ROAP Construction (EMEA) 2025/6 FINALS – 7 April 2026
The ROAP Construction (EMEA) Finals bring to a close our advanced remote oral advocacy and cross-examination courses, by featuring the most persuasive and skilled participants on each course.
The outcome of the finals will be determined by a panel of world-class arbitrators consisting of Prof Doug Jones AO (President) to whom the ROAP Construction (EMEA) 2025/6 edition is dedicated, Kim Franklin KC, and Thomas H. Webster
The event will take place live online on 7 April 2026 from 2:00pm to 5.40pm GMT. Provisional event programme:
- 2:00pm GMT – Welcome from the ROAP Construction (EMEA) Co-chairs, and introduction by the ROAP Construction (EMEA) 2025/6 Dedicatee, Prof Doug Jones AO
- 2.10pm GMT – CROSS-EXAMINATION FINALS Christopher O’Brien (Charles Russell Speechlys, Doha), Chelsea Pollard (Morgan Lewis, Dubai) and among the experts, John Fagan (GBsqd, Dubai) and Ellie Mouannes (Accuracy, Paris)
- 3.35pm GMT – ORAL SUBMISSIONS FINALS Edward McCullagh (A&O Shearman, Dubai) and Amanda Staninovski (Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Sydney)
- 5.20pm GMT – Tribunal decisions for both Finals
- 5.40pm GMT – Word of thanks from the ROAP Construction (EMEA) Co-chair
You will find short bios of our finalists and tribunal members below.
TRIBUNAL FOR ROAP CONSTRUCTION (EMEA) 2025/6 FINALS
Prof Doug Jones AO, Professor Doug Jones AO is a leading international commercial and investor-state arbitrator and an International Judge of the Singapore International Commercial Court. Doug has experience in both ad hoc and institutional commercial arbitrations under the AAA, ACICA, AIAC (formerly KLRCA), AMINZ, CRCICA, DIAC, HKIAC, ICC, ICDR, ICSID, KCAB, LCIA, PDRCI, QICCA, Resolution Institute, SCC, SIAC, UNCITRAL, VIAC and other international rules. He sits regularly as an arbitrator in London; in addition to many other jurisdictions, from Singapore to California, Dubai to Kuala Lumpur. He has also acted as counsel and mediator in numerous ADR procedures in infrastructure related disputes. The over 190 arbitrations in which Doug has been involved include infrastructure, energy, commodities, intellectual property, commercial and joint venture, and investor-state disputes spanning over 30 jurisdictions around the world. Amounts in dispute in arbitrations in which Doug has sat as arbitrator are in excess of some billions $US. Doug was appointed as an International Judge of the Singapore International Commercial Court in 2019. Doug has published and spoken extensively and holds professorial appointments at a London university and two Australian universities. He has offices in Sydney, Australia and Toronto, Canada, and chambers in London, UK.
Kim Franklin KC is a recognised specialist in the construction, engineering and infrastructure sectors. She acts as a full-time arbitrator, dispute board member and adjudicator, resolving disputes arising from complex projects in international arbitration, dispute boards and as UK construction adjudicator. Appointed for arbitrations under ICC, LCIA, DIAC and HKIAC rules in the UK, Europe, the Gulf and Asia, she acts as Sole Arbitrator, Party Appointed and Tribunal Chair. Appointed King’s Counsel in 2016, Kim has a flair for technically complex, document-heavy disputes, with a reputation for clarity, strong case management, and sound strategic judgment.
Thomas H. Webster is a lawyer active as an arbitrator, counsel and mediator in international disputes. He has acted as arbitrator in over 150 arbitrations and as counsel in over 75 cases and has also been involved in numerous annulment and enforcement proceedings. His varied arbitrations have been conducted under virtually all major international arbitration rules, at most major places of arbitration and under common and civil law. He is the author of the Handbook of UNCITRAL Arbitration (third edition due in January 2019), the Handbook of ICC Arbitration (4th edition to be published in November 2018) and the Handbook of Investment Arbitration.Tom has a JD from the University of Toronto, an LLM from Cambridge University and a DEA from the University of Paris I (Sorbonne) and is admitted to practise in England, France, the United States (New York) and Canada (Ontario). He is fluent in French and German. Before setting up his independent practice, which he has conducted in Paris and London, he was a partner of a major New York law firm.
