Mahmoud El Sayed
Managing Associate
Mahmoud is a bilingual dispute resolution expert, adept at navigating complex shipping and insurance litigation in the GCC region.
Managing Associate
Mahmoud is a bilingual dispute resolution expert, adept at navigating complex shipping and insurance litigation in the GCC region.
Languages - English, Arabic
Jurisdiction - UAE
Mahmoud El Sayed is a managing associate at Stephenson Harwood, renowned for his expertise in civil and commercial litigation, particularly within the GCC region. His client base includes leading ship owners, charterers, bunker suppliers, operators, P&I clubs, insurers, and ship agents, all of whom rely on his strategic insight to resolve disputes arising from charterparties, vessel arrests, cargo and bunker claims, collisions, groundings, vessel repairs, ship abandonment, and contractor liability issues.
Mahmoud provides comprehensive support in shipping litigation, assisting clients in recovering unpaid bunkers and executing vessel arrests to settle outstanding amounts. His adept handling of complex claims, such as collision claims and insurance disputes, ensures clients achieve favourable outcomes, whether through litigation or arbitration. His practice extends beyond shipping, representing clients in insurance and construction disputes, showcasing his versatility and depth of knowledge.
Clients value Mahmoud’s ability to navigate the intricacies of local Middle Eastern courts and his successful track record in arbitrations across the region, including Egypt and the UAE. His pragmatic approach and bilingual proficiency make him a sought-after adviser for resolving high-stakes disputes efficiently and effectively.
One of the region's largest dredging companies
Representing one of the region's largest dredging companies in a collision claim involving their tug and their barge. The tug collided with the third-party vessel during towage in Ras Al Khaimah on 18 May 2022. Mahmoud is defending our client and negotiating a settlement with the Owners' lawyer.
One of the largest shipping lines in Asia
Representing one of the largest shipping lines in Asia in defending several cargo claims filed by a UAE cargo interest’s insurer up to the point of successfully settling the matter at a substantial reduction to the client’s potential liability exposure.
One of the largest ship agencies in UAE
Representing one of the largest ship agencies in UAE in a claim against one of the leading banks in the UAE in the course of enforcing an attachment order against a debtor’s assets (i.e. bank accounts) held with the defendant bank, who had failed to comply with the attachment order. Mahmoud’s strategic input, legal skills and management of the proceedings enabled our client to secure a landmark judgment against the defendant bank which was used to successfully enforce our client’s claim against the bank’s own funds (despite the original claim being against the debtor and not the account bank);
Greek shipowner
Representing a Greek shipowner in successfully defending a bunker claim filed by a reputable ship bunker who had obtained an arrest order against our client’s vessel and filed a substantive case before the UAE Courts. Mahmoud successfully convinced the court to reject the case against the Owner for lack of jurisdiction on the basis that none of the case parties have a domicile in the UAE and the place of supply of the bunkers was outside the UAE. This is despite a long history of precedent of the UAE Courts who generally accept jurisdiction over similar claims where the arrest order has already been issued by a UAE Court.
Shipowner
Representing a shipowner in successfully defending a bunker claim against one of the largest ship bunker traders who had filed and obtained an arrest order against our client’s vessel. Mahmoud’s expert knowledge facilitated our client to appeal against the order on the grounds that the vessel was outside the territorial waters of the UAE and accordingly the Court lacked jurisdiction to arrest. Mahmoud successfully evidenced that the timing of the arrest order coincided with the time that the vessel was located outside the UAE. In addition, Mahmoud managed to reach a settlement agreement following difficult negotiations lasting over 5 months with the bunker trader to avoid arrest proceedings against the vessel in another jurisdiction.
General commercial litigation
On the general commercial litigation front, Mahmoud has managed a matter which enabled the firm to secure a landmark judgment against one of our clients’ debtors whereby the UAE Court ordered the reversal of the debtor’s disposition of his assets to his family members to enable our client to enforce its claim against those disposed assets.
Non-delivery of cargo
Representing the time charterers of a vessel in a dispute against the owners concerning the non-delivery of cargo to the nominated port of discharge due to a malfunction in the vessel's cooling system, which resulted in an increase in the cargo's temperature. Mahmoud has successfully obtained an arrest order from the Fujairah Court for a claim of approximately US$3.88 million regarding the damages resulting from the losses, particularly in light of the owners' declaration of general average.
One of the UAE's leading companies in the sea transport of oil and petroleum products
Representing one of the UAE's leading companies in the sea transport of oil and petroleum products in an off-specification bunker claim filed by the owners of a vessel before the Dubai Court. Mahmoud managed to obtain a favourable judgment for the Client due to the strategic points raised in the case.
One of the world's largest carrier
Representing one of the world's largest carriers in a cargo claim in the sum of approximately AED 26 million before the Dubai Court against the shippers for misdeclaration of the particulars of the goods that were recorded in the bills of lading and submitted incorrect data about the cargo, which resulted in the Client's incurring significant amounts due to the non-entry of the cargoes into China due to the incorrect data provided by the Shippers.
One of the largest regional oil traders
Representing one of the largest regional oil traders in a collision claim against a major shipping line and UAE port authority, Dubai Drydocks. Mahmoud's strategic management of this dispute led to a long-standing issue being resolved after 1.5 years, demonstrating his ability to manage complex liability issues.
