Overview
Garreth Wong is a Litigation Partner and Global Co-Chair of International Arbitration, based in London.
With over 20 years of experience, Mr. Wong is an English barrister, lead counsel and trusted advisor to multinationals and blue-chip clients in high stakes, bet-the-company disputes.
Mr. Wong is widely recognized for his strategic leadership, commercial astuteness and formidable advocacy, Mr. Wong has significant experience creatively resolving intractable, complex, high value and often multi-billion dollar disputes sometimes with concurrent arbitrations, multi-jurisdictional litigation, investigations and other legal proceedings. He is especially in demand for business-critical and strategically important disputes.
Mr. Wong has extensive experience with cross-border and international disputes, including the Americas, Africa, Europe, Russia, Central and South Asia, China and Asia, governed by civil, common, and public international laws. Mr. Wong’s considerable experience includes disputes relating to M&As, JVs and shareholder agreements, energy, mining and natural resources, projects and construction, telecommunications and technology, financial services, aviation, and life sciences.
A highly accomplished advocate, Mr. Wong is widely recognized as a leading lawyer by numerous legal directories. He is recognized by Chambers Global and Chambers UK, where he is described as “a skilled arbitration practitioner with significant expertise” who “receives high praise from the market,” “a master tactician”, “an outstanding advocate and good cross-examiner,” “an extremely polished oral and written advocate,” and “a great team leader.” As reported by Chambers, “Garreth is a top-tier advocate. His cross-examination is forensic, measured and effective. He earns the respect of the tribunal, witnesses, colleagues and opponents alike.” He is described as a “superb international arbitration lawyer” who is “very impressive”, “very thorough and detailed, a good strategic thinker” and “very good at marshalling complex technical evidence.”
Mr. Wong is named a “Leading Individual” for International Arbitration by The Legal 500 UK, where he is noted as “a real leader in international arbitration”, “an excellent strategist,” and “a very clever, well-rounded lawyer with good judgment and excellent instincts. Clients want him on their side.” He is also described as a “highly industrious and cerebral partner ... excellent with clients, fantastic on the law and a very focused and accomplished oral advocate,” he “has an enviable caseload,” and he is “an excellent advocate who is able to get to grips with large, complex cases quickly.”
Mr. Wong was selected in the inaugural Legal 500 International Arbitration Powerlist UK: 2019 as one of the UK's leading arbitration counsel regarded as “gold standard” and he has been featured since in every subsequent edition. In recognition of his extensive experience with Africa disputes, he is also ranked in the Legal 500 International Arbitration Powerlist: Africa 2023.
Mr. Wong is also recognized as a “Global Leader” by Who’s Who Legal, where he is described as “a true star” who is “very solid on the big picture issues” and “an extremely sharp advocate.” He is noted as “a very smart and impressive lawyer” and “a fantastic lawyer with great advocacy skills and a strategic mind. He is a superb advocate.”
Global Arbitration Review 100 reports that Mr. Wong is “especially impressive”. He is “calm, cool and collected throughout a very stressful and fraught process … able to think on his feet because he was better prepared than anyone else in the room”.
Mr. Wong also regularly acts as arbitrator. In addition to his advocacy in international tribunals, he has appeared as advocate in the English Courts. Mr. Wong has provided pro bono advocacy training for prosecutors at the International Criminal Court.
Recognitions
- Chambers UK, UK-wide International Arbitration (2020 – present)
- Chambers Global, UK International Arbitration (2020 – present)
- Who’s Who Legal, "Global Leader" for Arbitration (2019 – present)
- Legal 500 UK, “Leading Individual” for Arbitration (2019 – present)
- Legal 500, International Arbitration Powerlist UK (2019 – present)
- Legal 500, International Arbitration Powerlist Africa (2023)
- Global Arbitration Review 100
- Best Lawyers
Education
- University of Cambridge, LL.M. 2001
- University of Cambridge, B.A. 2000
Representations
- One of the largest private equity firms in the world in insolvency-related litigation in Spain with over $1 billion claimed. There are multiple legal proceedings, including contractual litigation, insolvency litigation and criminal proceedings.
- A US multinational as subcontractor in a pre-arbitration dispute with the main contractor in a complex project with allegations of defects, prolongation costs and critical delay, ultimately subject to LCIA arbitration.
- A European private equity firm in an ICC arbitration against a Turkish counterparty regarding the exercise of a put option in a shareholders agreement arising from a US$200 million investment in a pharmaceutical company, with related court litigation.
- A private equity firm relating to a disputed acquisition and onward sale of a multi-billion dollar gold mining assets in a Central Asian country.
- An English property company in a £150m claim in the English Commercial Court against a large US hedge fund regarding the acquisition of a valuable portfolio of commercial properties.
- A U.S. multinational against an Asian multinational in relation to two complex ad hoc arbitrations, related litigation, and almost a dozen adjudications arising out of the construction of two energy megaprojects in Africa, with multiple claims and counterclaims of over US$2 billion. There were numerous claims of critical delay, disruption and hundreds of engineering defects. The disputes spanned 11 hearings.
