Justin Jie Zhang

Justin Jie Zhang is a Legal Director in the Dispute Resolution team and Construction and Infrastructure team. He is also a member of the dedicated China Group. His primary practice area is Construction Law.

Based in the United Arab Emirates for the past 10 years, he holds dual legal expertise in both Chinese laws and the essentials of UAE laws. Notably, he is one of the very few construction lawyers from China practising in the UAE.

Prior to joining Al Tamimi & Company, he served as a Senior Construction Lawyer at a leading English law firm.

His recent experience includes advising a China state-owned contractor on DAB proceedings concerning variation claims of circa USD 200 million in relation to an EPC contract concerning a landmark commercial project in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; advising a specialist international façade and cladding contractor on an arbitration concerning a claim value of over AED 100 million in relation to the Midfield Terminal Building project of Abu Dhabi Airport, UAE; and advising a major China state-owned construction firm on claims of variations and an EOT, claims over the Covid-19 pandemic and commencing the DAB concerning a total claim of over USD 100 million in relation to a landmark commercial project in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

He has also advised a China state-owned contractor on an arbitration concerning a claim of over AED 200 million in relation to a major shopping mall project in the UAE; advised China Construction Third Engineering Bureau acting as Project Counsel for all of its construction projects in the UAE, notably including a power plant project; advised China National Aero-Technology International Engineering Corporation (Dubai Branch) acting as Project Counsel for all of its projects in the UAE, notably including a major retail project; and advised China National Chemical Engineering Co. (Dubai) acting as Project Counsel for a large residential project in Dubai.

Other matters include advising a major China state-owned contractor (Middle East branch) on various issues in relation to mortgage registrations, collaterals for project financing and payment terms in connection with projects in Dubai and Abu Dhabi; advising Wison Engineering International as Project Counsel for a large oil refinery project in the region; advising a China state-owned railway contractor on bank guarantees, escrow accounts and payment terms in relation to its residential projects in Dubai; advising Zhejiang Communications Construction Group Co. Ltd on contract termination and management of a JV agreement in relation to infrastructure projects in Abu Dhabi; advising a major regional contractor on obtaining a precautionary attachment order on bank guarantees and pre-arbitration preparations in relation to a power project in Oman; and advising an EPC contractor on drafting subcontract templates in relation to the 2GW Al Dhafra solar PV project in Abu Dhabi.

He holds a Master's Degree in Comparative Law from China University of Political Science and Law (2012) and a Bachelor of Laws from East China Normal University (2009). He is admitted in China and speaks Chinese and English.