Antonios Dimitracopoulos

Antonios is a Partner and Head of the Dispute Resolution practice of BSA LAW, based in the firm’s DIFC office. He specialises in commercial disputes, particularly those arising in arbitration and DIFC/ADGM litigation, with a strong focus on construction-related matters.

He has been practicing in the UAE since 1995 and is an accredited Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb), as well as a registered arbitrator with the Dubai International Arbitration Centre.

In addition, Antonios is a practising Solicitor-Advocate (Higher Courts Civil Proceedings, England & Wales) and a Part II Registered Practitioner with the DIFC and ADGM Courts, where he holds full rights of audience.

He has been consistently ranked by Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500 as one of the leading practitioners in dispute resolution in the UAE throughout the past two decades, underscoring his expertise and strong reputation in resolving complex, high-stakes commercial disputes.

“Market sources comment that Antonios is excellent, and has a strong understanding of the market and the local culture, having been in the UAE for 27 years.”

SERVICES

• Arbitration & Alternative Dispute Resolution
• DIFC / ADGM Litigation
• Litigation

INDUSTRY

• Construction and Engineering
• Real Estate

• Kuwaiti private clients  in DIFC Court proceedings concerning a high-profile family dispute involving a worldwide freezing injunction (WFI) obtained in support of foreign proceedings in Kuwait. Successfully challenged the DIFC Courts’ jurisdiction to grant the WFI and the related contempt findings on appeal, with the Court of Appeal ruling that the DIFC lacked jurisdiction in this context.
• Dubai-based contractor in DIAC proceedings involving an AED 200 million claim for unpaid invoices and prolongation costs against a major local real estate developer and defending a counterclaim for liquidated damages exceeding AED 180 million.
• Serbian private client in a DIFC dispute against a major Swiss bank involving unauthorised transactions and potential breaches of the bank’s duty of care. Advising on pre-action strategy, factual investigation and legal analysis of the bank’s obligations under DIFC law, including the scope and application of the Quincecare duty.
• Dubai-based contractor in DIAC proceedings for an AED 300 million claim for unpaid invoices and prolongation costs against a major local real estate developer.
• Kuwait-headquartered e-commerce enterprise  and global IT and gaming products distribution company in LCIA arbitration proceedings against an India-based web development company concerning a dispute over defective and incomplete delivery of a multivendor e-commerce platform across the GCC. Instructed on all aspects of the arbitration, including case strategy, advocacy and post-award enforcement proceedings in New Jersey.
• Dubai-based MEP subcontractor in an AED 75 million DIAC arbitration involving claims for EoT, prolongation costs, value of disputed variations, and unpaid or under-certified work in progress arising from the construction of a major petroleum company headquarters in Abu Dhabi.
• Dubai-based contractor and MEP subcontractor in DIAC proceedings for an AED 178 million claim for unpaid invoices, disputed variations and eight EoTs with associated prolongation costs against an Abu Dhabi real estate developer in relation to a hotel development on the Palm Jumeirah.
• Dubai-based engineering and construction company in DIAC arbitration proceedings against a district cooling services provider, headquartered in Dubai, concerning claims exceeding AED 25.4 million arising from the construction, testing and commissioning of a district cooling plan. Advising on all aspects of arbitration strategy, including delay analysis, quantum assessment, expert coordination and claims for prolongation costs, unpaid variations and interim payments.
• UAE-based mining company in relation to a AED 220 million industrial project in the UAE involving complex delays and performance issues with the main contractor. Advising on dispute avoidance strategy, negotiation and drafting of tri-partite agreements, settlement arrangements and ongoing termination and novation of contracts across multiple jurisdictions.
• Dubai-based contractor in AED 105 million DIAC arbitral proceedings concerning EoT, prolongation costs, loss of profit, and head office overheads arising from a Dubai residential project.

BAR ADMISSIONS & MEMBERSHIPS

• Solicitor–Advocate of the Senior Courts of England & Wales (admitted 1994; Higher Courts Civil Proceedings – 2017)
• Registered Arbitrator, Dubai International Arbitration Centre (since 2006)
• DIFC Courts Registered Practitioner – Parts I & II (since 2007)
• Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) (since 2016)

EDUCATION

• LLM, University of Southampton (1992)
• LLB, Faculty of Law, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (1989)