FINALISTS
John Fagan is a Partner at gb2. He is an experienced testifying delay expert, having given expert evidence in international arbitration. He is a construction planner by background and has previously worked with a tier-one main contractor in delivering major infrastructure projects. John now works with leading domestic and international construction and engineering clients to avoid, mitigate, and resolve disputes relating to project delay and disruption. John brings valuable expertise in delay analysis and disruption on major construction, energy, and infrastructure projects. As a delay expert, he has advised on complex disputes globally and brings valuable insight to every stage of the project lifecycle. John’s experience encompasses a wide array of sectors, including residential and commercial buildings, oil and gas resources, renewables, transport, and rail and highway infrastructure.
Edward McCullagh is a Senior Associate at A&O Shearman specialising in dispute resolution and international arbitration. He is based in Dubai, and has broad experience of disputes from across the Middle East region. Edward specialises in construction and engineering disputes arising out of large projects in the region and worldwide, and also regularly advises clients on contentious issues arising during the course of ongoing projects. In addition, Edward advises on commercial disputes and investigations for clients across a broad range of sectors, including financial services, automotive, oil and gas, shipping, defence and mining. Before coming to the Middle East, Edward worked in London, Yokohama and Hong Kong, and has spent time on secondment to a global bank, and a multi-national automotive manufacturer. Edward also worked for two years as an Investment Manager and Senior Legal Counsel at the Dubai offices of a leading global litigation funder.
Elie Mouannes specialises in delay and disruption analysis on complex construction projects. With over 10 years of professional experience combining civil engineering and project management, he provides independent expert analysis in high-stakes construction disputes worldwide. Before focusing on expert work, Elie spent four years managing construction projects across the United States and the Middle East, where he developed strong expertise in project delivery, project management, and project controls. He regularly works within expert teams to analyse delay and disruption issues across a broad range of sectors, including major capital projects, residential developments, oil & gas, and process plants.
Christopher O’Brien. Having been based in the Middle East for approximately seven years, Chris practices in a range of dispute resolution fora, including arbitration, court proceedings, mediation and expert determination. Chris’ experience is broad and varied, having acted for clients in matters ranging from mega construction projects (including procurement), oil and gas, financial disputes, intellectual property and data protection. Chris has a particular focus on dispute avoidance and early dispute resolution. Chris is particularly adept at assisting clients with strategic formulation for the resolution of disputes. Chris is admitted to practise in England and Wales.
Chelsea Pollard is an associate in the dispute resolution practice of Morgan Lewis, focusing on international arbitration, cross-border litigation, and dispute avoidance. She has particular knowledge of international arbitration and has been involved in advising and representing clients in various sectors, including construction, energy, hospitality, healthcare, consumer goods, aviation, and finance. Chelsea is qualified to practice in California. Prior to joining Morgan Lewis, Chelsea worked as an associate at one of the largest regional law firms in the Middle East and at the Asian International Arbitration Centre, where she was part of the standard form of building contracts team.
Amanda Staninovski is a Senior Associate at Corrs Chambers Westgarth. Amanda is a skilled litigator in construction disputes and has acted for owners and contractors in arbitral and court proceedings relating to large infrastructure projects. Amanda has been published in multiple law journals and bulletins in relation to construction and insolvency law issues, including the Journal of Banking and Finance Law and Practice, Australian Construction Law Bulletin, Insolvency Law Bulletin, Corporate Law Bulletin, ACICA Arbitration Review and Construction Law International. Amanda has been named in Best Lawyers “One to watch” in 2024, 2025 and 2026. Amanda is currently studying a Masters in Construction Law at the University Melbourne where she has been awarded the Corrs Chambers Westgarth Prize in Remedies in the Construction Context for 1st place in the course (2024).
