the businesses, final injunctive relief relating to the transfer of legal ownership of the various businesses, and accounts and inquiries as to the prior management of the businesses. Devised and implemented enforcement strategy.
- Successfully represented an Asian investment trust in DIFC court proceedings arising out of a complex US$210 million investment fraud / conspiracy dispute involving multiple parties and litigation in the UAE, Singapore and Thailand.
- Successfully represented the State Bank of India in resisting claims for more than US$18 million following the non-renewal of a facility agreement.
- Lead counsel in some of the first cases in the DIFC Court to consider the doctrine of state immunity and the application of the UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross Border insolvency.
- Representing a leading multinational consulting group in the QFC Qatar in the context of a regulatory investigation by the QFCRA.
- Regularly appointed as a neutral in commercial cases involving MENA parties, including appointments as a mediator by the ADGM court and as arbitrator by the LCIA and HKIAC.
Qualifications
Professional Background
- Barrister (England & Wales). Door Tenant at Outer Temple Chambers London
- Partner – Head of Advocacy, Al Tamimi & Company (2022-2026)
- Arbitrator and Mediator
Education
- University of Cambridge, BA and MA in Law, Squire Law Scholar
- Erasmus University Rotterdam, Master of Law and Economics
Bar Admissions
- Barrister, England & Wales, 1996
- DIFC Part II registered Advocate, 2020
- Registered Advocate at the AIFC Court (Nur Sultan)
- Barrister, BVI, 2024
- Registered advocate at the BICC (Bahrain) 2026
Awards & Accolades
- Recognised in the 2026 Global Guide (UAE) by Chambers & Partners (Dispute Resolution)
- Recognised by Legal 500 Middle East (Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and International Litigation) 2024 – 2025
- Recognised by Legal 500 as a leading UK Counsel (English Bar in the Middle East) 2021 – 2022
Associations
- Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb)
- CEDR Accredited Mediator
Languages
- French and German