With 20+ years of experience in international dispute resolution, John specializes in commercial and investor-state arbitration. Qualified in New York, England & Wales and Western Australia, he serves as counsel and arbitrator in cases around the world.  

 

John has particular expertise in aerospace, energy, mining, finance, technology and sovereign-related matters.  He has handled international arbitrations under all major arbitral rules, including the ICC, ICDR, ICSID, LCIA, SIAC, SCC and UNCITRAL, as well as multi-jurisdictional litigation before the U.S., U.K. and Australian courts.  In addition, John regularly advises clients on general commercial and contractual matters and risk mitigation strategies.  

Prior to establishing Gryphon Law, John practiced at King & Spalding and White & Case in the U.S. and Allen & Overy in London.  He has been recognized by the leading legal directories, including Legal 500, Lexology, Who's Who Legal and Expert Guides, which describe him as a “top-class practitioner who works tirelessly,” is “great with clients,” “stands out in the international market” and “garners plaudits for his immense knowledge and expertise in international arbitration.”​​

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John is also a door tenant of Enterprise Chambers in London.

 

Bar Admissions

• New York 

• England & Wales 

• Western Australia 

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Education

• MBA (Dist.), Queen Mary University of London

• Dip. Int’l Arb. (Dist.), Queen Mary University of London

• FCIArb, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

• LLB, University of Western Australia 

• BEc, University of Western Australia​​​
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Languages ​​

• English

• French 

• Spanish 

 

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

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Aviation & Aerospace​ 

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• ICC arbitration representing a U.S. aerospace company against a European aerospace company involving rights to a satellite orbiting the earth.​
   

• ICC arbitration representing a major Brazilian airline in a multibillion-dollar IT dispute with a U.S. technology company.
   

• LCIA arbitration and related litigation representing a British aerospace corporation in a multibillion dollar claim against several reinsurance companies relating to the failure of a commercial aircraft business.​​​​
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• Representing a European aircraft company in a dispute against a U.S. aircraft manufacturer under New York law involving the purchase of 48 commercial aircraft.

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Banking & Finance​​ ​

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• Admitted to the panel of arbitrators of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
   

• International financial litigation defending a U.S. investment bank against civil and criminal claims brought by an Italian conglomerate in the U.K., Italy and Brazil.
   

• Multi-jurisdictional shareholder actions representing a Dutch investment bank in claims spanning the U.K., Russia and the Netherlands.
   

• Representing an Australian company in a dispute against a U.S. private equity company under Delaware law.
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• UNCITRAL arbitration representing a U.S. financial company in a dispute against a Latin American technology company.

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Energy & Mining 

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• Ad hoc arbitration representing two oil and gas companies in a dispute with a West African State concerning the award of offshore oil and gas blocks.
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• Arbitrator in an ICC arbitration between a Guatemalan company and a Dominican energy company involving the sale of a 200+ MW solar power project in the Dominican Republic.
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• ICC arbitration representing an Australian oil major against a West African State concerning oil concession rights under a Production Sharing Contract.
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• ICC arbitration representing a European joint venture against an Egyptian State entity involving the construction of a natural gas terminal at a port in Egypt.
   

• LCIA arbitration representing a British gas company against its joint venture partner involving rights to a gas concession in North Africa.​​​​​​​​​​

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• Presiding arbitrator in an ICC arbitration between a Singaporean energy company and two Colombian energy companies involving the purchase and installation of solar energy panels.
   

​Investor-State​

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• ICSID arbitration representing the Republic of Azerbaijan against a Dutch energy company involving the alleged expropriation of an oil and gas business (Azpetrol International Holdings B.V. et al. v. Republic of Azerbaijan).
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• ICSID arbitration representing the Republic of Azerbaijan against a Dutch metallurgy company involving the alleged expropriation of an aluminum business (Fondel Metal Participations B.V. v. Republic of Azerbaijan).​
   

• Investment treaty claim representing a Canadian mining company against a West African State under a bilateral investment treaty concerning the expropriation of gold and iron ore concessions.
   

• Investment treaty claim representing a Scandanavian infrastructure company against a Baltic State under a bilateral investment treaty concerning the development of an airport.
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• Representing a French oil and gas major on foreign investment protection structuring for a multibillion-dollar Iranian gas project.​​
   

• UNCITRAL arbitration representing a U.S. oil major against a Latin American State under a bilateral investment treaty concerning an oil concession and related environmental claims.

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Technology​ 

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• Arbitrator in an ICC arbitration between a U.S. technology company and a Canadian energy company involving the licensing of kinetic energy storage systems.
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• ICC arbitration representing a major Brazilian airline in a multibillion-dollar IT dispute with a U.S. technology company.
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• ICC arbitration representing an English / Namibian energy company against a Brazilian technology company involving exploration services.
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• Representing a U.S. articial intelligence company in several disputes subject to arbitration and litigation.​​
   

• UNCITRAL arbitration representing a U.S. financial company in a dispute against a Latin American technology  company.​

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Additional Commercial Experience

 

• Arbitrator in an ICC arbitration between a Canadian seafood distributor and a U.S. fisheries company involving the supply of seafood products.
   

• Construction arbitration representing one of the world's largest retailers in a dipsute against a Bermudan insurance company involving claims to remediate a large retail store in New York.
   

• UNCITRAL arbitration seated in Geneva representing a global manufacturing conglomerate against a major Italian fashion house involving the supply of a well-known fragrance.