Reshma Oogorah, FCIArb
International Legal Counsel & Arbitrator
My Journey
When I was 10 years old, I discovered that my grandfather had lost his land through a compulsory acquisition, without adequate compensation. He was not able to read or understand the document he was asked to sign, to make an informed decision about his rights.
That’s when I knew that I wanted to protect, represent and defend people’s rights.
To become a lawyer, I read law in Mauritius, which is a hybrid jurisdiction combining at its base, aspects of the English common law system and the French civil law system. After that, I sat for the Bar in England. I am dual-qualified as a barrister and solicitor in Mauritius, and England & Wales.
I have been advising and representing clients in the UK, the Middle East and Africa for almost a decade, and have lived and worked in the UK, Mauritius, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Who we serve
Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to advise and represent clients in transactions and disputes worth up to US$25 billion, involving leading international organisations, construction, technology, media & telecommunications, and oil & gas companies such as Oger International, General Electric, Saudi Aramco, ADNOC and Chevron amongst others.
At Niyom Legal, I focus on serving businesses involved in construction, technology and cross-border transactions. I draft solid and practical contracts for them as a preventive tool to foster clear and workable business relationships. To adequately protect, represent and defend my clients’ rights, I also use my expertise in conflict management, including in:
- Negotiation
- Mediation
- Arbitration: both ad-hoc and under major institutional rules such as ICC, DIAC, DIFC-LCIA, LCIA, ADCCAC, HKIAC, SIAC, QICCA, MARC, MIAC and LMAA Terms
- Litigation at the DIFC and ADGM Courts
I am a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (“CIArb”), and currently serving as an elected Committee Member and Public Relations Officer of the CIArb UAE Branch. I am also the General Editor for the branch’s quarterly newsletter.
Consultants
At Niyom Legal, we collaborate with a select range of independent consultants, law firms and Chambers in the Middle East including in UAE and KSA, in Africa, England and Wales and around the world to deliver tailored cost-effective legal services to our clients.
In this way, we put together a bespoke team of specialists who work on each mandate, personally. Reach out to us to know who our collaborators are.
