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 and lead counsel to multinationals and blue-chip clients in high stakes, bet-the-company, business-critical and strategically-important disputes. His experience covers commercial, construction and investment treaty arbitrations, and litigation. He also regularly acts as arbitrator.
Mr. Wong has extensive experience with disputes around the world, 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 for International Arbitration in the UK 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.” Clients also note that he is a “superb international arbitration lawyer” who is “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 ranked as a leading lawyer 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.”
Mr. Wong is a member of the ICC UK Arbitration & ADR Committee. 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)
Education
- University of Cambridge, LL.M.
- University of Cambridge, B.A.
Representations
- A U.S. publicly-listed company as contractor against an Asian multinational in relation to a highly-complex ad hoc arbitration, 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. South African law applied.
- 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. English law applied.
- A large energy multinational in a complex construction 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. English law applied.
- The People’s Republic of China in an ICSID arbitration brought by Hela Schwarz GmbH (ICSID Case No. ARB/17/19) regarding alleged expropriation of a manufacturing business. The claims are brought under the China-Germany bilateral investment treaty.
- A heavy equipment supplier and contractor in relation to a delay and prolongation costs ad hoc arbitration arising out of the construction of a power plant in Africa. South African law applied.
- A multinational mining company regarding significant taxation measures proposed by various South American countries affecting investments in the mining sector.
- A Middle Eastern company in a UNCITRAL arbitration in London in a dispute relating to oil rigs. English law applied.
- A European telecommunications multinational in relation to potential claims for $200 million of damages against Russia arising under applicable bilateral investment treaties.
- A large Middle Eastern multinational on its termination and other rights in relation to certain large and high-value renewables power projects of national significance. English law applied.
- A European energy company, 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. Hungarian law applied.
- A multinational oil & gas company in relation to various issues relating to a major international crude oil transportation project in Central Asia. English law applied.
- 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. English law applied.
- KLS Energy Lanka Sdn. Bhd. and KLS Energy Lanka (Private) Ltd in an ICSID arbitration against the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (ICSID Case No. ARB/18/39). The dispute relates to a renewable energy generation enterprise and the claims are brought under Malaysia-Sri Lanka bilateral investment treaty.
- 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. Canadian law applied.
- 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. Hungarian law applied.
- 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 at stake. English law applied.
- Raymond Charles Eyre and Montrose Developments (Private) Limited in an ICSID arbitration against the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (ICSID Case No. ARB/16/25). The dispute related to a hotel development project and the claims were brought under the UK-Sri Lanka bilateral investment treaty.
- 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. Hungarian law applied.
- 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. New York law applied.
- Advice to the Republic of Hungary in ICSID proceedings 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. Chinese law applied.
- Two European energy companies in a shareholder dispute regarding significant tax charges imposed by a Central American regulatory authority, subject to ICC arbitration. English law applied.
- 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.
Involvement
- Member, ICC UK Arbitration & ADR Committee
- Member, Society of Construction Law (SCL)
- Member, London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA)
- Member, International Bar Association (IBA)
- Member, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb)