Joanne is a Partner in Quinn Emanuel’s Abu Dhabi office, specialising in complex commercial litigation and international arbitration.
Joanne has over a decade of on-the-ground experience in the Middle East, giving strategic advice to clients navigating complex disputes across the GCC. An expert in common law litigation, Joanne acts for clients in disputes before the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts, the Abu Dhabi Global Markets Courts, and the Courts of England and Wales. In addition, Joanne has many years’ experience in international arbitration, acting for clients in disputes under all the major institutional rules, seated in the UAE and internationally, and frequently sits as an arbitrator.
Joanne has been recognised by the legal directories for many years, including most recently as a “Leading Individual” by The Legal 500 and as a Band 3 ranked Lawyer by Chambers and Partners. Joanne is further recognised by The Legal 500 Arbitration Power List 2023, The Construction Week Middle East Power List 2023 and by Who’s Who Legal Arbitration 2023.
The legal journals (Legal 500 2023 and Chambers & Partners 2023) describe Joanne as:
“an outstanding leader who is highly knowledgeable in her field and has a wide spectrum of knowledge of the local laws and court procedures”;
“committed, unflappable, and great in a crisis; she has excellent judgment and always knows the right question to ask”;
“an exceptionally talented lawyer. Incisive, clear and thoughtful”;
“receiv[ing] considerable praise for her handling of a wide variety of disputes, including debt recovery, insolvency and commercial fraud matters”.
- Meydan Group LLC; Meydan City Corporation; Nakheel; Mashreq Bank; Industrial Commercial
- Bank of China; RJO’Brien; the Al Jaber Group, Caterpillar Finance
- Acting for multiple clients (including listed entities, state owned enterprises and high net worth individuals) in applications for emergency injunctive relief for the preservation of assets in the DIFC Courts.
- Acting for a multi-disciplinary conglomerate based in Abu Dhabi in DIFC Court proceedings, representing the owners of the last major undeveloped site in the DIFC to appeal foreclosure, in proceedings before the CFI and Court of Appeal.
- Acting for Industrial Commercial Bank of China in relation to recoveries due under Insurance Policies, with associated claims in the DIFC Courts.
- Acting for Meydan Group LLC against the Dubai International Arbitration Centre in DIFC Court proceedings in breach of contract claims connected to arbitration.
- Acting for Mashreq Bank in proceedings before the Dubai World Tribunal relating to the restructuring of USD 2.3 billion of debt owed by Drydocks World – Dubai LLC and Dubai World LLC.
- Acting for the finance arm of a Fortune 100 company in its debt recovery strategy across the GCC including in Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE, and entailing proceedings in the DIFC and England and Wales.
- Acting for leading Global mining group in relation to the recovery of debts owed in the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, including winding up proceedings in Singapore.
- Representing a Dubai government owned developer against subsidiary of a Fortune 100 company in a multi-jurisdictional dispute involving two DIAC arbitrations, English Court litigation (High Court and Court of Appeal) and litigation before the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.
- Representing a major UK regulated investment house in multiple disputes in the UAE and internationally, including securing a successful LCIA award, winding up proceedings in Singapore, and negotiated settlements.
- Representing a high-profile Dubai Government owned developer in a portfolio of arbitrations valued at over USD 4.5 billion, subject to the DIAC rules or the ICC rules, involving issues arising under FIDIC Conditions of Contract, complex joint venture and consortia arrangements under UAE law and standalone sale and purchase agreements.
- Acting for a leading UAE hotels group in a multi-tiered dispute encompassing court and arbitral proceedings, successfully securing a UAE seated arbitral award for losses under business interruption insurance.
- Representing a Kuwaiti public listed company in an ICC arbitration arising out of the construction of the Pearl development in Qatar.
- Advising a planned cross-border development in Saudi Arabia with regard to the review and drafting of a range of civil and criminal laws, including for the infrastructure of the court.
- Oxford Institute of Law
(Legal Practice Course, 2004) - College of Law, Birmingham
(Post graduate Diploma in Law, 2003) - University of Leeds
(B.A., Honors, 2001)
- Solicitor of England and Wales
- UAE registered Legal Consultant
- DIFC Registered Practitioner
- King & Wood Mallesons
- Partner / Managing Partner, 2016-2023
- Associate, 2009-2016
- Allen & Overy
- Trainee, 2004-2006
- Litigation Associate, 2006-2009
- Ranked by Legal 500 EMEA, Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and International Litigation, Hall of Fame, 2024
- Ranked by Chambers Global United Arab Emirates – Dispute Resolution Band 3, 2024
- "Joanne Strain is a proficient and well-informed litigator."
- "Joanne Strain is good on the client care side and sees what matters on cases. She has very good judgement about what is important."
- "Joanne Strain is technically strong, with an ability to distil the challenges of complex situations into clear pathways forward. Her manner is engaging and responsive. She is also empathetic, which is very important."
- Ranked by The Legal 500 Global: Leading Individual for Dispute Resolution UAE, 2023
- Ranked by Chambers & Partners: Band 3 for Dispute Resolution UAE, 2023
- Named in The Legal 500 Arbitration Power List, 2023
- Named in The Construction Week Middle East Power List, 2023
- Named in Who’s Who Legal Arbitration, 2023.