Practice Areas
Alastair is ranked among the leading arbitration experts in Asia and is one of the region's best-known names in this field.
Alastair has been based in Singapore and previously Bangkok since 1999 and he is deeply familiar with arbitration and dispute resolution throughout South and Southeast Asia. "Alastair is one of the guys who developed arbitration in Singapore in a big way" (Chambers legal directory).
Alastair represents clients in complex claims and disputes all over the world. He is 'dynamic and authoritative but also down to earth and approachable [and] inspires confidence in clients' (Asia-Pacific Legal 500). He handles cases from many sectors and industries including construction, infrastructure, transport and energy projects; international commercial contract disputes; joint venture and shareholder cases; cross-border trading and investment disputes; and specialist areas of international law. His clients include governments, public bodies, international banks, and major regional and multinational companies.
Alastair is also an active arbitrator and has served on tribunals throughout the region as sole arbitrator, co-arbitrator and presiding arbitrator. He 'draws praise as “a top-notch and efficient arbitrator”. Market commentators observe, “He has very sound judgement and is very commercially sophisticated”' (Who's Who Legal) He is familiar with cases under the rules of the ICC, SIAC, HKIAC, AIAC (formerly KLRCA), LCIA, Thai Arbitration Institute, Thailand Arbitration Centre (THAC) and Indonesian National Arbitration Institute (BANI) as well as UNCITRAL rules and pure ad hoc cases.
Work Highlights
Selected matters as counsel
• an international project company in a multi-billion dollar dispute arising from the EPC construction of a refinery and petrochemical project in Southeast Asia, including SIAC arbitration, emergency arbitration proceedings, and related injunction proceedings in regional courts
• an Asian airline in relation to claims concerning Covid 19-induced force majeure under a contract for passenger and ticketing services and software
• an international energy major in arbitration with an Asian state concerning end-of-concession liabilities and offshore infrastructure decommissioning
• an international consultancy firm in ad hoc arbitration in India concerning the impact of Government's demonetization policy on a major commercial contract.
• an international project company pursuing and defending multiple high-value claims under a contract for development of a gas-fired power project in Indonesia, including issues of delay, variations and major defects
• a leading industrial group in a shareholder dispute and arbitration in Singapore arising out of a project to develop a limestone quarry, cement plant and related facilities in Myanmar
• a Chinese state-owned entity in arbitration in Singapore arising out of the cancellation of a high-value contract for the purchase of a large electricity distribution network in west Asia
• representing a state-owned energy company in the enforcement of a US$120 milllion arbitral award against a Philippine conglomerate
Selected matters as arbitrator
• presiding arbitrator (SIAC, Singapore) in a joint venture dispute concerning an Indonesian plantation project, under Indonesian law
• presiding arbitrator (SIAC, Singapore) in a matter concerning a substantial loan transaction and related security interests in Vietnam, involving issues of English and Vietnamese law
• presiding arbitrator (ad hoc, Bangkok) in a matter concerning a waste-to-energy project in Thailand, under Thai law
• sole arbitrator (UNCITRAL, Singapore) in a matter concerning the design and construction of an offshore gas pipeline in Africa
• sole arbitrator (ACIA, Kuala Lumpur) in a substantial dispute concerning a rail infrastructure project in Malaysia, governed by Malaysian law
• sole arbitrator (ICC, Singapore) in a matter concerning post-completion claims for breaches of warranties and representations in a share sale and purchase agreement governed by Singapore law
• co-arbitrator (SIAC, Singapore) in a matter concerning the sale and purchase of industrial machinery and equipment in India
• co-arbitrator (ICC, Singapore) in a dispute concerning a contract for supply and installation of on-board maritime communications systems
