Robert Rhoda

Robert is a Partner in Mishcon de Reya’s International Arbitration Practice. He specialises in international arbitration and cross‑border litigation, acting in complex commercial and investment disputes across the financial services, technology and energy sectors.

He has extensive experience in contractual, shareholder and joint venture disputes, private equity matters and fraud claims, and acts in proceedings under a wide range of arbitral rules. As well as acting as counsel, Robert regularly sits as arbitrator.

Before joining Mishcon de Reya, Robert led the international arbitration practice of a global law firm in Hong Kong. He has significant experience in disputes involving Chinese and other Asian parties, frequently acting in matters seated in London, Hong Kong and Singapore. This Asia‑Pacific expertise complements his broader international practice and reflects his long-standing involvement in cross‑border disputes.

Robert is ranked as a leading individual for Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and Litigation in Chambers Greater China, a Recommended Lawyer for Arbitration and Litigation by Legal 500 Asia Pacific, a Litigation Star for Commercial & Transactions and International Arbitration by Benchmark Litigation, and a Recommended Lawyer in the Lexology Index: Arbitration report. He was named International Arbitration Lawyer of the Year at both Law.com International’s Asia Legal Awards 2025 and the Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific Awards 2025, and International Lawyer of the Year at the Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific Awards 2024. He was also recognised as one of the Litigators of Asia 2024 by Asian Legal Business.

Among various appointments, Robert is an Officer and Council Member of the Inter Pacific Bar Association (IPBA). He regularly speaks at conferences on dispute resolution and is the author of the Belt and Road Disputes chapter in Arbitration in Hong Kong: A Practical Guide (5th Edition) and the National Rapporteur (Hong Kong) for the IBA Toolkit on Insolvency and Arbitration.

Key Experience

Arbitrator

Sole arbitrator, co-arbitrator and presiding arbitrator in ICC and HKIAC arbitrations involving disputes arising out of:

• Financial services and digital currency
• Manufacturing agreements
• Commodities transactions
• Energy sector
• Sports sector

International Arbitration Counsel

• Listed Chinese construction and engineering company: Representing party to HKIAC arbitration arising out of major infrastructure project valued at over US$150 million.
• Cryptocurrency exchange: Representing respondent to HKIAC arbitration arising from dispute with Korean and European joint venture partners and associated boardroom issues following changes to regulatory environment in Korea.
• A Chinese state owned enterprise: Representing claimant to three related LCIA arbitrations involving a dispute with a Saudi Arabian marine services contractor.
• A Chinese state owned enterprise: Applying to court for an injunction to prevent the payment of an on-demand performance guarantee in favour of a Ukrainian contractor pending the outcome of an LCIA arbitration.
• United States defence company: ICDR/AAA arbitration against a German subcontractor regarding the performance of a contract for the development of defence system.
• Chinese steel supplier: Representing respondent to AAA proceedings brought by a large commodities trader which involved satellite litigation in multiple jurisdictions.
• A leading PRC manufacturer of juice and tea products: Advising the respondents to HKIAC proceedings brought by a US based private equity firm to recover an investment by way of bond issue of over US$200 million.
• Entities within a PRC manufacturing group: Advising the respondents in arbitration proceedings (UNCITRAL under the auspices of the HKIAC) brought by a Taiwan based landlord in connection with multiple disputes arising out of a complex series of leases, giving rise to the arbitration and litigation in the PRC.
• The subsidiary of a US-based global manufacturing and distribution company: Advising on an HKIAC arbitration against its former Chinese supplier, in connection with misappropriation of trade secrets, know-how and designs relating to automobile parts and various breaches of a Master Supply Agreement.
• A Singapore based private equity fund: Advising on a claim brought by the fund (HKIAC) against its co-investor and majority shareholder in the holding entity for a business engaged principally in electronics manufacturing in the PRC, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. The dispute involved, in addition to the HKIAC arbitration, litigation in the BVI and restructuring of the underlying private equity deals.
• A leading PRC real estate developer: Advising on an international arbitration (UNCITRAL under the auspices of the HKIAC) against a consortium of private equity investors. The claim for over US$600 million related to a pre-IPO investment and involved satellite litigation (including injunction and winding-up proceedings) in Hong Kong, the BVI and the Cayman Islands.
• A regional airline: Advising on a SIAC arbitration against a leading European provider of aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul services relating to a dispute arising out of the termination of various aircraft service agreements.
• A number of private equity and hedge funds: Resisting an injunction obtained in the High Court of Hong Kong in support of a potential overseas arbitration. The injunction prevented the investors from disposing of their interests in a major PRC-based website, in a deal worth US$1.6 billion, pending the resolution of a dispute between the investors and the website's founder.
• A well-known Italian fashion brand: Representing the client in an international arbitration administered by the HKIAC, and in related CIETAC proceedings, through which it sought substantial damages (in excess of US$100 million) against its former exclusive distributor in the PRC.
• The co-founder and CEO (and his SPV) of a technology firm: Advising in connection with an international arbitration (HKIAC) relating to a shareholder dispute involving the other co-founder and private equity investors.
• The respondent to an ICC arbitration: Defending proceedings pursued by a major Belgium-based manufacturer of equipment for PTA (purified terephthalic acid) plants arising out of a challenge to a penalty clause.

