Overview
Garreth Wong is Global Co-Chair of the International Arbitration practice of Paul Hastings and is based in the firm’s London office.
Mr. Wong serves as lead counsel to multinationals and blue chip companies in high value, business-critical, and strategically important commercial, construction, and investment treaty arbitrations, multi-jurisdictional litigation, and global investigations. 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 Southeast Asia governed by civil, common, and public international laws.
Mr. Wong’s experience includes disputes relating to mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and shareholder agreements, energy, mining and natural resources, projects and construction, telecommunications and technology, financial services, aviation, and pharmaceuticals.
With twenty years in practice, 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,” “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 “receives high praise from the market.” Mr. Wong is named a “Leading Individual” for International Arbitration by The Legal 500 UK, where he is noted as “a very clever, well-rounded lawyer with good judgement 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 was featured again in the 2022 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” 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 is an English qualified barrister and has appeared as counsel in the English High Court and Court of Appeal and the UK Supreme Court. Mr. Wong has provided pro bono advocacy training for prosecutors at the International Criminal Court.
Recognitions
- Chambers UK, UK-wide International Arbitration
- Chambers Global, UK International Arbitration
- Legal 500 UK, Named a "Leading Individual" for International Arbitration
- Who’s Who Legal, Named a "Global Leader" for Arbitration
- Legal 500 International Arbitration Powerlist UK (2019, 2022)
- Legal 500 International Arbitration Powerlist: Africa (2023)
Education
- University of Cambridge, LL.M.
- University of Cambridge, B.A.
Representations
Energy, Natural Resources, and Construction Disputes
- A large energy multinational in respect of potential arbitration claims, including under different bilateral and multilateral investment treaties, in connection with oil and gas assets in Central Asia.
- An African company and its shareholder, Claimants in an ICC arbitration in London against North American companies. The dispute arises from the termination of a consultancy agreement relating to oil drilling services. Over US$100 million is at stake. English law applies.
- A heavy equipment supplier and contractor in relation to a delay and prolongation costs arbitration arising out of the construction of a fossil fuel power plant in Africa. The law of the country of the project applies.
- 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 applies.
- A large energy multinational in a complex construction dispute worth over US$2 billion with a contractor in connection with two megaprojects for an oil and gas facility in Central Asia. The projects are amongst the largest of their kind in the world. The dispute includes issues of delay and defects. English law applies.
- A heavy equipment supplier and contractor in relation to a highly complex construction arbitration, related local litigation, and almost a dozen delay, disruption, defects, and other adjudications arising out of two fossil fuel construction megaprojects in Africa with claims and counterclaims of over US$2 billion. The law of the country of the projects applies.
- 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.
- A European energy company, project owner, in a dispute with a European contractor arising out of a large industrial construction project. The dispute concerns the contractor’s claims for costs and extensions of time as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the related actions by the local and foreign public authorities. The law of the country of the project applies.
- A multinational oil & gas company in relation to various issues relating to a major international crude oil transportation project in Central Asia. English law applies.
- 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 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.
- 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. Hungarian law applied.
- 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.
- 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.
- A French multinational energy major in proceedings before the English Commercial Court regarding financial liabilities arising out of a disputed oil delivery in Kenya. English law applied.
- A Russian company in an LCIA arbitration in London regarding option rights in the African mining sector, including interim ex parte injunction proceedings in the English Court. English law applied.
- A North American multinational conglomerate in an infrastructure dispute with a European energy counterparty regarding a complex natural gas project in the Middle East. The contract provided for ICC arbitration. English law applied.
- A major European energy company in an ICC arbitration arising out of a joint venture to construct a nuclear power plant. Finnish law applied.
Commercial and Investment Treaty Disputes
- The People’s Republic of China in an ICSID arbitration brought by Hela Schwarz GmbH (ICSID Case No. ARB/17/19). The claims are brought under the China-Germany bilateral investment treaty.
- A European multinational telecommunications company in relation to potential claims against a sovereign state arising under applicable investment treaties.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 client in confidential proceedings to enforce an ICSID award, involving injunction proceedings in the English Court. English law applied.
- 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. PRC law applied.
- A South African multinational telecommunications company in two long-running UNCITRAL arbitrations claiming several US billion dollars and related complex multi-jurisdictional litigation in Nigeria and the Netherlands, arising from a joint venture over one of Nigeria’s largest mobile telephone networks. Allegations of corruption were involved. Nigerian law and Dutch law applied.
- A European multinational telecommunications company in an ICC arbitration in the U.S. regarding a worldwide licensing dispute involving standards-essential patents and FRAND issues with claims of several US billion dollars.
- A UK government department on a complex £40 million long-term technology outsourcing dispute subject to English court jurisdiction. English law applied.
- A Southeast Asian airline in a SIAC arbitration in Singapore against a European company regarding the termination of a series of long-term maintenance aviation contracts. German law applied.
- A client in confidential proceedings to enforce an ICSID award relating to a dispute in the Middle East, involving injunction proceedings in the English Court. English law applied.
- South African telecommunications major MTN in relation to a complex internal investigation and U.S. court proceedings brought by a Turkish telecommunications company regarding a disputed mobile telephone licence award, involving allegations of bribery and corruption. South African law applied.
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 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)