Matthew Walker, a partner in the Doha and London offices of K&L Gates, focuses his practice in construction law and dispute resolution. He has acted as advocate and counsel in ICC and QICCA arbitrations in Qatar, the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Hong Kong, India and the UK, as co-counsel in cases before the Qatar Court of First Instance, and has litigated in the Technology & Construction Court and the Court of Appeal in England. He has sat in several QICCA arbitrations as arbitrator, including as sole arbitrator and on a panel of five arbitrators. He was involved in a series of multimillion pound adjudications, arbitrations and mediations relating to a telecommunications system on an underground rail network, and an international adjudication related to a gas facility in Tanzania. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building, and has been accredited as a Mediator by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.
Matthew also provides non-contentious construction advice, particularly in the rail sector. He has undertaken secondments to Qatar Rail, London Underground and the Crossrail Project for Carillion plc. He has provided tendering advice and contract review for the multi-billion dollar civil engineering contracts for the new Doha Metro being built by Qatar Rail. He has advised a client in the energy sector on contract drafting and risk management for the provision of hydro-electric equipment to overseas clients. He has carried out the construction drafting on an implementation agreement for a £326 million rail project in London, agreements for lease on a flagship commercial development in East London, and construction contracts (including FIDIC, NEC, JCT, ACE, RIBA and bespoke forms) on construction projects of varying size and complexity.
- Recognised by The Legal 500 United Kingdom edition as a Recommended Lawyer for Insurance litigation: for policyholders, Construction: contentious, Construction: non-contentious, and International arbitration in London, 2024
- Listed by Who’s Who Legal as a Global Elite Thought Leader for Construction, 2021-2023
- Recommended as one of the leading construction lawyers working in Qatar by Who’s Who Legal, every year from 2015-2023
- Recognized by Chambers Global guide for Dispute Resolution: International (Expertise Based Abroad) in Qatar, 2023
- Recognized by Chambers Global guide for Dispute Resolution (International) in Qatar, 2016-2019
Client testimonials include the following, all taken from The Legal 500 2023 editions:
- "Matthew Walker is the standout partner for commercial disputes in the Middle East. His understanding of the culture, politics and legal systems of the Gulf is second to none."
- "Matthew Walker - very knowledgeable in relation to Middle Eastern laws, and particularly good at listening to clients and understanding what they need."
- "[He] is a very experienced construction lawyer, extremely sharp and with a keen eye for detail. His case management skills are impressive."
- "Matthew Walker is brilliant – a superb lawyer, terrific leader of a team, and a highly effective communicator who is wonderful with clients."
- "Matthew Walker is the leading international commercial and construction disputes lawyer in Qatar. Clients love his business acumen and his commitment to getting the best possible result."
- "Mathew Walker has extensive experience in the Middle East and acts as litigator and arbitrator. He has proven to be exceptional, very cultivated, calm and in command of his cases. A highly recommended lawyer for dispute resolution cases; you simply cannot go wrong by working with him and his firm. He is one of the best."
- "Matt Walker is a standout arbitration lawyer. He is commercially minded but detailed in his approach. Matt has an impressive grasp of complex delay and quantum issues but gives his experts space to work."
- Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) - admitted as Fellow, 2008
- Chartered Institute of Building (FCIOB) - admitted as Fellow, 2017
- Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) - confirmed as accredited Mediator, 2018
- Honorary Secretary, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Qatar & QFC branch), 2018 - present\
- Member of ADR Committee for the Qatar International Court, advising on changes to QFC Law and creation of new arbitration centre, 2015
- Technology and Construction Solicitors Association
- Society of Construction Law (Gulf)
- Panellist, “Strategies for Success in Navigating Delay and Quantum Issues in International Construction Arbitration in a Changing World,” London International Disputes Week, 18 May 2023
- Speaker, “Time-bar Provisions in Construction Arbitration”, International Arbitration School (IARBS), 15 March 2023
- "Virtual Hearings - Lessons Learnt," Society of Construction Law (Gulf), 10 March 2021
- Arbitration in Qatar - an introduction, LexisPSL, August 2023
- Enforcement of arbitral awards in Qatar, LexisPSL, August 2023
- Interim remedies in support of arbitration in Qatar, LexisPSL, August 2023
- Challenging arbitral jurisdiction and stay of court litigation in favour of arbitration in Qatar, LexisPSL, August 2023
- GAR Know How Commercial Arbitration, Qatar chapter, Global Arbitration Review, May 2023
- GAR Know How Commercial Arbitration, Qatar chapter, Global Arbitration Review, May 2021
- Local Arbitration Laws and Institutions, Lexis Middle East Law, 23 April 2021
- The Guide to Challenging and Enforcing Arbitration Awards - Qatar chapter, Global Arbitration Review, 2019
- ADR in Qatar - A New Law, A New Regional Seat of Choice, and a New Era, Lexis Middle East Law, 6 February 2018
