Hourani Adds Daniel Xu As Partner In Dispute Resolution In Dubai
Hourani Adds Daniel Xu as Partner in Dispute Resolution in Dubai
The leading Middle East law firm with a global presence, Hourani has expanded its international arbitration and cross-border construction disputes offering with the appointment of Daniel Xu as a Partner in its Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice. Based in the firm’s Dubai office, the appointment forms part of Hourani’s strategy to establish a dedicated construction disputes capability and to deepen its presence across key client jurisdictions in the Middle East and Asia.
A disputes specialist, Daniel brings significant experience in complex construction, engineering, and infrastructure matters, with a strong focus on international arbitration and cross-border dispute resolution. His addition further strengthens Hourani’s construction disputes platform and supports the firm’s growing arbitration practice.
A Singapore-qualified lawyer and Part II registered advocate with the DIFC Courts, Daniel has been based in the Middle East since 2010. He has advised governments, state-owned entities, Fortune 500 companies, and major corporates across the Middle East and Asia-Pacific on contentious and non-contentious matters throughout the lifecycle of large-scale projects. His experience includes advising international contractors and developers on project risk management and dispute avoidance, as well as representing clients in high-value arbitration and court proceedings relating to construction and infrastructure projects.
Daniel has developed a strong track record advising Asia-based clients on investments and projects in the Gulf region. He sits as an accredited arbitrator on the panels of several leading international and regional arbitration centres and is consistently recognised by independent legal directories as a leading construction disputes practitioner in the United Arab Emirates. Market commentators have also highlighted his Mandarin language capabilities and experience in international law firms as key factors in building a strong Chinese inbound practice into the Middle East.
Commenting on the appointment, Chadi Hourani, Managing Partner of Hourani, said,
"Daniel’s appointment is an important step in the continued growth of our arbitration and disputes practice and in the firm’s broader strategic development. Our clients increasingly require sophisticated, cross-border support on complex construction and infrastructure disputes, often involving multiple jurisdictions across the Middle East and Asia. Daniel brings a rare combination of regional experience, international arbitration credentials and language capabilities that will significantly enhance the way we serve those clients. His strong track record with state-owned entities, major corporates and Asia-based investors aligns perfectly with our ambition to be the preferred legal partner for clients operating along the GCC–Asia corridor."
Daniel Xu said,
"I am delighted to be joining Hourani at a time when the firm is strategically investing in the growth of its disputes practice, including the development of a strong, internationally focused arbitration offering. The firm’s conflict-free model, combined with its comprehensive coverage across arbitration, offshore litigation in the DIFC and ADGM Courts, and onshore litigation, creates a highly compelling platform. Many of the clients I advise are headquartered in Asia and actively investing in the Gulf, and having a practice rooted in the region yet attuned to international expectations is critical. I look forward to working with my colleagues to support clients on their most complex construction and infrastructure disputes."
Daniel joins Hourani from Eversheds Sutherland, marking the firm’s fourth senior lateral hire in the past twelve months. Recent appointments include Nadim Khan as Partner and Head of Banking and Finance, formerly of Jones Day and Herbert Smith Freehills; Mohamed Abdelrehiem, Litigation Partner from Eversheds Sutherland and DLA Piper; and Kasam Kiani, Corporate Counsel from A&O Shearman. Hourani’s continued growth reflects its unique positioning, combining international law firm standards with deep regional insight across the Middle East.
Hourani & Partners is a prominent commercial law firm with a strong Middle Eastern presence (Dubai, Saudi Arabia) that functions globally, advising international clients on complex cross-border transactions, with teams or affiliations in locations such as New York, London, and Paris. The firm is known for its expertise in private equity, M&A, tax, and dispute resolution.
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