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“Always well prepared and engaged, one of the leading arbitrators of the next generation.”
  • Masters in Chinese Law (LL.M.) (Peking University, 2010)
  • Program on Negotiation: Basic Negotiation Course & Advanced Negotiation ‘Deal Design & Implementation’ (Harvard University, June 2007)
  • Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (Australian National University, 1997)
  • Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) (Murdoch University, Australia 1997)
  • Bachelor of Business (Edith Cowan University, 1990)
  • Contract / Commercial Disputes
  • International Sales of Goods / Commodities
  • Shareholder / JVA / Finance Disputes
  • Shipping Disputes
  • China-related Disputes
  • Hong Kong (2006)
  • England & Wales (2003)
  • Australia (1997)
  • Arbitration Chambers 2012 – present (Head of Chambers)
  • Arbitration Asia 2007 – 2015 (Managing Partner, Hong Kong)
  • Minter Ellison Lawyers April 2004 – August 2006 (Hong Kong) (Senior Associate)
  • Minter Ellison Lawyers October 1999 – April 2004 (Melbourne & Shanghai)
  • Senate Legal and Constitutional Committee, Federal Parliament of Australia 1998 – 1999

Shareholder, Joint Ventures and Partnerships Disputes

  • Appointed as presiding arbitrator in a JCAA administered arbitration between a Japanese company and multiple Korean entities arising out of a joint venture agreement. The amount in dispute is over US$1.7 billion and the matter is seated in Japan under Korean law.
  • Appointed as a co-arbitrator in an HKIAC administered arbitration between a German company and Chinese entities arising out of a joint venture agreement. The matter is seated in Hong Kong and governed by Hong Kong law.
  • Appointed as an emergency arbitrator in a dispute between a UAE company and a Japanese company arising out of a Shareholder’s Agreement. The matter was seated in Tokyo and administered by the JCAA.
  • Appointed as a co-arbitrator in a dispute between a Russian and Hong Kong company arising under a Share Purchase Agreement. The matter was seated in Hong Kong, administered by the HKIAC (2013 Rules), and governed by English Law.
  • Appointed as co-arbitrator in three consolidated HKIAC arbitrations concerning the issuance of convertible bonds, including claims for breach of several transaction documents relating to the Bond issue and non-contractual claims. The sum in dispute is approximately US$140 million and the matter was seated in Hong Kong and governed by Hong Kong law.
  • Appointed as co-arbitrator in an HKIAC administered arbitration between South African shareholders and a Chinese entity. The seat of the arbitration was Hong Kong and the law of the dispute was Victorian law, Australia. The sum in dispute was approximately US$140 million.
  • Appointed as a co-arbitrator in an ad hoc arbitration relating to a Shareholders Agreement between a mainland Chinese party and a Singaporean company. The matter was seated in Hong Kong and governed by Hong Kong law.
  • Appointed as co-arbitrator in an ICC arbitration relating to disputes arising under a Share Purchase Agreement and an Asset Purchase Agreement. The arbitration was seated in Hong Kong and governed by Hong Kong and Chinese Law. The sum in dispute was over US$30 million.

Licensing

  • Appointed as co-arbitrator in a KCAB arbitration between a Korean company and a Chinese company in relation to the infringement of IP rights. The sum in dispute is approximately US$360 million and the matter is seated in Korea. The governing law was Korean law and it was administered under the KCAB rules.
  • Appointed as co-arbitrator in an HKIAC administered arbitration related to a Licence Agreement between a Chinese company and an Australian company. The matter is seated in Hong Kong and governed by PRC law.
  • Appointed as the sole arbitrator in an HKIAC matter involving disputes arising under a Patent and Technology License Agreement. The matter was governed by mainland Chinese law and seated in Hong Kong.

