Dr. Mahmood Hussain is the Founding Partner of M&CO Legal and brings over twenty years of experience across both the public and private sectors. As a prominent litigator before the Dubai Courts, he has achieved numerous favorable judgments in high-profile cases and is widely recognized for his persuasive advocacy and ability to handle complex legal issues. His reputation as an arguing counsel has set a benchmark for effective legal representation in the UAE.
Dr. Mahmood played an instrumental role in the establishment of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts, serving as a member of the founding committee and later as its first Deputy Registrar. During his tenure, he contributed to the drafting and development of several DIFC legislations and continues to hold rights of audience before the DIFC Courts.
With extensive experience in arbitration, Dr. Mahmood has acted in more than thirty international arbitration proceedings under the ICC, LCIA, ADCCAC, and DIAC rules. He has been appointed as a sole arbitrator, co-arbitrator, and chairman of arbitral tribunals, representing both corporate and government clients in complex commercial disputes. His excellence in arbitration was recognized by the Dubai International Arbitration Centre, where he received the award for the most rising arbitrator in the region. Chambers & Partners ranked him in Dispute Resolution: Domestic, describing him as user-friendly, responsive, and highly experienced.
Dr. Mahmood’s expertise covers dispute resolution, commercial and civil litigation, international arbitration, corporate governance, and regulatory matters. His deep knowledge of civil law, Sharia law, and arbitration distinguishes him as one of the leading legal minds in the region.
He serves as a Board Member of the United Arab Emirates International Chamber of Commerce (ICC-UAE) and Vice-Chairman of the ICC-UAE Commission on Arbitration and ADR. He is also a member of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR in Paris, contributing to global developments in international dispute resolution. Additionally, he is accredited as an international arbitrator at both the Dubai International Arbitration Centre and the Abu Dhabi Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration Center.
Dr. Mahmood holds a PhD in Law (Research) from the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom, a Master’s degree in Digital Economy Law from Monash University in Australia, an International Diploma in Compliance from the International Compliance Association in the UK, and a Director Certificate from UCLA Anderson School of Management in California. He graduated with First Class Honours and Distinction in Shari’a and Law from the United Arab Emirates University.
He is a Fellow and Member of the International Compliance Association (MICA) in the United Kingdom. Fluent in both English and Arabic, Dr. Mahmood continues to play an active role in shaping the UAE’s legal landscape and advancing the practice of arbitration and dispute resolution across the region.
