Mike is a King’s Counsel solicitor advocate who specialises in international arbitration.
He works across a variety of sectors, but he has particular experience in the energy, construction, infrastructure and financial services sectors. Mike also does a number of cases connected to the shipbuilding sector.
Mike advises clients on arbitrations under the auspices of all the major arbitral institutions and has appeared as lead advocate for clients in English High Court and Court of Appeal proceedings. He also sits as an arbitrator.
He is consistently recognised as a leading individual for international arbitration by Chambers & Partners, Legal 500 and Lexology Index (formerly Who's Who Legal). According to Chambers Asia Pacific, Mike is “one of the best dispute resolution attorneys," and that “he knows how to get the job done - a go-to person for high-stakes issues."
Mike has spent a number of years practising in Asia and is very familiar with the needs of Asian clients. In 2019 he was named one of the 40 under 40 lawyers by Asian Legal Business and in 2023 was named an Honorary Citizen of Seoul by the Mayor of Seoul. He is a joint lead of our Korea Group.
Experience & capabilities
Selected matters
- a US drilling company in English seated arbitration concerning the sale and modification of four jack-up rigs, including disputes related to the delay to the works and allegation of defective workmanship
- a consortium of private equity firms in a US$1 billion ICC arbitration concerning claims of breaches of representation and warranties relating to the sale of a life insurance business
- a US private equity firm in a US$350m ICC arbitration concerning claims of breaches of representation and warranty relating to the sale of gaming business
- a US oil major in multiple disputes with its shipbuilder in relation to delays to construction of various modules to be used on a large onshore and offshore oil project in Asia, including disputes related to delayed transportation of the modules to site
- a Korean shipbuilder in LCIA arbitration against a US buyer in a dispute about the sale of four ultra deepwater drillships, including issues concerning the technical specification for deep drilling technology and delays to the construction of the vessels
- a Japanese contractor in an ICC arbitration concerning a subcontract dispute in relation a refinery project in Egypt, including complicated delay analysis following significant changes to the project programme during construction
- a Chinese owner in an ICC arbitration concerning construction project of a petrochemical plant in Morocco, including dealing with issues of delay and disruption where multiple and at times concurrent employer and contractor events were causing delay
- a Malaysian contractor in DIFC-LCIA arbitration proceedings in respect of a dispute relating to the construction of a district cooling plant in Abu Dhabi, including dealing with delay analysis caused by previously certified electrical component parts losing their regulatory certification and the time and cost associated with obtaining replacement certifications while the project was ongoing
- a multinational owner consortium in an ICC arbitration in relation to an irrigation project in the Philippines, including dealing with delay issues caused by having to re-route some of the irrigation channels
- a Korean shipbuilder in ICC arbitration against a Middle Eastern owner in a dispute about delays to the construction of seven LNG carriers
- a Korean construction company in DIAC arbitration proceedings commenced by its former subcontractor in relation to the design, manufacturing and installation of one of the largest construction projects in Dubai, including issues related to delay caused by late delivery of key component parts
- a Chinese power plant equipment manufacturer in ICC arbitration against a US based contractor in a dispute relating to low-pressure and high-pressure water heaters, including delay issues caused by faulty piping being supplied for use in the heaters.
- a Japanese contractor (in a consortium with other Asian contractors) in an ICC arbitration in relation to a construction of a petrochemical plant in Saudi Arabia and dealing with delay issues caused by late equipment being delivered to site and unexpected ground conditions
- a Chinese contractor in a SIAC arbitration in relation to a petrochemical project in Saudi Arabia, including dealing complex delay analysis with competing employer and contractor causes of delay
- a consortium of private equity firms in a US$1 billion ICC arbitration concerning claims of breaches of representation and warranties relating to the sale of a life insurance business
- a US private equity firm in a US$350m ICC arbitration concerning claims of breaches of representation and warranty relating to the sale of gaming business
- an Asian private equity firm in a US$400m ICC arbitration concerning claims of breaches of representation and warranty and disputed earn out valuations related to the sale of an online payment platform business, including issues relating to the target defaulting on various loans
- a US private equity firm in a US$500m ICC arbitration concerning claims of breaches of representation and warranty related to the sale of a private medical business • Asian financial institution in HKIAC arbitration arising out of a share sale and purchase agreement and associated issues with the collateral guarantees
- a Korean financial institution in an UNCITRAL arbitration under Hong Kong law concerning disputes in relation to investments in a fund
- the Government of Korea - Jin Hae Seo v. Republic of Korea - the first investment treaty arbitration under the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement
- Hyundai Heavy Industries on its successful settlement in an ICC arbitration arising out of the US$10.3 billion Barzan gas pipeline project in Qatar
- a consortium of private equity buyers in US$1.8 billion ICC arbitration proceedings on a put option dispute arising out of the sale and purchase agreement relating to a major insurance company
- an international bank on the recovery of a substantial investment in a Jersey based derivative-linked securities fund, involving regulatory investigations and associated court proceedings
- a Korean contractor on a Dubai-seated ICC arbitration, on a dispute arising out of the construction of a power and desalination plant in Saudi Arabia
- a Korean contractor in SIAC arbitration proceedings seated in Singapore, on a dispute concerning issues arising out of a power plant in India
- a Korean shipbuilding company on a multimillion dollar LCIA arbitration, seated in London and governed by English law, regarding an indemnity for patent infringement
- a major Asian contractor in DIFC-LCIA arbitration proceedings in respect of a dispute relating to the construction of a district cooling plant in Abu Dhabi
- a leading oil major in respect of potential arbitration proceedings under a number of Middle Eastern bilateral and multilateral investment treaties arising out of disputed land borders and its impact on oil production
- a major Asian oil and gas company in arbitration proceedings related to an LNG pricing dispute in the Middle East
- a Swiss Private Bank in relation to joint venture disputes with its Middle Eastern business partner including potential LCIA arbitrations and related DIFC court proceedings
- a US drilling company in an ad hoc arbitration under the English Arbitration Act in respect of the sale of three oil rigs offshore West Africa
Background
Mike has worked in the firm's offices in Seoul, London, Dubai, Hong Kong and Moscow.
He was previously a guest lecturer on the Masters in International Law Programme at the Sorbonne University in Abu Dhabi, a Regional Representative for the Middle East and North Africa for the LCIA Young International Arbitration Group (YIAG), and a member of the ICC Young Arbitrators' Forum and the ICDR Young and International Association.
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