Adrian ColeIndependent at Arbitrator (UAE)Speaker
Profile
Adrian is a construction law specialist and an expert in resolving energy, infrastructure, and real estate development disputes. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Adrian studied engineering and construction and practiced as a quantity surveyor and has first-hand experience of the practical issues in the engineering and construction industries. He led King & Spalding’s highly regarded Middle East Dispute Resolution Team until December 2020.
Adrian is a trained and experienced arbitrator, mediator and adjudicator / DAB member and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Building and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Adrian has worked both in-house (International Counsel to Vinci in Hong Kong and Paris) and in private practice in the UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Middle East. Adrian’s wide experience in domestic and international arbitration allows him to bring a commercial and pragmatic approach to the resolution of disputes.
Adrian is ranked by Who’s Who Legal as one of the top 25 construction dispute lawyers in the World.
Chambers Global ranks Adrian as Tier One for Construction who “stands out as a strong expert in construction-related dispute resolution" and “is noted for his arbitration skills” and is “strongly rated as an excellent professional by his peers”.
Legal 500 describes him as “excellent in arbitration, with a deep understanding of the [construction] industry” and is rated for “expertise on construction aspects of major projects”.
Adrian is “highly recommended” by PLC Which Lawyer.
Adrian was awarded a Gold Award by the Dubai International Arbitration Centre for Arbitral Chairman of the Year in 2018.
Adrian has sat as Tribunal or has been instructed as Counsel in arbitrations under most of the major arbitral rules including UNCITRAL, ICC, LCIA, DIFC-LCIA, DIAC, ADCCAC, CRCICA, SIAC, HKIAC, BCDR-AAA, CIArb and IICRA.
Adrian has decided over 80 significant and complex construction cases sitting with some of the world’s leading construction arbitrators and is listed by Chambers Global 2021 and 2022 as one of the most in demand arbitrators.
Adrian has been appointed a judge in the Court of Cassation in the Kingdom of Bahrain.