Leads the Middle East disputes practice.
Specializes in high-value, complex and cross-border commercial litigation and arbitration.
Regularly appears as an advocate before the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts and sits as an arbitrator in both domestic and international arbitrations.
Chair of the DIFC Authority Legislative Committee.
Based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since 2004.

Graham has extensive, market-leading commercial litigation and international arbitration experience covering a wide range of sectors and a variety of disputes.

He handles complex, sensitive disputes involving joint ventures, shareholders, banking and finance, and fraud, as well as more technical matters involving infrastructure, project and energy disputes. In 2024, the total value of disputes that Graham handled was in excess of $4 billion.

Graham regularly appears as an advocate before the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts. He also sits as an arbitrator in both domestic and international arbitrations. In 2018, Graham was appointed to the board of directors of the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC). He was the only expatriate board member at the time and was responsible for drafting the 2022 DIAC Arbitration Rules. Graham also serves as chair of the DIFC Authority Legislative Committee, which reviews proposed legislation in the DIFC and recommends its implementation into DIFC law.

Graham has lived in the UAE for more than 20 years and is a top-ranked and widely respected disputes practitioner. Most recently, Graham was elected into the 2025 Hall of Fame for Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and International Litigation by The Legal 500 EMEA. He is ranked in Band 1 in Dispute Resolution by Chambers Global 2025 in both the Middle East-wide and UAE. Graham received the International Financial Law Review (IFLR) Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2021 IFLR Middle East Awards and is a Leading Individual for Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and International Litigation in The Legal 500 EMEA. He is consistently ranked as a leading litigation and asset tracing practitioner in Who’s Who Legal.

Education
L.P.C., College of Law, 1993
LL.B., Kingston University, London, 1992

Bar Admissions
Solicitor, England and Wales

Recognitions

Chambers Global, Dispute Resolution, Band 1 in both the Middle East-Wide and UAE, 2007-2025.
The Legal 500 EMEA, Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and International Litigation, UAE, 2021-2025.
The Legal 500 EMEA, Hall of Fame, Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and International Litigation, 2025.
Global Arbitration Review, GAR 100 Guide to Leading International Arbitration Practices, 2025.
Who’s Who Legal, Commercial Litigation Thought Leader, 2023; Recommended in Arbitration, 2023 and 2024; Commercial Litigation, 2023; Asset Recovery, 2023.
The Legal 500 UK, Fraud: Civil, 2024.
In 2021, Chambers cited client recommendations, “Graham has a whole lot of wisdom that is invaluable.” “He is a really pragmatic and goal-oriented lawyer.” “Graham excels at handling complex matters and really understands the client’s wants and needs. He is very measured, very calm and very strategic. His advocacy is also second to none.”
In 2022, Chambers cited client recommendations, “I have a lot of respect for the way he goes about things. He is a tough opponent to have, but completely fair and someone you can get stuff done with when you need to.”
IFLR, Middle East Awards, Lifetime Achievement Award, 2021.

Affiliations and Public Service

Member, Board of Directors of the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC).
Member, Arbitration Court of DIAC.
Chairman, DIFC Authority Legislative Committee.
Member, Steering Committee for the International Code Council (ICC) UAE.
Member, DIFC Court User’s Rules Sub-Committee.
Member, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb).
Governor of Dubai College.