- A large energy multinational in respect of potential arbitration claims, including under different bilateral and multilateral investment treaties, in connection with highly valuable oil and gas assets in Central Asia.
- An African company and its shareholder in a $100 million ICC arbitration in London against North American companies. The dispute arose from the termination of a consultancy agreement relating to oil drilling services.
- A large energy multinational in a complex dispute worth over US$1 billion with a contractor in connection with an upstream megaproject for an oil and gas facility in one of the largest oil fields Central Asia. The project is one of the largest in the world. The dispute includes complex issues of delay and defects.
- An Asian sovereign in an ICSID arbitration pursuant to a bilateral investment treaty against a European investor regarding alleged expropriation of a manufacturing business and associated property.
- A multinational mining company regarding significant taxation measures proposed by various South American countries imposing significant tax increases on investments in the mining sector.
- A Middle Eastern company in a UNCITRAL arbitration in London in a dispute relating to oil rigs.
- A European telecommunications multinational in relation to potential claims for $200 million against Russia arising under applicable bilateral investment treaties.
- A large Middle Eastern multinational on its termination and other rights in relation to large and high-value renewables power projects of national significance.
- A European energy company as project owner in a multimillion $ dispute with a European contractor arising out of a $1 billion industrial petrochemical construction project. This concerns the contractor’s claims for prolongation costs and extensions of time as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the related actions by the local and foreign public authorities.
- A multinational oil & gas company in relation to various issues relating to a major international crude oil transportation project in Central Asia.
- A North American multinational information management company in a SIAC arbitration in Singapore and related litigation against a South Asian private equity firm arising out of a shareholders agreement, with claims of over US$140 million.
- South East Asian investors in an ICSID arbitration under a bilateral investment treaty gainst an Asian sovereign relating to a renewable energy generation enterprise worth $150 million.
- A European life sciences company in a dispute with a North American pharmaceutical company regarding a multi-million dollar research, development and collaboration agreement regarding medical products for the US market.
- A North American energy company in a UNCITRAL arbitration in London regarding a complex gas pricing and Joint Operational Agreement dispute for field operations in Eastern Europe, with US$100 million at stake.
- A European investor in an LCIA arbitration against an African owned investment vehicle. The dispute related to an investment in one of Africa’s largest oil & gas companies and involves complex shareholder and financial arrangements spanning Panama and the BVI. Over US$680 million was claimed.
- English investors in an ICSID arbitration under a bilateral investment treaty against an Asian sovereign relating to a hotel development project.
- A European oil & gas company in a UNCITRAL arbitration in Vienna arising from a failed joint venture for the exploration and production of onshore oil & gas fields in Eastern Europe.
- A major technology and telecommunications multinational in a $4 billion ICC arbitration against an Asian multinational regarding a worldwide license agreement to a portfolio of standards-essential patents, involving complex issues of FRAND and contractual interpretation.
- An Eastern European sovereign regarding a dispute in the food and retail sector involving complex public international law issues of the relationship between the ICSID Convention and the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU.
- A European multinational telecommunications company in a US$40 million CIETAC arbitration in Hong Kong against a Chinese State-owned entity, arising from a Chinese joint venture.
- An African multinational telecommunications company in a $4 billion UNCITRAL arbitration claim against a number of Nigerian entities in connection with shareholder disputes regarding control of one of Nigeria’s largest mobile network providers. The matter involved complex issues of contractual interpretation and valuation and included related litigation in Nigeria and the Netherlands.
- An African multinational telecommunications company in a $75 million UNCITRAL arbitration against a Nigerian financial institution regarding rights of first refusal over shares in one of Nigeria’s largest mobile network providers.
Experience as Arbitrator
- Sole arbitrator in an LCIA arbitration between North American and East Asian parties regarding an infrastructure project in the Middle East.
- Sole arbitrator selected by party agreement in a series of consolidated LCIA arbitrations between UK companies in a dispute in the hospitality sector.
- Sole arbitrator in an LCIA arbitration between English and European companies in a dispute in the shipping sector.
- Sole arbitrator appointed by the parties in an ad hoc arbitration in London between two European companies in the technology sector.
- Sole arbitrator in an LCIA arbitration in an oil & gas dispute between the Middle Eastern parties in the Middle East.
- Sole arbitrator in an LCIA arbitration in the arts sector.
- Sole arbitrator in two LCIA arbitrations in the higher education sector.
- Co-arbitrator in an LCIA arbitration between a North American company and a Middle Eastern company regarding the provision of broadcasting services for a well-known sporting event.
- Co-arbitrator in an LCIA arbitration involving North American and European parties regarding a services franchise agreement.
Matters may have been completed before joining Paul Hastings.
Engagement & Publications
Speaking Engagements
- Co-chair of the LCIA Symposium Session on Issues of Substance in International Arbitration. May 2024, Hong Kong.
- Chair of a Fireside Chat with Professor Professor Jacomijn van Haersolte-van Hof, Director General of the LCIA. June 2024, London.
Publications
- Contributor to the GAR Investor State Dispute Resolution Academy. May 2024, London.
Involvement
- Member, London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA)
- Member, Society of Construction Law (SCL)