Gavin is a Dispute Resolution Partner in our Singapore office. His practice includes International Arbitration, cross-border litigation and corporate crime & investigations.
Gavin regularly advises clients on issues involving commercial contracts, joint ventures, projects and M&A transactions. His sector focuses include:
- Energy – oil & gas and renewables
- International trade – commodities and supply chains
- Telecommunications – terrestrial, sub-sea and orbital infrastructure
- Fintech and cryptocurrencies – payments, super-apps and DeFi
Gavin moved to Asia in 2004 and he has been based in Southeast Asia since 2014. He has almost two decades of experience advising on Indonesia-related matters, most recently acting as lead counsel in a landmark arbitration concerning Indonesian ministerial regulations in the oil and gas sector. He spent two years overseeing a market leading practice in Thailand and has led teams on a series of arbitrations and advisory matters involving Myanmar and Vietnam.
For his first 10 years in Asia, Gavin was a Registered Foreign Lawyer in Tokyo. He spent two years working in-house at a leading Japanese trading company. After returning to private practice, he helped to resolve disputes for a range of Japanese corporates in connection with their overseas investments and transactions. Regular clients included several major Japanese trading companies, various Japanese state-owned energy companies and Japanese manufacturers in the telecoms, technology, healthcare and automobile sectors.
Gavin has a wealth of experience advising on international arbitration matters – as counsel and lead advocate – 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 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 also 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 has been recognised by reputable legal directories as a leading practitioner in his field. He has been listed in The Legal 500 Private Practice Arbitration Powerlist: Southeast Asia since 2022. He has also been recognised in the 2023 edition of Who's Who Legal: Southeast Asia – Arbitration. Additionally, he has been ranked as a Recommended Lawyer for International Arbitration by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific since 2023. Gavin is ranked in Chambers Asia Pacific for Dispute Resolution: Arbitration, 2023-2024, and the 2023 edition of Benchmark Litigation. He has also been recognised for Arbitration and Mediation, and Criminal Defence by the Best Lawyers in Singapore™ since 2023.
Gavin is qualified to practise in England and Wales and has been called to the Singapore Bar. He speaks native English and conversational Japanese.
Key Experience
- An Indonesian oil and gas operator defending a SIAC arbitration claim for US$218 million arising out of a Joint Operating Agreement for an oil and gas development block in Sumatra.
- A Japanese trading company defending an ICC arbitration claim brought against it by its African JV party in connection with the distribution of Japanese manufacturer automobiles.
- A Thai oil and gas exploration company in Thai Arbitration Institute proceedings against a transport service provider relating to alleged breaches of a US$315 million service agreement.
- A Japanese trading company in London ad hoc arbitrations and TOMAC arbitrations valued over US$50 million, arising out of a series of commercial bulk carrier shipbuilding contracts, including (a) issues of legal set-off under English and Japanese law and (b) the seaworthiness of the vessels.
- A Japanese technology contractor in ICC arbitration claims/counterclaims of over US$150 million arising out of a contract for the construction and delivery of a submarine telecoms cable from India to France.
- 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.
- A Telco infrastructure company overseeing claims against a South African telco provider, including to delay claims and other technical issues relating to the phased roll out of network towers.
- A United Arab Emirates coal trading company as counsel in SIAC arbitration arising out of contracts for the sale, purchase and shipment of coal from Indonesia to India.
- A Singaporean aerospace contractor bringing a US$2 million claim in SIAC arbitration arising out of an aircraft engine maintenance and repair order (MRO) agreement.
Career History
Partner, Mishcon de Reya LLP
Partner (Singapore), Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
Partner (Singapore / Bangkok), Herbert Smith Freehills
Partner (Tokyo), Herbert Smith Freehills
Senior Associate (Tokyo), Herbert Smith
Secondee (Tokyo), Marubeni Corporation
Associate (London), Herbert Smith
Trainee Solicitor (London), Herbert Smith
University of Nottingham, LLB