Luka Kristovic-Blazevic
Partner, Baker & McKenzie LLP

Practice description

Luka Kristovic-Blazevic is a partner who specializes in international commercial arbitration, with a particular focus on complex international construction disputes, and is the Head of the Middle East International Arbitration practice. He has experience of arbitral proceedings conducted under the auspices of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA) and the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), as well as ad hoc.

Luka has advised clients from a number of cultural and geographic backgrounds, and has worked on disputes involving both common and civil laws as well as Shariah.

Luka has been ranked as a “Global Elite Thought Leader for Arbitration” in the 2025 Client Choice published by Lexology in association with GAR. From 2019-2020, Luka has been recognised by Who’s Who Legal as a "Future Leader – Arbitration” in Saudi Arabia and has been cited as “especially notable for construction-related international arbitration” by Chambers Global (Saudi Arabia). 

Luka is a guest lecturer at Prince Sultan University in Riyadh, where he lectures on dispute resolution and construction law, and also acts as arbitrator.

Representative clients, cases or matters

– Acting for the contractor in an infrastructure project in an arbitration concerning the construction of various metro lines in the Middle East.

– Representing a Middle East government in connection with multiple arbitrations involving the construction of an airport and related infrastructures in the Middle East.

– Representing a client in high-stakes multi-billion Euro dispute in the nuclear industry involving multiple proceedings in several fora.

– Representing an employer in an arbitration regarding the construction of a plant in the Middle East.

– Advising an employer in respect of claims management and a potential arbitration in relation to a refinery project in the Middle East.

– Advising an employer in respect of claims and contractual remedies in relation to a mining project in the Middle East.

– Representing a joint venture of European contractors in an arbitration arising out of a dispute relating to IT equipment supplied pursuant to a BOT contract for a new airport.

– Representing a joint venture between European and Asian contractors in an arbitration arising out of disputes relating to the construction of a new rail project in Asia.

– Representing a majority owner in a joint venture mobile telecommunications company in a dispute arising out of the threatened enforced divestment of its majority interest by its joint venture partner, the telecommunications arm of a Central European
government.

– Representing an Asian company in a potential arbitration with claims ranging from USD 100 million to USD 300 million arising out of a dispute over the construction of a cement plant in the Middle East.

– Representing a North African company in a potential arbitration arising out of a dispute with a European group over the alleged mismanagement of a hotel in North Africa.

– Representing a party in an SEC investigation into bribery and corruption issues relating to a multibillion-dollar joint venture project in
Africa.

– Representing in connection with a USD 15 million arbitration under the rules of a Central European arbitral institution arising out of the construction of a hotel in Central Europe.

Professional affiliations

– ICC National Commissioner
– International Nuclear Law Association

Education and admission

Admission

– New York (2005)
– Paris (2007)
 
Education

– LLM, New York University School of Law (2004)

– LLM, (DESS), Université Paris II Panthéon-Assas (2003)

– LLM, (DEA), Université Paris II Panthéon-Assas (2002)

– Maitrise in International Law, Université Paris II Panthéon-Assas (2001)

– LLB and DEUG, Université Paris II Panthéon-Assas (1999 and 2000)

Publications

– Author, "Dynamic Industries vs. Baker Hughes - Arbitration Clause Enforceable Despite DIFC-LCIA Dissolution", February 2025

– Author, "UAE Courts Recognize the Concept of "Negotiations Without Prejudice"", January 2025

– Author, "DIFC Court of Appeals Overturns Sandra Holding", December 2024

– Author, "Dubai Court of Cassation rules asymmetric optional arbitration clauses are not binding", December 2024

– Author, "Exploring Arbitration Avenues: Understanding arbitrations options for construction disputes", October 2024

– Author, "Dubai Court of Cassation Reaffirms the Requirements to Enforcement of Foreign Judgements", September 2024

– Author, "DIFC Courts enforce awards on interim measures for arbitrations seated Outside the DIFC", August 2024

– Author, "Abu Dhabi Court Holds DIFC-LCIA Arbitration Clauses to be Enforceable", August 2024

– Author, "UAE: Dubai Establishes New Authority for Resolving Conflict of Jurisdiction", July 2024

– Author, "The Validity and Enforcement of Unilateral Jurisdiction Clauses under DIFC Law", June 2024

– Author, "DIAC Mediation Rules 2023 come into force", November 2023

– Author, "Amendments to the UAE Federal Arbitration Law", October 2023

– Author, "DIFC Court Limits Worldwide Freezing Orders in Support of Foreign Court Proceedings Where No Nexus to the DIFC", October 2023

