Practice Expertise
- Dispute Resolution
- Maritime, Shipping & Transport
Areas of Practice
- Dispute Resolution
- Maritime, Shipping & Transport
Profile
Chatura's practice focuses primarily on dispute resolution. He advises and represents clients in arbitration, and has represented clients in DIAC, ADCCAC, ICC and ad hoc arbitrations. In addition to representing clients in arbitration, he sits as an arbitrator. Chatura also works with local advocates on matters before the UAE Federal Courts, including the Federal Supreme Court in matters of national security, as well as the Courts of Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah.
Chatura regularly acts for clients in high value construction disputes. He also advises on maritime and shipping disputes, banking disputes, employment disputes, as well as complex disputes relating to commercial transactions. Much of his work has strong cross-border elements. He is a regular speaker at workshops and conferences on dispute resolution in the UAE. He is also known for pro bono work involving young families and children.
Prior to joining Afridi & Angell in 2008, Chatura was in the private bar of Sri Lanka practicing in the Law Chambers of Dr Harsha Cabral, President's Counsel. He was also a visiting lecturer in law at the Faculties of Law and Management at the University of Colombo.
Chatura has been ranked as dispute resolution practitioner in both Chambers Global ("Up and Coming") and in Legal 500 EMEA ("Next Generation Partner").
Chatura regularly acts for clients in high value construction disputes. He also advises on maritime and shipping disputes, banking disputes, employment disputes, as well as complex disputes relating to commercial transactions. Much of his work has strong cross-border elements. He is a regular speaker at workshops and conferences on dispute resolution in the UAE. He is also known for pro bono work involving young families and children.
Prior to joining Afridi & Angell in 2008, Chatura was in the private bar of Sri Lanka practicing in the Law Chambers of Dr Harsha Cabral, President's Counsel. He was also a visiting lecturer in law at the Faculties of Law and Management at the University of Colombo.
Chatura has been ranked as dispute resolution practitioner in both Chambers Global ("Up and Coming") and in Legal 500 EMEA ("Next Generation Partner").
Bar Admissions
Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, called to the Bar in 2006
Education
- LL.M., Harvard Law School, Fulbright Scholar, 2007
- LL.B. (Honours) University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2004
Areas of Practice
- Dispute Resolution
- Maritime, Shipping & Transport
Professional Career
Significant Accomplishments
- Studied as a William H. Fulbright Scholar at Harvard University, U.S.A. (2007)
Seminars/ Presentation
• Panelist, Challenging an Arbitration Award under V(II)(b) of the New York Convention, what is "public policy"?, Colombo Arbitration Week, 8th August 2023, Colombo, Sri Lanka
• Panelist, Arbitration in the 21st Century: Taking Stock of Climate Change and the Environment, Linklaters 7th CARTAL Conference on International Arbitration, 11 February 2023, Jodhpur, India
• Speaker, New Year’s Legal Update: Litigation 2.0 - what you need to know about major changes in litigation in the UAE on-shore Courts, Afridi & Angell webinar, 6 February 2023, Dubai
• Speaker, Dispute Resolution 101: An Introduction To Dispute Resolution In The UAE, With A Note On The Law On Dishonored Cheques, TiE Dubai, 24 November 2022, Dubai
• Speaker, Use of Criminal Processes in Civil Matters, FIRE Middle East, 15 November 2022, Dubai
• Speaker, Fraud in Arbitration, Asset Recovery Middle East, 14 November 2022, Dubai
• Speaker, UAE Law on Combating Cybercrimes, LexisNexis online training in collaboration with the DIFC Academy, 24 January 2023, Dubai
• Speaker, New Year’s Legal Update: Decriminalising Bounced Cheques, Afridi & Angell webinar, 25 January 2022, Dubai
• Panelist, Impact of the Global Pandemic on Construction Disputes, AIJA Conference, 18 November 2021, Dubai
• Panelist, Financing / Litigation Funding, FIRE Conference organised by Thought Leaders 4, 16 November 2021, Dubai
• Panelist, When arbitration and fraud meet, Asset Recovery Middle East Virtual Conference organised by Informa, 17 February 2021, Dubai
• Panelist, Virtual chat with Afridi & Angell: answers to COVID-19 related questions on employment, risk management & disputes among others, webinar organised in collaboration with the Association of Corporate Counsel, 23 April 2020, Dubai
