About
Nick is based in London, having previously also been based in Singapore. He has 24 years’ experience advising and acting for parties including 16 years as a partner of international law firms Herbert Smith Freehills (London and Singapore) and Bird & Bird (London).
Nick advises and acts on both commercial and investment arbitration across a range of industry sectors including in particular energy and power, infrastructure, technology, financial services, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, transport and leisure, and aviation.
Nick has appeared as counsel (advocate) before arbitral tribunals seated in multiple jurisdictions worldwide.
Nick sits as arbitrator both sole or as part of a 3-person tribunal. He has sat as arbitrator under various institutional rules (ICC, SIAC, and LCIA) and ad hoc (including under UNCITRAL rules). He has also acted as an English law expert for foreign court proceedings to enforce arbitration awards and in expert determination.
Nick is a writer and commentator on a variety of dispute resolution topics, in particular in the areas of commercial and investment arbitration, and choice of law and forum in cross-border transactions. He is a member of the ICC UK Arbitration and ADR Committee, a Users’ Council member of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre, and a Council member for the Mumbai Centre for International Arbitration, amongst other roles.
Recent Highlights
As Counsel
Acting for a major tech company on two combined LCIA arbitrations (London seat, English law) regarding the sale and distribution of tablet computers within India.
Acting for a Russian investment bank on an ICC arbitration (London seat, English law) regarding a joint venture in the Russian real-estate market, including appearing in the London Commercial Court to successfully defend a challenge to the final award.
Acting for a global rental car company on ICC arbitration (London seat, English law) regarding the licensing and use of rental car brands across EMEA.
Acting for Vedanta Resources on arbitration under the UK-India Bilateral Investment Treaty (Singapore seat, international law) arising from the imposition of retrospective tax by the Indian tax authorities.
Acting for a UK media group on arbitration under the Independent Film and Television Association (IFTA) arbitration rules (London seat, Californian law) in relation to the distribution rights for a Hollywood film.
Acting for a multinational generic and speciality pharmaceutical maker on ICC arbitration (London seat, English law) regarding the development and regulatory approval of a generic drug for sale in the US, Europe, Australia and elsewhere.
As Arbitrator
Co-arbitrator on an ad hoc arbitration conducted under the UNCITRAL Rules (London seat, English law) regarding the supply of drill bits and accessories in the oil and gas sector.
Sole arbitrator on an LCIA arbitration (Mauritius seat, Mauritius law) regarding disputes between shareholders on the formation and management of a venture to manage port operations in Ghana
Co-arbitrator in an ICC arbitration (Singapore seat, Singapore law) regarding payments due under a technology license agreement in the marine sector.
Sole arbitrator on a SIAC expedited arbitration (Bangalore seat, Indian law) regarding the performance of a contract for the provision of IT development services between the UAE and India, including managing the procedural conduct to ensure delivery of a final award within 6 months of appointment.
Co-arbitrator on an LCIA arbitration (London seat, English law) regarding the sale of shares in an LNG business in Africa, including an application for consolidation with a parallel arbitration.
Sole arbitrator on an ad hoc arbitration conducted pursuant to the arbitration rules of the (Indian) Arbitration & Conciliation Act 1996 (Delaware seat, Delaware law) regarding a business in the healthcare sector.