– Author, "DIFC Court Holds Interim Awards to be Enforceable", September 2023

– Author, "Model Arbitration Submission Agreement for Government Contracts Adopted", September 2023

– Author, “Saudi Supreme Court clarifies COVID-19 effects on contractual arrangements”, July 2021

– Author, "Litigation in Saudi Arabia: Recently Launched E-Litigation Services Expedite Resolution of Disputes", August 2020

– Author, “Mediation in Saudi Arabia: Ratification of the Singapore Convention on Mediation and the SCCA Emergency Mediation Program”, June 2020

– Author, “The New Enforcement Regime: a further step in the right direction”, March 2019

Speaking Engagements

Speaker at various conferences including:

– "Managing risk and challenges arising from doing business in the Middle East", Seoul, April 2025

– "Enforcement of investment treaty awards against states", Paris Arbitration Week, April 2025

– "Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as Arbitration Seat: Present and Future", Riyadh International Disputes Week, February 2025

– "Training on oral advocacy", ICC Institute Abu Dhabi, February 2025

– "Management of arbitration proceedings", Croatian Arbitration Days, December 2024

– "Interim relief in disputes in the Middle East: Recent developments and strategic implications", Dubai Arbitration Week, November 2024

– "Administering contracts under FIDIC Conditions: Changes in law and escalation", ICC Conference, October 2024

– "Important highlights and issues in relation to the new Saudi Civil Transactions Law", Riyadh International Disputes Week, March 2024

– "How to manage geopolitical fallout through international arbitration",

Paris Arbitration Week, March 2024

– "SCCA: The Application of Joinder and Consolidation: a Comparative Look", Dubai Arbitration Week, Dubai, November 2023

– "Contracting with State Authorities and State-Owned Companies in the UAE and KSA", Dubai Arbitration Week, Dubai, November 2023

– "Multi-tiered Dispute Clauses – Dispute Avoidance and Resolution", ICC Conference, October 2023

– "ESG, Energy Transition and difficult Commercial and Investment Disputes", Paris Arbitration Week, France, March 2023

– "Arbitration Complexities: Multi-party issues and extension of the arbitration agreement to a non-signatory", Belgrade Arbitration Conference, March 2023

– "Energy Transition and Renewables in MENA: Key Drivers and Future Prospects for the Dispute Resolution Landscape", ICC MENA Conference, Abu Dhabi, UAE, February 2023

– "Variations and other changes", ICC FIDIC Conference on International Construction Contracts and Dispute Resolution, October 2022

– “UAE Arbitration Trends: Arbitration Agreements and Interim Measures”, Dubai Arbitration Week, Dubai, UAE, 2021

– "How to navigate interim measures in international arbitration", ICC Institute Training, 2020

– "Musical Chairs: How to Choose the Perfect Seat", Legal 500 Middle East Disputes Summit, 2019

– "Managing Delay Claims in Large Construction Projects", ICC Conference – Dubai Arbitration Week, Dubai, UAE, 2017

– "Interim Measures in International Arbitration: The Interplay of Arbitral Tribunals and State Courts", IX Belgrade Arbitration Conference, Belgrade, Serbia, 2017

– "How Best to Resolve LNG Price Reviews?", 2016: ICC International Arbitration Conference on Energy Disputes, Doha, Qatar

– "Introduction to FIDIC and the FIDIC Forms of Contract", 2015: 4th International Conference on International Sales Law and International
Commercial Arbitration, Minsk, Belarus

– "Joinder and Consolidation," VII Belgrade Arbitration Conference, Belgrade, Serbia, 2015

– "Multi-Party Issues in Construction Arbitration," 21st Croatian Arbitration Days, Zagreb, Croatia, 2013

– "Decisions of the Arbitral Tribunal," Slovenian Arbitration Conference, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 2013

– "Document Production under the IBA Rules," V Belgrade Arbitration Conference, Belgrade, Serbia, 2013

Awards & Recognition

– “Global Elite Thought Leader for Arbitration” - 2025 Client Choice published by Lexology in association with GAR

– Who's Who Legal as Future Leaders - Arbitration 2019 and 2020 (Saudi Arabia)

– "Luka Kristovic-Blazevic is especially notable for construction-related international arbitration" - Chambers Global, Saudi Arabia, 2020

Global areas of practice

– International Arbitration
– Dispute Resolution
– Construction

Languages

– English
– French
– Bosnian
– Croatian
– Serbian