Commodities and International Sale of Goods

  • Appointed as a co-arbitrator in an HKIAC administered arbitration between a Singaporean company and a Brazilian company in relation to the breach of a sale and purchase agreement. The matter is seated in Hong Kong and governed by English law.
  • Appointed as Chairman in a KCAB arbitration between a Korean company and a US company in relation to the breach of a supply agreement. The matter was seated in Korea and administered under the KCAB rules. The governing law was Korean law. 
  • Appointed as co-arbitrator in an SIAC arbitration involving a Hong Kong company, a Singapore company and Australian companies in relation to the sale of iron ore. The matter is seated in Singapore and is governed by the laws of Western Australia.
  • Appointed as Chairman in an SIAC arbitration involving a bank and a Singaporean company related to issues of fraud and security of assets under a collateral management agreement. The matter is seated in Singapore and administered under the SIAC Rules 2016. The governing law is Singaporean law and the sum in dispute is over US$50 million.
  • Appointed as Chairman in an HKIAC arbitration between a BVI company and a Hong Kong company in relation to medical supplies. The matter is seated in Hong Kong and administered under the 2013 HKIAC Rules.
  • Appointed as Chairman in an SIAC arbitration involving a Singaporean company and a Japanese company. The dispute arises out of the sale and purchase of coal, and relates to maritime and shipping issues. The matter is seated in Singapore and administered under the SIAC Rules 2016. The governing law is Indonesian Law.
  • Appointed as sole arbitrator in an ad hoc arbitration governed by the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules (2010) in relation to a Sale of Goods dispute. The matter is seated in Hong Kong and governed by Hong Kong law.
  • Appointed as a co-arbitrator in an arbitration between two BVI companies in a dispute involving Letters of Credit and International Sale of Goods. The dispute was seated in Hong Kong and governed by Hong Kong law.
  • Appointed as co-arbitrator in an ICC arbitration between a mainland Chinese and a Hong Kong company relating to the sale of goods. The dispute was seated in Hong Kong and governed by Hong Kong law.
  • Appointed as a co-arbitrator in an HKIAC arbitration relating to the sale and purchase of iron ore between a mainland Chinese and Hong Kong registered company. The dispute was seated in Hong Kong and governed by Hong Kong law.
  • Appointed as the sole arbitrator in an ICC arbitration seated in Singapore between a Swiss company and a Chinese company relating to the sale/purchase of iron ore.
  • Appointed as the sole arbitrator in an ICC arbitration in Hong Kong. The dispute related to a contract for the sale and purchase of silicon metal products between an English company and a Chinese company.
  • Appointed as the sole arbitrator in an ICC arbitration in Hong Kong, involving the sale of steel between a mainland Chinese and BVI company.
  • Appointed as the sole arbitrator in a Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) arbitration between a mainland Chinese company and a Singapore commodities trading firm. The seat of arbitration was Singapore and the dispute involved issues related to breaches of contract under a sales contract for the supply of Indian iron ore fines.

Commercial Contracts

  • Appointed as a co-arbitrator in a SHIAC administered arbitration between two Chinese companies arising out of a cooperation agreement. The matter is seated in Shanghai and governed by Chinese law.
  • Appointed as sole arbitrator in three LCIA cases between an Irish finance company and three individuals under a Fixed-Sum Loan Agreement. The matters are all seated in London and governed by English law.
  • Appointed as co-arbitrator in an HKIAC administered arbitration related to a Loan Facility Agreement between a Hong Kong company and an individual. The matter is seated in Hong Kong and governed by Hong Kong law.
  • Appointed as co-arbitrator in an HKIAC administered arbitration related to a Substitute Sales Contract for Chrome Ore between a Singapore company and a Chinese company. The matter is seated in Hong Kong and governed by Hong Kong law.
  • Appointed as co-arbitrator in an HKIAC administered arbitration related to a Sales Contract for Chrome Ore between a Singapore company and a Chinese company. The matter is seated in Hong Kong and governed by Hong Kong law.
  • Appointed as co-arbitrator in a dispute related to a Cash Retention Award between a Switzerland company and an individual. The matter is seated in Singapore and administered by the IAA.
  • Appointed as Chairman in a dispute related to a Master Supply Agreement between a US company and a Chinese company. The matter was seated in Hong Kong and administered by the HKIAC. The governing law was Michigan Law.
  • Appointed as co-arbitrator in a dispute related to a Sales Contract between a Kuwait company and a Chinese company, and the sum in dispute is US$12 million. The matter was governed by Chinese law and administered by the CIETAC.
  • Appointed as a sole arbitrator in an ad hoc arbitration governed by the SIAC Rules (6th Edition) relating to a Sales Contract for Copper Cathodes. The matter was seated in Singapore and governed by the laws of Singapore.
  • Appointed as co-arbitrator in a dispute under a Ship Management Agreement and Supplementary Agreements between a Singaporean and Hong Kong company. The matter was governed by Hong Kong law and administered by the HKIAC (2013 Rules).
  • Appointed as co-arbitrator in a dispute under a Sale and Purchase Agreement and a Shareholders Agreement pertaining to the pharmaceutical industry. The sum in dispute is US$25 million and the matter was governed by Hong Kong law and administered by the HKIAC (2013 Rules).
  • Appointed in two HKIAC related arbitrations between Singaporean and Chinese companies involving disputes arising under a Sales Contract and Letter of Guarantee. The arbitrations were seated in Hong Kong under the laws of Western Australia.
  • Appointed as sole arbitrator in an ICC arbitration between two companies based in the Philippines. The dispute arose in relation to purported breaches of a Management Agreement. The seat of the arbitration was Hong Kong and the substantive law of the contract was the law of the Philippines.
  • Appointed as Chairman of an HKIAC administered arbitration between a US and Chinese entity relating to a Manufacturing and Supply Agreement. The arbitration was seated in Hong Kong and governed by Hong Kong law.
  • Appointed as a co-arbitrator in an SIAC administered arbitration under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules (2010) in relation to disputes arising under a Sale and Purchase Agreement. The arbitration was seated in Singapore and governed by Singaporean law.
  • Appointed as co-arbitrator in two related HKIAC arbitrations between a UK entity and a Mongolian entity for non-payment of consultants fees. The arbitrations were seated in Hong Kong and are governed by Hong Kong law.
  • Appointed as the sole arbitrator in two SIAC arbitrations arising out of an Agency Agreement between a German, Korean and Chinese company. The arbitrations were seated in Singapore and governed by Singaporean law.
  • Appointed as a co-arbitrator in an HKIAC arbitration relating to disputes arising under a Distribution Agreement between a French retailer and a Chinese entity. The dispute was seated in Hong Kong and governed by Hong Kong law.
  • Appointed as a sole arbitrator in an ICC arbitration relating to the automotive industry between a Middle Eastern and a Chinese entity. The sum in dispute is over US$120 million. The matter was governed by mainland Chinese law.
  • Appointed as the sole arbitrator in an HKIAC arbitration relating to a Licence Agreement between a Korean and a U.S. party. The arbitration was seated in Hong Kong and is governed by English law.
  • Appointed as a co-arbitrator in an ad hoc arbitration under the UNCITRAL Rules between a Chinese state-owned enterprise and a German company. The dispute involved a hotel leasing arrangement entered into for the Beijing Olympics and is governed by Chinese law.
  • Appointed as a co-arbitrator in an ad hoc arbitration under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules in Hong Kong. The dispute related to the sale and purchase of beverages between a US and a Chinese company.
  • Appointed as the sole arbitrator in an ICC arbitration in Sri Lanka. The dispute related to claims involving a breach of lease agreement.

Energy, Oil, Gas & Electricity

  • Appointed as Chairman in an SIAC arbitration involving a mainland Chinese company and a Singaporean company. The dispute arises out of the sale and purchase of biodiesel fuel and involves issues pertaining to the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement. The matter was seated in Singapore and the substantive law of the contract is Singaporean law.
  • Appointed as Emergency Arbitrator in a dispute related to a Subcontract between Australian and US companies pertaining to the oil and gas industry. The matter was governed by Western Australian law and administered by the ICC.
  • Appointed as the sole arbitrator in an ICC arbitration in Hong Kong. The dispute involved a contract for the sale and purchase of oil between a Singaporean and a Chinese company.
  • Appointed as a sole arbitrator in an UNCITRAL arbitration between a Chinese SOE and a Singaporean entity. The matter was seated in Hong Kong and involved the sale and purchase of gas. The matter was governed by Hong Kong law and the sum in dispute was US$18M.

Gavin has been appointed to the following panels:

  • Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC)
  • China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC)
  • Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC)
  • Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB)
  • Beijing Arbitration Commission (BAC)
  • Japan Commercial Arbitration Association (JCAA)
  • Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA)
  • Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC)
  • Member of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA)
  • Shanghai International Arbitration Centre (SHIAC)
  • China-Africa Joint Arbitration Center (CAJAC)
  • Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (SCIA)
  • Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators 
  • Fellow of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration
  • Past Chairman of ICC Australia’s Nominations Committee
  • Honorary Chairman, HK Arbitration Charity Ball 
  • Member of ICC Hong Kong’s Arbitration Committee

Australian

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