Sudanese Commercial Law Office (SCLO) represents international clients, law firms, and domestic companies in litigation, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution before Sudanese courts and international panels. We are Chambers Global-ranked and have acted in disputes spanning construction, energy, trade, and corporate matters — including matters exceeding one billion US dollars in aggregate value.

SCLO's dispute resolution practice covers the full range of contentious work in Sudan. In litigation, we represent clients before the Commercial Courts in Khartoum and across Sudan. We handle pre-trial strategy, evidence gathering under Sudanese procedural rules, hearing representation, enforcement of judgments, and appeals to the Supreme Court. We prepare all pleadings and submissions in Arabic and provide English-language summaries and strategy memoranda for international instructing firms.

In arbitration, SCLO acts as local counsel and as lead Sudanese counsel on international arbitrations governed by ICC, LCIA, and ad hoc rules where the substantive law or the enforcement jurisdiction is Sudan. We have co-counselled with City of London firms on multi-jurisdictional arbitrations involving Sudanese-law issues, including matters in the energy and construction sectors. In alternative dispute resolution, we advise on negotiated settlements, mediation, and expert determination where a commercial resolution is preferable to formal proceedings.

We also advise on pre-dispute risk management — reviewing contracts for dispute resolution clauses, assessing the enforceability of governing law and jurisdiction provisions under Sudanese law, and providing opinions on the likely outcome of contested matters before proceedings are commenced.

Among our mandates: Sudanese co-counsel to Pinsent Masons on East African crude oil arbitrations exceeding one billion US dollars in aggregate value. Representing a foreign client before an arbitration panel in a construction contract dispute in Sudan — resolved in the client's favour. Advising a client on inflation-based contract revaluation remedies under Articles 82 and 128–131 of the Civil Transactions Act 1984 following disruption caused by the 2023 conflict.

Sudan's Arbitration Act 2016 governs domestic and international arbitration proceedings. Foreign arbitral awards are capable of recognition and enforcement in Sudan subject to domestic recognition procedures under the Act. SCLO advises international clients on the practical enforcement process and on strategies for securing Sudanese assets in advance of or during proceedings. The 2023 conflict has created procedural disruption including interruption of court sittings in Khartoum — SCLO monitors conditions across Sudan and advises clients on the most effective forum for new proceedings and management of existing cases.

SCLO's dispute resolution clients include international law firms requiring Sudan local counsel on cross-border arbitrations, multinational companies defending or pursuing claims before Sudanese courts, foreign investors asserting rights under investment treaties or contracts, construction contractors and project owners in infrastructure disputes, and energy companies involved in upstream and downstream commercial disputes.