Dr. Ali Rahal
Founder and Chancellor of Rahal Law Firm
Ali Fayez Rahal is a Lebanese legal scholar and practitioner renowned for his expertise in arbitration. A doctorate professor at the Lebanese University since 2002, he earned his PhD from Sorbonne University (2002) with a thesis on “enforcement of arbitral awards in the Middle East”, a cornerstone of his career bridging academia and practice. As Chancellor of Rahal Law Firm, he has handled 70+ international and local arbitration cases through institutions like the ICC (Paris) and DIAC (Dubai), while advising on commercial contracts and resolving high-stakes disputes in real estate and business sectors. Parallel to his practice, he teaches arbitration at Lebanese University, Kaslik University (USEK) and the Islamic University of Lebanon, shaping Lebanon’s legal education landscape. Combining scholarly rigor with practical experience, Rahal’s work addresses regional enforcement challenges, cementing his legacy as a pivotal figure in Middle Eastern arbitration.
9.00 – 10:15
Day 3 Thursday 22 May 2025
Between Bench and Tribunal: Do Arbitration and the Judiciary Cooperate or Compete?
This panel delves into the evolving interplay between national courts and arbitral tribunals, examining whether they ultimately reinforce or undermine one another. Panelists will discuss how each system’s procedures, rulings, and interventions can shape the broader landscape of dispute resolution, touching on topics such as judicial oversight of arbitration, enforcement of awards, and collaborative best practices. Attendees will gain insights into the real-world tension points and promising pathways for achieving both efficiency and fairness when courts and arbitration meet.