Raina Lal
Mediator
Short Introduction
Raina Lal is an international commercial mediator, arbitrator and board adviser with more than 25 years of experience resolving complex energy, infrastructure and cross-border commercial disputes. She specialises in energy, infrastructure, commercial contracts, international trade, joint ventures, project finance and corporate governance, bringing deep sector knowledge across the global natural resources industry.
Having held senior legal and governance positions with QatarEnergy, QAFAC, RAK Gas, SOCAR and leading international law firms, she combines board-level commercial insight with extensive experience advising on LNG, energy transition, project finance, international trade and strategic joint ventures.
Having held senior legal and governance positions with QatarEnergy, QAFAC, RAK Gas, SOCAR and leading international law firms, she combines board-level commercial insight with extensive experience advising on LNG, energy transition, project finance, international trade and strategic joint ventures.
Testimonials
About Work
Commercial, energy and international disputes are central to Raina's mediation practice. She regularly assists multinational organisations, state-owned enterprises, energy companies, investors and infrastructure businesses in resolving disputes involving commercial contracts, joint ventures, project development, LNG transactions, procurement, shareholder relationships, employment matters and cross-border investments.
Alongside her mediation practice, Raina is General Counsel and Board Secretary of QAFAC, on secondment from QatarEnergy, where she previously spent more than six years advising on domestic and international ventures, LNG projects and strategic business development. Earlier in her career she held senior legal and compliance positions with RAK Gas, SOCAR and Oryx Petroleum, before practising with leading international law firm Vinson & Elkins, including secondments in Tokyo, Paris and India. This combination of private practice, in-house leadership and international board advisory experience provides her with a unique understanding of the commercial, legal and governance issues that underpin complex disputes.
Her dispute resolution experience includes international commercial arbitrations, joint venture disputes, LNG price review arbitrations, production sharing contract disputes, project finance matters, vessel sale and purchase disputes, procurement issues, employment matters, force majeure claims, property disputes, partnership disputes and cross-border infrastructure projects. She is particularly experienced in disputes involving the energy sector, international transactions, government stakeholders and technically complex projects.
Clients value Raina's calm, collaborative and commercially focused approach. She builds trust quickly, listens carefully to the interests behind parties' positions and combines strategic thinking with constructive challenge to help parties navigate complexity, bridge cultural differences and achieve durable, practical outcomes.
Alongside her mediation practice, Raina is General Counsel and Board Secretary of QAFAC, on secondment from QatarEnergy, where she previously spent more than six years advising on domestic and international ventures, LNG projects and strategic business development. Earlier in her career she held senior legal and compliance positions with RAK Gas, SOCAR and Oryx Petroleum, before practising with leading international law firm Vinson & Elkins, including secondments in Tokyo, Paris and India. This combination of private practice, in-house leadership and international board advisory experience provides her with a unique understanding of the commercial, legal and governance issues that underpin complex disputes.
Her dispute resolution experience includes international commercial arbitrations, joint venture disputes, LNG price review arbitrations, production sharing contract disputes, project finance matters, vessel sale and purchase disputes, procurement issues, employment matters, force majeure claims, property disputes, partnership disputes and cross-border infrastructure projects. She is particularly experienced in disputes involving the energy sector, international transactions, government stakeholders and technically complex projects.
Clients value Raina's calm, collaborative and commercially focused approach. She builds trust quickly, listens carefully to the interests behind parties' positions and combines strategic thinking with constructive challenge to help parties navigate complexity, bridge cultural differences and achieve durable, practical outcomes.
Expertise
- Commercial & Corporate
- Banking, Finance & Insurances
- Construction, Property & Planning
- Employment & Workplace
- Industry, Energy & Environment
- International Trade & Competition
- Public Sector & Governance
Languages
- English
- French
- Spanish
- Hindi
Awards
- Recognised by the Energy Council as one of the leading female executives in the global energy industry
- Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb)
- Fellow, Malaysian Institute of Arbitrators (FMIArb)
- Fellow, Philippine Institute of Arbitrators (FPIArb)
- Fellow, Arbitrators' and Mediators' Institute of New Zealand (FAMINZ)
- CEDR Accredited Mediator
- Panel member of the LCIA, ICC UK, SIAC, DIAC, IIAC and MediateGuru arbitration and mediation panels
Memberships
- ICC Institute of World Business Law
- Energy Arbitration Club (UK)
- Law Society of England and Wales
- Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN)
Publications
Most recent publications:
- General Editor, International Energy Law Review (Sweet & Maxwell)
- Japan – Inaction on Climate Change (2026)
- The European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (2026)
- Japan and Its Pursuit of Energy Security (2025)
- The Power of AI and How to Power AI (2025)
- Great British Energy (2025)
- Contributing Editor, Oil and Gas Production Contracts (2nd Edition)
View my CV for more.