Managing Associate
Caroline is a dispute resolution lawyer based in our Dubai office with extensive experience in complex cross-border commercial litigation and international arbitration, with specialist expertise in fraud and asset recovery litigation.
Language – English
Jurisdictions – England & Wales, UAE
Caroline Hibberd is a managing associate in the international arbitration and commercial litigation department, with more than a decade of experience advising clients across the Middle East, UK, Europe, and Asia. Her diverse client base includes international corporates, financial institutions, high-net-worth individuals, and governmental entities.
Caroline has been practising in Dubai since 2019 and is an expert at litigating in the DIFC Courts, including obtaining injunctive and other interim relief measures. She has acted on several landmark cases in the DIFC Courts and is one of the firm's go-to specialists for DIFC law and procedure.
Caroline has significant experience of large-scale, complex fraud, asset recovery, enforcement and contentious insolvency cases, including obtaining and defending freezing and disclosure orders in the DIFC Courts, the English High Court and the High Court of Hong Kong. She also coordinates strategies for claims in the onshore UAE Courts.
Caroline's extensive international arbitration experience spans local and international centres such as ICC, DIAC, LCIA, HKIAC, UNCITRAL, and ICSID, with cases seated in jurisdictions like the UAE, Paris, London, and Hong Kong. She has acted on more than 40 arbitrations ranging in value from USD 1 million to USD 1 billion.
Caroline additionally advises individuals, family offices, trustees and beneficiaries on contentious probate and contentious trust matters in the Middle East.
Caroline's clients span a range of industries, including financial services, technology, construction, oil and gas, life sciences, media and entertainment, sports, and private wealth. Clients value Caroline's ability to act swiftly and strategically, ensuring their interests are protected in high-stakes disputes. Her reputation for delivering results is underscored by her work with entities like the UAE Port Authority and South American government entities, where she has successfully defended substantial claims.
Caroline's pragmatic approach and deep understanding of cross-border litigation make her a sought-after advisor in the legal landscape. She is regularly asked to speak at conferences on topical issues and has written a number of published articles.
UAE Port Authority
Successful defence of a multi-million dollar ICC arbitration claim brought by a UAE subcontractor engaged to dredge the port under a contract governed by the laws of the United Arab Emirates.
Korean shipbuilder
Managing the global strategy for enforcement of a US$20 million arbitration award on behalf of a Korean shipbuilder, including obtaining orders equivalent to freezing injunctions in South Korea and third-party debt orders in the Netherlands where this action induced the award debtor to settle for a sum close to the entire award debt.
A market leader in the global commodities industry
Obtaining a freezing and disclosure order in the DIFC Courts for a market leader in the global commodities industry in relation to a large-scale fraudulent matter relating to commercial agreements under which our client agreed to buy nickel (a hot commodity due to the electric-vehicle boom), but instead received other, cheaper cargoes (such as carbon and steel).
TransAsia Private Capital
Assisting a Hong Kong and Singapore based private equity firm on DIFC Court proceedings in obtaining immediate judgment in the DIFC Courts for outstanding debts under loan agreements.
HNWI
Acting on a contentious probate case in the DIFC Courts, concerning the validity of the last will and testament of the parties' father.
South American Government Entity
Acting for a South American government entity in the oil and gas industry in defending an ICSID claim for expropriation of assets that had been held by a foreign investor.
Interim receivers of a company in liquidation
Acting for the interim receivers appointed by the High Court of Hong Kong over a private equity fund in defending a high-value and complex ICC arbitration claim.
Grant Thornton UK LLP
Acting for Grant Thornton UK LLP, in their capacity as exclusive claims advisor, to recover the largest portfolio of debts within an asset recovery fund (backed by a major US investment firm) that had purchased a portfolio of non-performing loans a from a major international bank in the UAE. This included obtaining a judgement against the debtors from the Court of Cassation in the UAE.
An electronics manufacturer
Acting for the Claimant, a South Korean electronics manufacturer in DIAC arbitration proceedings against a government entity based in Abu Dhabi within the technology and defence sector, as the Respondent.
ICICI Bank Limited (DIFC Branch)
Successfully managing a claim in the DIFC Courts through to obtaining judgment for more than USD 100 million on behalf of ICICI Bank Limited against Dr BR Shetty pursuant to the terms of four personal guarantees (judgment handed down on 17 February 2025)