• Speaker, Force majeure clauses in contracts governed under UAE law, webinar organised in collaboration with the Association of Corporate Counsel, 11 March 2020, Dubai
• Speaker, ‘Dispute Smart’: Exploring Ways to Develop Efficient and Innovative Solutions, Asian Legal Business UAE In-House Summit 2019, 22 October 2019, Dubai
• Speaker, Understanding Debt Recovery in the UAE, seminar organised by The Oath as part of the GC Talk Series, 1 May 2019, Dubai
• Panelist, Litigation Funding as an Asset Class, AIM Summit Abu Dhabi, 7 April 2019, Abu Dhabi
• Moderator, Litigation Funding Developments in MENA Region, 2nd International Litigation Legal Conference Dubai, 25 March 2019, Dubai
• Panelist, The future of ADR: where do we go from here? 2nd International Litigation Legal Conference Dubai, 26 March 2019, Dubai
• Panelist, How Your Law Firm Can Help You Avoid Complex Debt Recovery Proceedings, Lex Mundi Africa and Middle East Regional Forum, 26-28 February 2019, Dubai
• Speaker, The early stages of arbitration, seminar organised by Emirates Maritime Arbitration Centre (EMAC), 30 September 2018, Dubai
• Speaker, Federal law No. 6 of 2018 – The New Arbitration Law, seminar organised by Afridi & Angell, 27 June 2018, Dubai
- Studied as a William H. Fulbright Scholar at Harvard University, U.S.A. (2007)
Seminars/ Presentation
• Panelist, Challenging an Arbitration Award under V(II)(b) of the New York Convention, what is "public policy"?, Colombo Arbitration Week, 8th August 2023, Colombo, Sri Lanka
• Panelist, Arbitration in the 21st Century: Taking Stock of Climate Change and the Environment, Linklaters 7th CARTAL Conference on International Arbitration, 11 February 2023, Jodhpur, India
• Speaker, New Year’s Legal Update: Litigation 2.0 - what you need to know about major changes in litigation in the UAE on-shore Courts, Afridi & Angell webinar, 6 February 2023, Dubai
• Speaker, Dispute Resolution 101: An Introduction To Dispute Resolution In The UAE, With A Note On The Law On Dishonored Cheques, TiE Dubai, 24 November 2022, Dubai
• Speaker, Use of Criminal Processes in Civil Matters, FIRE Middle East, 15 November 2022, Dubai
• Speaker, Fraud in Arbitration, Asset Recovery Middle East, 14 November 2022, Dubai
• Speaker, UAE Law on Combating Cybercrimes, LexisNexis online training in collaboration with the DIFC Academy, 24 January 2023, Dubai
• Speaker, New Year’s Legal Update: Decriminalising Bounced Cheques, Afridi & Angell webinar, 25 January 2022, Dubai
• Panelist, Impact of the Global Pandemic on Construction Disputes, AIJA Conference, 18 November 2021, Dubai
• Panelist, Financing / Litigation Funding, FIRE Conference organised by Thought Leaders 4, 16 November 2021, Dubai
• Panelist, When arbitration and fraud meet, Asset Recovery Middle East Virtual Conference organised by Informa, 17 February 2021, Dubai
• Panelist, Virtual chat with Afridi & Angell: answers to COVID-19 related questions on employment, risk management & disputes among others, webinar organised in collaboration with the Association of Corporate Counsel, 23 April 2020, Dubai
• Speaker, Force majeure clauses in contracts governed under UAE law, webinar organised in collaboration with the Association of Corporate Counsel, 11 March 2020, Dubai
• Speaker, ‘Dispute Smart’: Exploring Ways to Develop Efficient and Innovative Solutions, Asian Legal Business UAE In-House Summit 2019, 22 October 2019, Dubai
• Speaker, Understanding Debt Recovery in the UAE, seminar organised by The Oath as part of the GC Talk Series, 1 May 2019, Dubai
• Panelist, Litigation Funding as an Asset Class, AIM Summit Abu Dhabi, 7 April 2019, Abu Dhabi
• Moderator, Litigation Funding Developments in MENA Region, 2nd International Litigation Legal Conference Dubai, 25 March 2019, Dubai
• Panelist, The future of ADR: where do we go from here? 2nd International Litigation Legal Conference Dubai, 26 March 2019, Dubai
• Panelist, How Your Law Firm Can Help You Avoid Complex Debt Recovery Proceedings, Lex Mundi Africa and Middle East Regional Forum, 26-28 February 2019, Dubai
• Speaker, The early stages of arbitration, seminar organised by Emirates Maritime Arbitration Centre (EMAC), 30 September 2018, Dubai
• Speaker, Federal law No. 6 of 2018 – The New Arbitration Law, seminar organised by Afridi & Angell, 27 June 2018, Dubai
Articles
Weathering the April Storms: Where will the burden fall under UAE law?
