Nabeel Ikram hired by Vinson & Elkins

Nabeel Ikram hired by Vinson & Elkins

The disputes specialist will operate from the law firm's Dubai office

Vinson & Elkins has hired disputes specialist Nabeel Ikram to strengthen its complex commercial litigation practice in Dubai. Ikram had worked as a partner at Hogan Lovells for five years.

On his association, Keith Fullenweider, the chairman of Vinson's remarked, "Ikram is a talented lawyer and highly respected by his peers and clients. His practice presents an opportunity to deepen our international construction practice in the region. He will add a significant capability to our Dubai office."

Ikram said, "The practice is a strategic priority for the firm. Its reputation and dedication to developing high-value construction and engineering disputes practice was an attractive prospect."

Known for his disputes work across the engineering and construction sectors in the Middle East, Ikram also has considerable experience as an arbitrator under a number of rules including the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), the International Court of Arbitration (ICC), the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA).

Ikram qualified at Hogan Lovells in 2000, spending nine years with the firm in London before moving to Clyde & Co in Dubai in 2008. He had a brief stint at Dewey & LeBoeuf before joining Dechert as a national partner in 2012. He re-joined Hogan Lovells in 2016.

The appointment reunites Ikram with his former London-based Hogan Lovells colleagues Roberta Downey and Angus Rankin. Both had joined Vinson as partners last year.

The move came days after the Houston-based firm's former Dubai managing partner, Amir Ghaffari had taken a five-member team, including three lawyers with him, to launch a new disputes practice, Ghaffari Partners.