Kamal is the head of Stephenson Harwood’s Africa and India groups. He specialises in complex, cross-border international arbitration, litigation and fraud and asset recovery. Kamal is highly regarded by his peers and clients in his abilities in multi-jurisdictional disputes.
He acts for governments, government entities, banks, private corporations and high net worth individuals in a range of matters including those relating to projects and infrastructure, joint ventures, banking and finance, shareholder arrangements and energy.
Kamal is highly ranked in the legal directories including Chambers & Partners (UK, Global and Asia-Pacific), The Legal 500 (UK and Asia-Pacific), and IFLR1000. Kamal is one of only three lawyers ranked in Band 1 for Africa-wide dispute resolution in Chambers Global 2024. They comment that “Kamal is one of the best lawyers. He is extremely experienced and knows the continent like the back of his hand.” (Chambers Global, 2024).
He was named as a leading international arbitration practitioner in Who’s Who Legal: Future Leaders 2017 – 2022 for arbitration and has been recognised in Africa’s 30 Arbitration Powerlist 2020 and The Legal 500’s GC Private Practice Powerlist for arbitration and Africa in 2022. Kamal is also recognised in the Lawdragon Global Litigation 500 list that features attorneys who specialise in international arbitration.
Kamal has also been listed in India Business Law Journal’s top 100 international lawyers for India-related matters for the last seven years, along with being recognised as a ‘Leading Cross Border (India Desk) Lawyer’ at the Legal Era’s Global Achievers Awards 2022. Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific guide lists Kamal as a key contact for India Dispute Resolution and the Legal 500 Asia Pacific guide quotes “Kamal Shah heads their India group and is a great litigator.”
Kamal remains an LCIA (London Court of International Arbitration) Court Member having been re-appointed for the second time in June 2023. He is also the immediate past President of the LCIA African Users’ Council. Since June 2023 he is the President of the Court of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce International Arbitration Centre. Kamal co-published the text of the ‘African Promise’, which seeks to tackle the under-representation of Africans on international arbitration tribunals. He is also the co-author of the leading text “Arbitration in Africa: A Review of Key Jurisdictions”. Kamal was named winner of ‘Mentor of the Year’ at the African Arbitration Association Awards 2024.