George Vlavianos FCIArb

Partner

Qatar Managing Partner
Riyadh Co-Managing Partner
Co-Head of Greece Country Group
Co-Head of International Arbitration Africa

Emailgeorge.vlavianos@akd.partners

Call+974 3311 0963

Doha

About

George Vlavianos is Managing Partner of the Qatar office and Co-Managing Partner of the Riyadh office. George is also Co-Head of the Greece Country Group and Co-Head of International Arbitration Africa.

George specialises in dispute resolution with a focus on energy and constructions disputes. He has considerable experience advising owners, contractors and engineers on a wide range of complex, multi-party construction disputes and arbitrations across the Middle East, Europe and the North America, including insurance claims arising out of large-scale construction projects. In addition, George has significant experience handling energy-related disputes for national and international energy companies.

He regularly conducts arbitrations under various ad hoc and institutional rules. He has considerable arbitration experience with respect to projects in the GCC and Qatar in particular, and is very familiar with the laws of the region and their application.

George is ranked in both Chambers Global and Legal 500, with one client stating: "I rate him highly for arbitration, he has a good reputation." Another client has observed: “George is thoroughly prepared, constructs arguments from their elemental level and makes them resonate. As with all great litigators, he has a very good sense of irony. He is awesome in the hearing room.”

Areas of FocusLitigation, Arbitration and Investigations Construction and Engineering International Arbitration

EXPERIENCE

Advising an international EPC contractor in ICC arbitration proceedings in relation to multimillion-euro disputes arising out of the design and construction of a multi-lane highway and tunnel in Slovakia.
Advising an international EPC contractor in ICC arbitration proceedings in relation to multimillion-dollar disputes arising out of the design and construction of a stadium for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Advising an international EPC contractor in relation to a series of claims arising out of the development and construction of a mall complex in Saudi Arabia.
Advising a steel works sub-contractor in ad hoc arbitration proceedings in relation to a dispute arising out of the construction of the New Doha Port.
Advising a foreign government in relation to a multibillion-dollar dispute arising from a contract for the manufacture and supply of military equipment to a country in the GCC.*
Advising an international consultant in HKIAC arbitration proceedings in relation to the recovery of consulting fees arising from the award of a contract for the construction of a pipeline system in Bangladesh.*
Advising an international EPC contractor in ICC arbitration proceedings in relation to a subcontract dispute arising from the design and construction of the Doha Metro.*
Advising an international energy company in UNCITRAL arbitration proceedings in relation to a multimillion-dollar costs overrun and delay claim arising out of the design and construction of a billion-dollar oil sands project.*
Advising the joint venture owners in a multimillion-dollar gas pricing dispute with a Saudi Arabian petrochemical company.*
Advising an international energy company in a series of UNCITRAL arbitration proceedings relating to multiple multimillion-dollar disputes arising out of the ownership and operation of a gas field in the Caspian Sea.*
Advising a Canadian oil services company in ICC arbitration proceedings relating to disputed ownership of energy interests in the Aegean Sea.*
Advising a Canadian-based international energy company in a series of multimillion-dollar claims against an errors and omissions insurer arising in connection with the construction of a multibillion-dollar oil sands project, resolved through mediation.*
Advising a general contractor in negotiating and drafting a construction management agreement with respect to the construction of a health facility.*
Advising a general contractor in negotiating and drafting a fixed-price contract for the construction of a casino.*
Advising a consulting engineer in multi-party litigation and mediation proceeding arising in connection with the construction of a large house development.*

*Denotes experience prior to AKD Partners.

Languages

Awards

Education

Universit Panth on-Assas, Paris, France, 1994

McGill University, Montr al, Canada, Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL), 1993

McGill University, Montr al, Canada Bachelor of Laws (LLB), 1992

Queen's University, Kingston, Canada Bachelor of Arts (BA), 1989

Publications

Seminars

FIDIC in Focus - Key Developments and Practical Applications in Construction Projects and Arbitrations, Athens, Greece, 16 January 2025
Updates & Key Insights into the KSA Dispute Resolution landscape, 04 March 2024
Global crossroads: Navigating risks and opportunities in the intersection of Asian and African trade routes, 25 January 2024
2023 FIDIC Contracts Guidance, Qatar Business Law Forum, Doha, 14 November 2023
Unforeseeability, Hardship and Force Majeure – A Perspective from the Gulf, Society of Construction Law, 10th International Construction Law Conference, Istanbul, 18 October 2023
Unforeseeability, Hardship and Force Majeure in the Context of Concessions Agreements – Comparative Law Observations – Greece and the Gulf, Conference at International Hellenic University, Thessaloniki, Greece, 4 November 2022
Multi-Tier Process and Pre-Arbitral Steps, 10th ICC MENA Conference, Dubai, 17 May 2022
Preparing a Case for Arbitration in the Age of COVID-19 – A Practitioner’s Perspective, 4th World Conference on International Arbitration, Doha, 23 March 2022
How to Best use an Expert Witness in Arbitration, 6th Annual International Arbitration & Regulatory Summit – Istanbul, 2019
Consolidation of International Arbitration Proceedings, 5th Annual International Arbitration & Regulatory Summit – Doha, 2019
Arbitration Clauses: An Introduction for Transactional Lawyers, 6th Annual International Arbitration & Regulatory Summit – Dubai, 2019
Multi-Tier Dispute Resolution Clauses – Benefits, Drawbacks and Effects of Non-Compliance, Third International Arbitration Conference – Doha, 2018

Prior Experience

Prior to joining AKD Partners in May 2020, George worked at an international law firm, based in Doha.

Memberships And Affiliations

My latest insights

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Swiss Court Strikes Down AT1 Bond Write-Off: A Landmark Decision for Bondholders

24 November 2025

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Legal Risk, Reform & Opportunities in KSA: Counsel Priorities for 2026 and Beyond

10 November 2025

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