Mark Wilson
Mark.Wilson@kennedyslaw.com
+971 4 350 3699
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Profile
Mark is a Partner in Kennedys’ Dubai office. He commenced practice in New Zealand, before relocating to Hong Kong, where he joined Kennedys and spent 18 years practising in construction/engineering and construction-insurance related disputes. He is one of the founding partners of the firm’s Dubai office and has been based there since 2006. Mark is experienced in construction/engineering and construction insurance-related dispute resolution (litigation, arbitration and ADR), project advice, contract/policy interpretation and drafting. His clients include insurers/reinsurers, developers, contractors/subcontractors and construction professionals.
Mark is routinely recognised by The Legal 500, Chambers Global and Lexology Index (formerly Who’s Who Legal) for Construction, Dispute resolution: arbitration and international litigation, and Insurance (United Arab Emirates). He is a recipient of an ILO Client Choice Award: Insurance (United Arab Emirates) and a Corporate Livewire Global Award (Construction & Real Estate).
Memberships:
- Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
- Society of Construction Law
- Director, Lighthouse Club Dubai
Mark’s fortitude in seeing complex cases through to the end is the epitome of those qualities in the legal profession that every young lawyer should aspire to.
Qualifications and admissions
- Qualified in New Zealand in 1985
- Qualified in England and Wales in 1991
- Qualified in Hong Kong in 1992
Market recognition
- Ranked for Construction (United Arab Emirates)
“Mark Wilson is very strong in his expertise and depth of knowledge.”
Chambers Global 2025 - Ranked for Construction (United Arab Emirates)
"Mark is always on top of the issues."
Chambers Global 2024 - Recommended Lawyer for Construction (United Arab Emirates)
“‘Extremely knowledgeable and competent litigator’ Mark Wilson leads the team and his career has spanned three decades in construction ADR, arbitration, and litigation.”
Legal 500 EMEA 2024 - Recommended Lawyer for 'Construction (United Arab Emirates)'
"Mark Wilson is a very good disputes lawyer. He has a depth of experience and know-how that is hard to come by in Dubai. Highly recommended."
The Legal 500 EMEA 2023 - Recommended Lawyer for 'Dispute resolution: arbitration and international litigation (United Arab Emirates)'
"Mark Wilson specialises in construction and construction insurance-related dispute resolution."
The Legal 500 EMEA 2023 - Recommended Lawyer for 'Insurance (United Arab Emirates)'
"Mark Wilson has expertise in insurance-related dispute resolution."
The Legal 500 EMEA 2023 - Recommended Lawyer for 'Construction (United Arab Emirates)'
Mark Wilson heads the practice and advises insurers, reinsurers, developers, contractors and construction professionals."
The Legal 500 EMEA 2022 - Recommended Lawyer for 'Dispute resolution: arbitration and international litigation (United Arab Emirates)'
"For construction-related matters, practice head Mark Wilson is the primary point of contact."
The Legal 500 EMEA 2022 - Recommended Lawyer for 'Construction (United Arab Emirates)'
The Legal 500 EMEA 2021 - Recommended Lawyer for 'Dispute resolution: arbitration and international litigation (United Arab Emirates)'
"Mark Wilson requires special mention. Mark’s fortitude in seeing complex cases through to the end is the epitome of those qualities in the legal profession that every young lawyer should aspire to."
The Legal 500 EMEA 2021
Awards
Work highlights
- Representing an employer in respect of various FIDIC dispute adjudication board proceedings relating to the construction and delivery of a landmark Dubai project.
- Representing a regional national oil company and its reinsurers in the pursuit of claims (through ICC arbitration) for property damage and business interruption losses against contractors responsible for a fire in desulphurisation plant and equipment during ‘turnaround’ works, resulting in a partial shutdown of a petroleum refinery.
- Representing a firm of consulting engineers and their insurers, in relation to claims and counterclaims (involving both local litigation and potential arbitration) by and against a major developer arising from a series of civil engineering projects in Dubai.
- Representing a leading international main contractor in relation to both up and down stream claims (involving ADCCAC arbitration) arising out of a mixed-use hotel/residential/retail development in Abu Dhabi.
- Representing the owner/operator of a water and power plant, in ADCCAC arbitration proceedings, against the design/build contractor in relation to claims arising from cyclone flood damage to the facility.
Representing an international firm of architects in defending a claim (through ADCCAC arbitration) over the design and construction of a mixed-use development in Abu Dhabi. - Representing a firm of engineers in a dispute over the design of MEP works relating to the extension of a water park in Dubai.
- Representing a firm of consulting engineers, on instructions from PI insurers, in defending (DIAC) arbitration proceedings alleging professional negligence by the Insured in the design of a fit-out department store in Dubai.
Construction and engineering
Insurance and reinsurance