Sonia Barber’s understanding of international regulations and how best to approach obstacles enable her to advise clients seeking entry into the Middle East.

Ms. Barber counsels clients in relation to international business compliance, hospitality and real estate, business formations, employment, construction, and dispute resolution.

Ms. Barber assists clients from the region, as well as outside of the Gulf, to access large-scale projects. Specifically, she counsels companies from a host of industries, including hospitality, oil and gas, construction and architectural engineering, and events, in all facets of development projects, from drafting and negotiating project agreements to drafting commercial leases, agency, management, licensing, and employment contracts.

Ms. Barber’s recent experience includes her work in advising both owners and operators on large-scale hotel projects both inside and outside of the State of Qatar in relation to operating and licensing agreements. She has also advised contractors on major building and infrastructure projects, and she has successfully mediated a significant commercial dispute before the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Ms. Barber has more than seven years experience in Qatar, prior to which she was employed by an Australian law firm highly regarded in the area of insurance litigation, when she regularly appeared before the NSW Supreme Court, the District Court in Sydney and Newcastle and the Compensation Court. She is conversational in Japanese and has spent time abroad in Tokyo.

Representative Matters

• Advised on, drafted, and negotiated management agreements, technical services agreements, trademark licenses, and related agreements for the hotel owners of properties such as Intercontinental Doha Westbay, Buddha Bar Hotel Paris, Kempinski Morocco, and Nikki Beach Hotel and Resort Doha. Also advising clients on the development of several unique six star brands.
• Advised on, drafted, and negotiated commercial lease, distributorship, joint venture, and license agreements.
• Advised client in relation to evaluating its opportunity to participate in competitive application for second fixed telecommunications license in Qatar, including drafting and negotiating agreements between bid participants; reviewing and negotiating a complex management agreement with a prospective operator in Qatar; assisting client prepare and submit its bid, including review and advising in relation to local regulatory requirements.
• Advised and assisted clients in evaluating complex multi-million dollar construction claims and resolution of disputes relating thereto.
• Advised and provided litigation support to clients settling employment and lease disputes before the local Qatari courts and mediating a commercial dispute before the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry.