About
Gavin has specialised in international arbitration and cross-border litigation for over 25 years, fiercely advocating for his clients while seeking a satisfactory commercial outcome. He advises on disputes arising out of commercial contracts, joint ventures, projects, and M&A transactions – often with international or foreign direct investment aspects.
Gavin’s sector focuses include:
- energy (oil & gas and renewables)
- international trade (commodities and supply chains),
- telecommunications (terrestrial, sub-sea and orbital infrastructure)
- hospitality (hotel management agreements).
Gavin has been based in Southeast Asia since 2014, after working in Tokyo for ten years and London for five years. He has established himself as one of the pre-eminent counsel for Singapore-based arbitrations. For three years, he oversaw a market-leading practice in Bangkok. He has more than two decades of experience on Indonesia-related projects and has led teams on matters involving projects in Myanmar and Vietnam.
Gavin has acted as counsel under SIAC, ICC, LCIA, JCAA, TAI and UNCITRAL arbitration rules, with seats of arbitrations located in Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo, London, Paris, Geneva and elsewhere.
He also sits as an arbitrator and is a panel member for:
- Singapore International Arbitration Center (SIAC)
- Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC)
- Thai Arbitration Institute (TAI)
- Thai Arbitration Centre (THAC)
- Pacific International Arbitration Centre (PIAC)
- Japan Commercial Arbitration Association (JCAA)
Gavin is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), a member of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Singapore Arbitration Group and a former chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Thailand Arbitration Commission.
Gavin is ranked as a leading practitioner for Dispute Resolution in Chambers Asia-Pacific, Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Who's Who Legal (Singapore) and Best Lawyers (Singapore). He was recognised as a Litigation Star – International Arbitration by Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific 2023-2024.
Gavin speaks English and is conversant in Japanese. He is admitted to practise in England and Wales and has been called to the Singapore Bar.
Experience
- Lead advocate for an international hotel group headquartered in Bangkok, securing a SIAC arbitration award for US$25 million following the termination of a Hotel Management Agreement for a hotel in Doha, Qatar.
- Counsel for a Japanese technology contractor in ICC arbitration claims/counterclaims valued at over US$150 million arising out of the construction and delivery of a submarine telecoms cable from India to France.
- Lead advocate for an Indonesian oil & gas operator in a SIAC arbitration claim for US$112 million following the transfer of its operatorship of a block in Kalimantan to the state-owned oil & gas exploration company.
- Counsel for a Japanese trading company in London ad hoc and TOMAC arbitrations valued at over US$50 million, arising out of a series of commercial bulk carrier shipbuilding contracts.
- Lead advocate for a Thai oil and gas exploration company in a TAI arbitration claim against a helicopter transportation provider pursuant to a US$315 million service agreement.
- Counsel for a Japanese telecoms company bringing an ICC arbitration claim for US$50 million in liquidated damages arising out of the delivery into geostationary orbit of a defective telecommunications satellite.
