Nayla Comair-Obeid

Nayla ComairObeid

Obeid & Partners

Beirut www.obeidpartners.com

nayla@obeidpartners.com Tel: +961 1 363 790

Biography

Professor Dr Nayla Comair-Obeid is the founding partner of Obeid & Partners (previously Obeid Law Firm) with offices in Beirut, Dubai and Paris. She is a professor of law and associate member of 3VB Chambers in London. Prof Comair Obeid has been recently elected the vice chair of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) (as of June 2022) and has been a member of the ICC Executive Board since 2019. She is also currently the chair of the Jury of the ICC Institute Prize (2023 edition), the vice chair of the Arbitration Committee in the International Bar Association (IBA), member of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA) Governing Board, trustee of the Cairo Regional Center for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA), member of the international commercial expert committee of China’s Supreme People’s Court, amongst others.

Following the destruction of Lebanon by the civil war and aided by the fact that my husband was a contractor; I began my career in the late 1980s and I thought that there was room for understanding and acting on the legal aspects of reconstruction in my country. The demand for specialists in construction law was also growing in the Middle East at the time. I had the advantage of being a specialist in Middle Eastern legislation and a doctor in law from Paris University, fluent in Arabic, English and French.

What makes Obeid & Partners stand out from its competitors in the market?

From the beginning of my endeavour to build a law firm, I have focused on excellence in the service to our clients and insisted on meeting the international standards of quality, compliance and independence. We have achieved that goal: Obeid & Partners has won all its cases.

The construction industry often turns to arbitration for dispute resolution. What steps are courts taking to offer a rival forum for dispute resolution in the construction market?

From my experience in the Middle East, very little has been done in that respect. Most companies and even state entities generally resort to arbitration for dispute resolution.

To what extent has covid-19 had an impact on construction practice in 2021? Are parties willing to be flexible in procedure and approach to get it over the line?

Covid-19 has seriously affected our practice, maybe for the good. We have increased the remote-working process and engaged in hiring the best specialists all over the world. This also increased flexibility in all our working styles; the pandemic has created interesting opportunities across the board.

What do you find most challenging acting as a legal expert on numerous aspects of Lebanese law in foreign courts?

I often act as expert in Lebanese law in front of foreign courts; Lebanese law being highly inspired by the French Civil Code, the challenge is to transmit the subtlety and intricacies of the Lebanese system in front of foreign judges.

How do you see the recent instability in oil prices influencing investment in the Middle East? Will oil remain a key commodity in construction projects or do you see the use of renewables increasing?

Fluctuating oil prices have hindered some countries in their planned development, but this is now almost under control in the Gulf area; the need for oil will remain for industrial purposes, while renewable energies will be the major trend in the coming 10 years. This is particularly true in the Middle East where solar energy is available and has become affordable.

What impact will technological innovation have on the construction industry over the next five to 10 years?

Technological innovation will radically change the construction industry; the impact of work force shall be drastically reduced by the introduction of new systems and machinery. This will have economical and sociological results in the Gulf area where the need for imported labour will be reduced.

Looking back over your career, what has been your proudest achievement?

Throughout my career, I have always aimed to represent and support the empowerment of women worldwide, and particularly in the Middle East. I find pride in the recognitions I received and positions I have held, which would set an example of the accomplished careers any woman could pursue. My recent election as the ICC vice chair, the vice chair of the Arbitration Committee in the IBA, board member of Women’s Leadership Board of the Women and Public Policy Program (WAPPP) at the Harvard Kennedy School, and my designation as president of the CIArb in 2017, amongst others, have been all a source of pride for me. As regards the firm, expanding the firm’s horizons in 2021 despite all challenges and launching offices in Paris and Dubai besides Beirut have been of my proudest achievements.