Amir Ghaffari is the Managing Partner of Ghaffari Partners, a specialist international arbitration boutique headquartered in the UAE. Before that, Amir was the managing partner and head of Middle East disputes at a leading US law firm. Amir has acted as counsel in more than 75 international commercial and construction arbitrations administered under the rules of all the major arbitral institutions, as well as in ad hoc proceedings. In addition to his arbitration work, Amir regularly appears as an advocate before the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts of First Instance and Appeal.
He represents clients across a number of sectors, and has developed particular experience in relation to large, complex and high-value infrastructure, energy and construction disputes. Amir also represents governments (or their ministries) and major corporations in energy disputes, involving chemical, petrochemical and other manufacturing and processing plants; onshore and offshore oil and gas facilities; FPSOs; refineries; desalination plants; pipelines; and nuclear and fossil fuel plants.
Amir regularly sits as an arbitrator (including as presiding and sole arbitrator), under the ICC, LCIA and DIFC-LCIA Rules.
He is a solicitor-advocate (England and Wales) and an advocate of the DIFC Courts (UAE). He has lived and practised international arbitration in London (where he trained), Dubai and Paris. Over the years, Amir has been recognised for his work in the field of international arbitration by, among others, Chambers Global, Chambers UK, The Legal 500 – EMEA, The Legal 500 – UK, WWL: International Arbitration and The Guide to the World’s Leading Experts in Commercial Arbitration.
Applicants must meet all of the following eligibility criteria:
You MUST have applied for the Comparative and International Dispute Resolution LLM by 14 March 2025 (if you have applied by this date and not received an offer by 28 March 2025 please contact pglawscholarships@qmul.ac.uk quoting your application number and date of initial application.
3 April 2025
This scholarship will be awarded to those who we deem to have successfully demonstrated their reasoning for being awarded a scholarship based on the following criteria;
The compulsory personal statement should include all of the above information and should be in response to the text as detailed in the ‘How to apply’ section below.
In order to apply for this scholarship please complete and sign the online application form (the link is on the bottom of this page) and a 1000-word (maximum) statement in response to the following;
‘Please explain why you want to study the LLM in Comparative and International Dispute Resolution at Queen Mary University of London, specifying the modules you have a particular interest in. What you will bring to the programme and why you feel you should be awarded a scholarship; focusing on your academic and professional achievements (if relevant and financial need).
We will also take into consideration the following documents submitted with your programme application. Please ensure these are all uploaded to the Queen Mary application portal.
Incomplete, incorrect or late scholarship applications will not be accepted or processed.
All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application approximately by the beginning of July 2025 please wait to be contacted in this regard.
Please note that scholarship (both applications and awards) cannot be deferred.
The successful candidate is required to put together a two A4- page report for the Donor at the end of the academic year. The report should outline the progress and content of the Scholar’s practice, how he/she benefitted.
The successful candidate may be asked to assist with Queen Mary marketing events such as postgraduate open evenings and/or web/video student profiles; as well as supporting Queen Mary School of Law in promoting the scholarship (e.g., through interviews, photos and presence at events).
Please note school scholarships are also subject to university-wide Terms and Conditions as well as any course/School/Faculty conditions or criteria outline.
Before you click on the link below to apply online make sure you have read through the above information thoroughly.
Apply for this scholarship via our online form.