Sara K. Aranjo

With her significant background in international arbitration and dispute prevention and resolution, Sara has experience with arbitral proceedings conducted under the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), Abu Dhabi Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration Centre (ADCCAC), GCC Centre for Commercial Arbitration, and Organization for Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) rules, as well as with ad hoc proceedings.

Having practiced in London, Paris, and Beirut, she has deep familiarity with both civil and common law legal traditions. In addition to her work as counsel, Sara sits as an arbitrator and mediator.

Sara has been involved in more than 100 proceedings in the Arabic, French, and English languages across jurisdictions in Algeria, Bahrain, Cameroon, Chad, Egypt, Ghana, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen, in addition to France, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, the United States, Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Korea.

Sara has been described by clients as “one of the brightest arbitration lawyers” who has “constantly displayed razor-sharp intelligence along with outstanding strategical skills” (GAR 100, 15th ed.) as well as a practitioner with “great advocacy skills” (GAR 100, 14th ed.). Chambers noted that Sara has “an exceptional level of intellect [and] does not get deterred no matter the stakes or the pressure.” Sara has been commended in Who’s Who Legal for “her outstanding performance for her clients,” having “developed innovative and victorious strategies.” The Legal 500 described Sara as “an A-class lawyer who marries impeccable technical and legal skills. She is very reliable and never disappoints, having the unique ability of turning difficult and challenging issues into winning points.”

Beyond her law practice, Sara regularly publishes articles and speaks about international arbitration and dispute resolution. As a faculty member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) Diploma in International Arbitration, she lectures on the burden and standard of proof in international arbitration. Sara also serves as an adjunct professor of law at the Université Paris II – Panthéon-Assas, where she lectures on comparative judicial and legal systems, namely civil law, common law, and Islamic law.

Sara supports several international organizations and initiatives. She serves as a member of the ICC International Court of Arbitration in Paris. She is a member of the Court of Arbitration of the Swiss Centre and the inaugural Arbitration Court of the Saudi Centre for Commercial Arbitration. Sara serves as a deputy secretary-general of the International Bar Association (IBA), where she co-chairs the IBA Arab Regional Forum and the in-house counsel group of the IBA Arbitration Committee.

Prior to joining Morgan Lewis, Sara was a partner at one of the largest law firms in the Middle East and North Africa.

As Counsel and Legal Expert

• Defended an Arabian Gulf state-owned entity in several multimillion-dollar arbitrations relating to its real estate development projects and property portfolio in the Emirate of Dubai
• Defended the respondent in a $300 million arbitration seated in Geneva and administered by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) against a real estate developer over a landmark commercial real estate development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Defended a major Arabian Gulf energy provider in several arbitrations over the operation of power plants with an amount in dispute of more than $2 billion in Bahrain-seated UNCITRAL proceedings administered by the PCA and governed by the laws of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Served as counsel for the claimant on issues of UAE law in two multibillion-dollar ad hoc arbitration proceedings seated in London and Geneva against a state-owned entity arising out of a long-term gas sale and purchase agreement
• In a DIAC arbitration seated in Dubai, represented a major financial institution in its defense and counterclaim of more than $200 million over the financing of a mega-city project in the Emirate of Dubai
• Defended an Arabian Gulf state-owned entity as owner against an Asian hotel operator in a DIFC-seated arbitration
• Represented an Arabian Gulf conglomerate as owner on its Doha-seated ICC arbitration over claims of breach of a hotel management agreement
• Defended the respondent against claims arising out of a subcontract construction agreement in one of the first ICC Expedited Procedure Provisions procedures seated in the Kingdom of Bahrain
• Represented a Spanish construction group as claimant in a $120 million ICC proceeding regarding a dispute over an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract relating to the first private desalination project in the Arabian Gulf
• Defended UAE and Hong Kong–based construction groups as respondents in an ICC arbitration relating to claims of more than $150 million by the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) contractor for nonpayment of work executed in a high-profile eco-friendly project in the Middle East
• Represented a Korean multinational corporation in defeating jurisdictional objections in ad hoc Arabic language arbitration proceedings seated in Dubai over an infrastructure project in the State of Kuwait and governed by the laws of the State of Kuwait
• Defended a major Korean electronics company as respondent against claims by one of its regional distributors in arbitration proceedings seated in the DIFC
• Defended a major Korean electronics company as respondent against claims by one of its regional distributors in arbitration proceedings seated in the Emirate of Dubai
• Secured a settlement for an Arabian Gulf state-owned entity as respondent in a dispute involving the exploration of telecom licenses leading to the closure of statutory arbitration proceedings
• Succeeded in reinstating an annulled ICC arbitral award issued in favor of a major Korean electronics company by the Dubai Court of Cassation, which was set aside by the Dubai lower courts
• Represented a European petroleum company as investor on its claims against the Government of Tunisia in ICSID proceedings (ICSID Case No. ARB/12/30)
• Served as a member of the legal team on issues of UAE law for the UAE government in its defense of claims brought by an investor in ICSID proceedings (ICSID Case No. ARB/17/20)
• Advised a European multinational aeronautical company on its potential investment treaty claim against a government of the Middle East
• Devised and advised one of the world’s leading global financial institutions on its anti-money laundering (AML) compliance obligations across Europe and the Middle East
• Represented the minority shareholders of one of the largest diamond manufacturing companies in cross-border investigations across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa

As Arbitrator

• Served as co-arbitrator in institutional arbitration seated in London over a shareholders’ dispute governed by the laws of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Served as presiding arbitrator in institutional arbitration seated in the DIFC over a dispute between a contractor and a sub-contractor over a landmark hotel construction project in the Emirate of Dubai
• Served as sole arbitrator in institutional arbitration seated in Dubai over a dispute concerning multi-sale and purchase real estate agreements
• Served as presiding arbitrator in institutional arbitration seated in Dubai over a dispute concerning a cross-border commodities transaction
• Served as presiding arbitrator in institutional arbitration seated in Dubai and governed by the laws of the UAE involving a dispute concerning the construction of a school
• Served as co-arbitrator in French language institutional arbitration seated in North Africa involving a dispute over a services agreement between African parties
• Served as co-arbitrator in institutional arbitration proceedings involving a dispute concerning the construction of a bridge in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi
• Served as sole arbitrator in institutional arbitration proceedings seated in Dubai and governed by the laws of the UAE involving a dispute relating to a services agreement
• Served as sole arbitrator in ad hoc arbitration proceedings seated in London and governed by the laws of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over a dispute involving the services of a healthcare facility