Maria specialises in construction and engineering law, including review and drafting of contract documentation, contract and claims management and representation of clients in arbitration and mediation.

Maria also acts as an Arbitrator and as a RICS Accredited Mediator listed on the RICS President's Panel of Dispute Resolvers MENA Branch.

Maria qualified in England and Wales in 2000. During her career she has worked in-house as legal counsel for an international project management and construction company and has advised construction and engineering clients in the Middle East since 2013.

She is recognised as a rising star by Legal 500 UAE 2023 and clients say she "is excellent and fully familiar with UAE procedure and practice. She gets the most out of experts, counsel and witnesses whilst at the same time keeping clients fully appraised and advised."

Recent work includes:

- Representing a UAE based global investment company in a DIAC arbitration involving one of the world's tallest residential buildings in respect of a dispute centred around an eight year period of delay and validity of contract termination.

- Representing an International Oil Company in respect of mediation and arbitration of disputes arising on a US1billion dollar Oil Production Facility in Iraq.

- Member of a team representing a European offshore wind contractor in a dispute referred to a Dispute Adjudication Board (DAB) by an offshore wind developer. Maria was responsible for drafting the defence submissions relating to alleged defects to the cable protection system The DAB held that HFW's client was not liable for the alleged defects to the cable protection system and that the offshore wind developer was not entitled to claim substantial amounts from HFW's client to remedy the alleged defects.

- Representing a UAE based civil contractor in three high value DIAC arbitrations claiming extensions of time and compensation from a UAE based property developer. HFW's client was successful in all three arbitrations.