Cross Border Litigation Counsel

• Offshore shareholders: Representing parties to trust litigation relating to competing claims for ownership of a substantial shareholding in a PRC pharmaceuticals company with associated litigation in the PRC and BVI.
• Owner and operator of a major gold and copper mine: Representing the client in a High Court claim against the defendant for its supply of oxygen compressors which were defective and unfit for the client’s mining operations. The defects and quality issues of the oxygen compressors have caused significant loss and damage to the client, including profits it would have generated had it been able to use the equipment in its full capacity for mining purposes.
• Big Four professional services firm: Representing firm and its partners in defending 2 sets of High Court proceedings, involving alleged breaches of fiduciary duty and unlawful means conspiracy, arising out a much-publicised shareholder and boardroom dispute involving a listed company.
• A Kazakh oligarch: Set aside an unlimited value freezing order granted by the High Court relating to the high-profile litigation before the High Court of England & Wales between JSC BTA Bank, one of the largest banks in Kazakhstan, and its former chairman Mukhtar Ablyazov, whom the bank accused of mismanaging and embezzling over US$6 billion of BTA capital.
• An internet entrepreneur and Hong Kong technology company: Advising on restraint order proceedings instigated in Hong Kong by the United States Government to restrain assets up to US$175 million.
• A mining consultancy based in Spain: Advising on proceedings brought against a Hong Kong based business partner for damages arising out of breaches of a consultancy agreement relating to the financing and construction of a coal power plant in the Republic of Niger.
• A Korean conglomerate: Advising on proceedings brought in the High Court of Hong Kong for damages arising from a complex fraud arising out of a commodities transaction.
• The major shareholder of a Hong Kong listed company: Advising on a dispute arising out of a boardroom takeover, which involved injunction proceedings in Hong Kong and Bermuda.
• A UK media company: Pursuing winding-up proceedings to recover more than USD 10 m in unpaid licence fees from a Chinese licensee of rights to broadcast French Ligue 1 football matches in sub-Saharan Africa.
• An Australian based retailer: Advising on proceedings brought in Hong Kong which involved seeking a declaration from the court on the effect of the doctrines of champerty and maintenance on the third party funding of commercial litigation and the scope of the access to justice exception.

Articles and Publications

• Arbitration in Hong Kong: A Practical Guide (5th Edition), Belt and Road Disputes: Hong Kong Arbitration, 2022
• IBA Toolkit on Insolvency and Arbitration, National Rapporteur for Hong Kong, 2021 and 2024

Robert regularly speaks at international conferences on dispute resolution, particularly on international arbitration.