Tribune News Network
Doha
The Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre (QICDRC), in collaboration with LexisNexis, has officially launched “Azmeh and Nicolon the Law and Practice of the QFC Civil and Commercial Court and Regulatory Tribunal”, a landmark publication that provides an authoritative analysis of the law and practice governing the QFC Court and Regulatory Tribunal.
Authored by Umar Azmeh, registrar of the QICDRC, and Catriona Nicol, senior legal counsel at the Qatar Financial Centre Authority (QFCA), and edited by Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, President of the QICDRC, and Dr Muna Al Marzouqi, QICDRC Judge, the book serves as a vital reference for legal practitioners, businesses, and academics navigating the QFC’s unique legal landscape.
Held at QICDRC’s headquarters, the launch event gathered distinguished legal professionals, academics, and industry experts to commemorate 20 years since the establishment of the law that created the QFC Civil and Commercial Court and Regulatory Tribunal.
The event featured a distinguished panel discussion on the book and, the QICDRC’s jurisprudence and its role in shaping international commercial dispute resolution, and the evolution of specialist courts in the MENA region and beyond.
Moderated by Umar Azmeh, the panel included Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, Sir William Blair, Chairman of the Regulatory Tribunal, Dr Muna Al Marzouqi, and Catriona Nicol.
Reflecting on the significance of the publication, QICDRC Chief Executive Officer Faisal Rashid Al Sahouti said, “This book is a testament to the evolution of the QFC Court and Regulatory Tribunal over the past two decades. With a diverse bench of 18 judges from 11 jurisdictions and an expanding body of sophisticated jurisprudence, the QFC Court has established itself as one of the busiest international commercial courts globally. We hope this publication will serve as an invaluable resource for those engaging with the QFC’s legal framework.”
The “Azmeh and Nicol on the Law and Practice of the QFC Civil and Commercial Court and
Regulatory Tribunal” is structured into two key sections. The first focuses on the procedural law of the Court and Regulatory Tribunal, while the second provides an in-depth analysis of substantive legal topics such as arbitration, contract law, employment law, company and tax law, insolvency law, damages, and regulatory and financial services. The book is organised thematically with the key principles elucidated and cross-referenced with the relevant caselaw.
The book consolidates the extensive jurisprudence developed by the QFC Court and Regulatory Tribunal over the past two decades. It serves as a critical reference point for practitioners appearing before the QICDRC, as well as academics and legal scholars studying international commercial dispute resolution.
This publication is a significant step in providing systematic access to the body of case law developed by the QFC Court and Regulatory Tribunal. It is neither a simple commentary nor a case digest, but an in-depth exploration of the key legal principles emerging from the court’s jurisprudence.
Umar Azmeh is the registrar of the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre. Before assuming this role in 2022, he practiced as both a barrister and solicitor in England and Wales. His extensive legal career spans government roles, private practice, and academia.
He holds an LLB from King’s College London and an MSc from the University of Oxford (Worcester College), where he graduated top of his class. He is currently finalising a doctorate in Law at Oxford University (St Anne’s College).
Catriona Nicol is a Senior Legal Counsel (Litigation) at the Qatar Financial Centre Authority (QFCA). She has previously worked in leading international law firms in Qatar, California, and London. Qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales since 2008 and admitted to the State Bar of California in 2011, Nicol holds a BA in Jurisprudence from the University of Oxford (St Catherine’s College).
