Is Civil Law Still Running the Show in MENA Arbitration?

Presentation

Civil law has long set the tone in MENA arbitration. But is it still calling the shots?

On the occasion of Paris Arbitration Week, this roundtable will offer an open and practice-oriented discussion around a question that increasingly arises in arbitrations involving the MENA region: does civil law still “run the show”?

The discussion will be hosted and moderated by Marie-Laure Bizeau and Caroline Duclercq, who will bring their combined experience as both counsel and arbitrators in MENA-related disputes, and will contribute their practical insights drawn from a wide range of proceedings seated in and involving the region.

The debate will feature Lara Hammoud and Bassam Mirza, both trained in civil law and both having practised (or currently practising) in a MENA jurisdiction. Each speaker will offer a short presentation (approximately 15 minutes), one defending the proposition that civil law still “runs the show” in MENA arbitration, and the other arguing the contrary.

Reflecting both the diversity of practice and the speakers’ respective backgrounds, the session will be conducted in both French and English, without interpretation.

Structured as a roundtable discussion among arbitration practitioners, this session aims to foster genuine exchanges of experience and practical know-how, in an informal, open and interactive, yet rigorous and professional, setting. The floor will then be opened to all participants, who will be invited to share their experiences, ask questions, and discuss practical issues encountered in their own cases, with a view to encouraging frank, experience-based exchanges across generations of arbitration practitioners.

Proposed schedule:

• 12:30 –Welcome and networking over lunch
• 12:45 – Introduction
• 13:00 - Opening of the debate by the two speakers (approx. 15 minutes each)
• 13:30 – Open discussion with participants: questions, comments and practical insights
• 14:00 – End of the roundtable.

Guest Speakers:

Lara Hammoud is a globally recognised international arbitrator with over 20 years’ experience in international arbitration. A French-qualified lawyer, she is a former ICC Court member and previously headed the Disputes Team at ADNOC before becoming a full-time arbitrator in 2024. She regularly sits as chair, sole or co-arbitrator under major institutional rules (ICC, LCIA, SIAC, UNCITRAL, DIAC, DIFC-LCIA, among others) in arbitrations seated across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. She is co-founder of the Civil Law Conference in Abu Dhabi and is consistently ranked among leading arbitrators, including as a Global Elite Thought Leader in the Lexology Arbitration Index 2026.

Bassam Mirza is a France- and Lebanon-qualified lawyer and international arbitrator with over 20 years’ experience in cross-border disputes. He has practised both in Europe and the Middle East, including with leading international law firms and within his own firm, Kecsmar Mirza Arbitration, with experience across sectors such as energy, construction, telecoms and project finance. He previously served as Lebanon’s representative on the ICSID Panel of Conciliators (2016–2022) and as a lecturer in French and Lebanese civil law at Saint Joseph University of Beirut. He is recognised by Who’s Who Legal Arbitration as a leading arbitrator.

Hot Speakers

Marie-Laure Bizeau is the founding partner of Medici and a Paris-qualified lawyer with over 20 years’ experience in international arbitration, with particular experience in cases involving the MENA region. She acts as counsel in commercial and investment arbitration proceedings under major institutional rules, including ICC, LCIA, DIAC, CRCICA, Swiss Rules and UNCITRAL, as well as in ad hoc and ICSID arbitrations. Her practice spans a wide range of sectors, including energy, infrastructure, telecommunications and investment disputes, and covers proceedings governed by civil law, common law and public international law. She also regularly acts as arbitrator in domestic and international commercial arbitration proceedings.

Caroline Duclercq is the founding partner of Medici and has nearly 25 years’ experience in international arbitration, acting as both counsel and arbitrator in complex cross-border disputes, including cases involving African and Middle Eastern parties. She regularly sits as sole arbitrator, co-arbitrator, presiding arbitrator and emergency arbitrator, and advises clients in ad hoc and institutional arbitrations under major rules, including ICC, LCIA, SCC, SIAC and DIAC. Her practice spans a wide range of sectors, including construction and engineering, energy, hospitality, telecommunications and corporate disputes. She also has a strong practice in arbitration-related litigation before French courts.