Guillaume Hess
Guillaume Hess is special counsel in the firm’s Construction and Infrastructure and the International Arbitration practice groups. He focuses his practice in complex dispute resolution through arbitration, litigation, mediation, and negotiations. He has over a decade of experience representing public and private owners and contractors in resolving disputes arising out of the construction and the operation of major projects.
While Guillaume primarily focuses on construction disputes, he also has broad experience in general commercial disputes and in investment treaty disputes. He has handled a broad range of disputes under the auspices of most of the major rules of arbitration (including the ICC, LCIA, ICSID, DIFC-LCIA, ADCACC, DIAC, ADCCAC, SICAC) and before the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts, where he has full rights of appearance.
Guillaume studied law both in France and in the State of New York. He qualified in the State of New York. He has extensive experience in the Middle East and is comfortable working in either a common law environment or in a civil law environment.
Prior to joining the firm, Guillaume worked in Dubai as a senior associate for in one the world’s top ranked firms for international arbitration. Guillaume started his career in 2012 at an international firm based in Dubai.
- Recognised by The Legal 500 EMEA as a Recommended Lawyer for Dispute Resolution in Qatar, 2025
- Speaker, "Role of Investor State Dispute Settlement mechanisms," International Investment Promotion and Facilitation in the Context of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 Conference organized by the UNESCO Chair on Environmental Law and Sustainable Development at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), in collaboration with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Qatar, Invest Qatar, and the GCC Branch of the International Law Association, Qatar, 7 December 2025
- Speaker, E-Discovery in Construction Disputes: Best Practices for Challenging Data Sources, Webinar hosted by TransPerfect Legal, 12 September 2024
- Moderator, Session 3 “Encouraging research and innovation through IP,” International Mediation and Arbitration Conference: The Role of IP in Fostering Economic Growth, Qatar, 3 June 2024
- Panelist, Construction Law & Dispute Resolution Developments, Qatar Business Law Forum Conference & Awards Ceremony, Hosted by LexisNexis, 14 November 2023
- Co-Author, “Contract Formation and Enforcement in Qatar: Overview,” Thomson Reuters, Practical Law Country Q&A, 1 May 2025
- Co-Author, "Islamic finance disputes: Arbitration and litigation," IFN Annual Guide 2024, Islamic finance news, 19 December 2023
- Co-Author, “ADR in the United Arab Emirates: proactive dispute management,” Asia Business Law Journal, 25 October 2023
- Co-Author, "Expert Briefing: Investment Activities in Singapore: A Legal Perspective," Asia Business Law Journal,19 October 2023
- Contract Management Best Practices to Limit the Risk of Disputes (Parts I and II), Construction Law, 2023
- Chapter on Construction Arbitration: Saudi Arabia, Global Arbitration Review, 2023
- The Midnight Disaster of Defective Arbitration Agreements, Corporate Disputes Magazine, 2020
- Expert Firm Services: Where Does the Duty Lie?, Corporate Disputes Magazine, 2020
- Unforeseen Adverse Ground Conditions, Corporate Disputes Magazine, 2020
- Dispute Boards - A Globally Growing Popularity but Limited Use in the Middle East, Corporate Disputes Magazine, 2019
- Middle East - A Mediation Desert?, Corporate Disputes Magazine, 2019
- It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over, Corporate Disputes Magazine, 2018
