Ms. Katerina Stathi FCIArb

Legal Counsel, Lavipharm Group of Companies

Partner, Head of Construction Engineering & Projects for Middle East Region, Charles Russell Speechlys

Paula is Head of Construction Engineering & Projects for the Middle East Region. Based in Bahrain since 2006, she specialises in construction projects throughout the region, particularly Bahrain, Saudi and Qatar, and was recently ranked as a leader in her field by Chambers Middle East Legal Awards 2021 for Dispute Resolution.

Her extensive experience includes real estate and development, regeneration, infrastructure and utilities, energy and renewables, oil and gas, hotels, leisure and tourism, residential, industrial and commercial, education and healthcare, both in the private and public sectors. Paula acts on behalf of the government and regulatory clients, including the Ministry of Works, project employers and developers, lenders and investors, contractors, subcontractors and consultants.

Technical Office Manager, Public Works Authority of Qatar (Ashghal)

Ahmad has started his working career back to 1984 at Qatar fertilizer Company (QAFCO) progressing over a span of 13 years from a Mechanical Technician to Mechanical Project Engineer. In 1997 Ahmad was appointed as the Lead M&E Project Engineer at Water Projects Department at Ministry of Electricity & Water serving for 4 years within which he became the Head of the Department in 1999. In April 2001, Ahmad moved to Qatar National Olympic Committee as the Programme Leader responsible for planning and delivery of some 32 prestigious sport facilities and projects for Doha 2006 Asian Games.

In early 2006 Ahmad was appointed as the Managing Director of a local company, Lagoon Qatar, providing multi-disciplinary engineering and construction services, and served for nearly 7 years. Finally, he joined the Public Works Authority in 2013 as the Lead Advisor for Contracts and Project Management supporting some multi-billions infrastructure and building programmes, and now he is in charge of the President Technical Office.

Ahmad has a University Degree in Mechanical Engineering, a Master Degree in Project Management in Construction, a Master of Laws in Construction Law & Arbitration, and he is a Chartered Construction Manager as well as Fellow and Chartered Member of various International Professional Institutions.

Mr. Tom Kapapa FCIArb

Partner, Head of Operations Qatar, HKA

Tom is a surveyor with over 20 years of construction industry experience. He acts as both delay and quantum expert and has been appointed on five occasions.

Tom has a broad construction background, working as a site manager and a surveyor on a variety of projects across Africa, the Middle East and the UK. His diverse sectoral experience ranges from major city developments (including high-rise tower buildings and leisure developments), road and motorway construction, rail and station construction, and major structural steelwork to water, wastewater and infrastructure drainage, power station construction, oil and gas development, LNG complex development, and mechanical and electrical infrastructure.

Tom has acted as expert for disputed sums up to $600 million and for projects values in excess of $5 billion He has been cross-examined in international arbitration twice, including giving concurrent evidence (hot-tubbing), and has been praised by counsel and tribunals alike for his testimony. Tom also acts as both an arbitrator and a mediator, and has taken the lead on a dispute adjudication board (DAB), as well as leading numerous claims negotiations. Tom is a chartered member of the Royal Institution of Surveyors (MRICS) and a fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb); Qatar country representative on the Dispute Resolution Board Forum; and an Academy of Experts-certified quantum expert.

WWL says of Tom: ‘Tom Kapapa is a leader in the Middle East thanks to his “impressive” expertise and “abilities in complex arbitration” cases’ and ‘Tom Kapapa wins high praise from sources who commend his “impressive testifying skills and ability to keep calm and poised under pressure”.’