By Chatura Randeniya |April 2024Insurance claims for damage caused by the torrential rain and floods
By Chatura Randeniya |April 2024Unification of Federal and Local Judicial Principles: key decisions relating to civil procedure and cheques
By Chatura Randeniya |February 2024
• Insurance claims for damage caused by the torrential rain and floods, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 23 April 2024
• Co-author of the UAE chapter of Arbitration, Lexology Panoramic, 2024
• Unification of Federal and Local Judicial Principles: key decisions relating to civil procedure and cheques, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 8 February 2024
• Arbitration in the Middle East: Dubai Court of Cassation clarifies the distinction between jurisdiction and admissibility for the first time, International Bar Association, 20 December 2023
• Dubai Court of Cassation Issues Directions on the Imprisonment of Judgement Debtors in the UAE, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 18 December 2023
• Navigating the Jurisdiction: Key UAE Court Decisions from 2023 Shaping the Arbitration Landscape, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 13 December 2023
• Recent Amendments to the Arbitration Law, Afridi & Angell Client Alert, 13 October 2023
• Corporate Criminal Liability in the UAE, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 21 February 2023
• Litigation 2.0 – Significant changes in onshore litigation from January 2023, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 12 January 2023
• Dispute the Changes, Lexis Middle East Law Alert, March / April 2022
• Co-author of Attachment of Assets, Juris Publishing, 2021
• Amendments to management liability under the Bankruptcy Law, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 6 December 2021
• The dishonour of a cheque for insufficient funds will no longer be a crime in the UAE after 2 January 2022, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 9 November 2021
• Dubai Court of Cassation clarifies the application of optional arbitration clauses, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 2 November 2021
• A unified arbitration hub? The Oath, October 2021
• Yes, its groundbreaking, but what does it mean for you? A rough guide to the implications of Decree 34 for parties in arbitration in Dubai, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 26 September 2021
• Further recognition of judge-made law, and new courts: more changes to the UAE's Civil Procedure Code, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 20 September 2021
• Consistent messaging from the Dubai Courts: Arbitration clauses are to be construed as narrowly as possible, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 12 September 2021
• Co-author of Arbitration procedures and practice in United Arab Emirates: overview, Practical Law Global Guide (Thomson Reuters), 2021
• Co-author of Litigation and Enforcement in the United Arab Emirates: overview, May 2021, Thomson Reuters Practical Law Global Guide
• Another step in the right direction – the Dubai Court introduces the concept of a pre-trial conference, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 28 April 2021
• The separability of an arbitration clause - the Sharjah Court of Appeal sets limits, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 11 November 2020
• Co-author of the UAE chapter of Shipping, Lexology Getting The Deal Through, 2021
• Further Changes to Civil Litigation in the UAE, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 27 May 2020
• Co-author of the UAE chapter of Arrest of Vessels, Maritime Law Handbook, 2020, Kluwer Law International
• Interim measures in practice, The Oath, April 2020
• COVID-19: Is it an event of force majeure under UAE law?, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 19 April 2020
• Electronic signatures in the UAE: what you need to know, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 13 April 2020
• Co-author of the UAE chapter of Arbitration, Lexology Getting The Deal Through, 2020
• Co-author of Arbitration procedures and practice in United Arab Emirates: overview, Practical Law Global Guide (Thomson Reuters), 2020
• Interim relief prior to starting arbitrations under the Federal Arbitration Law: A note on recent experiences, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 11 February 2020
• UAE Prosecution for IT Crimes Law – Legislative Insight, Lexis Middle East Law Alert, 13 January 2020
• Co-author of Litigation and Enforcement in the United Arab Emirates, 2019, Thomson Reuters Practical Law Global Guide
• The use of experts in the UAE municipal courts: Seven things you need to know, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 12 December 2019
• Dubai: Changes to the fines that can be applied by the Public Prosecutors’ Department, Afridi & Angell Legal Alert, 6 October 2019
• A closer look at Payment Orders under the UAE Civil Procedure Law, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 11 June 2019
• Is Arbitration an Exceptional or Alternative Form of Dispute Resolution? Afridi & Angell inBrief, 21 May 2019
• The UAE’s new Arbitration Law: a significant step towards making the Emirates a global arbitration hub, IBA Litigation Newsletter, May 2019
• Significant Changes to UAE’s Civil Procedure Code, ASIAN-MENA Counsel, February 2019
• Significant Changes to Civil Procedure Code, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 12 February 19
• Application for an Anti-Suit Injunction: Dismissed, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 11 November 2018
• Remote Litigation in Dubai Labour Court, Afridi & Angell Legal Alert, 30 October 2018
• Dubai relaxes rules on filing appeals before the Court of Cassation, Afridi & Angell Legal Alert, 30 September 2018
• Assessing the Impact of the New UAE Arbitration Law, Lexis Middle East Law Alert, 20 July 2018
• The UAE Federal Arbitration Law: A First Look, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 17 May 2018
• Potential Criminal Liability for Arbitrators and Experts, Afridi & Angell inBrief, November 2016
• Author of Arrest of Vessels in the UAE, The Oath, October 2014
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