Arbitration overview
A well regarded arbitrator, Greg was awarded “Australian Arbitration Barrister of the Year” in the Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards in 2015. Maintaining an expansive domestic and international arbitration practice, Greg is briefed as both arbitrator and counsel in commercial arbitrations in a wide range of jurisdictions spanning continental Europe, the Middle East and the Asia Pacific Region.
Greg regularly appears in domestic and international commercial arbitrations in Sydney, London, Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai and Frankfurt. He has particular expertise in commercial, maritime and building and construction disputes and has advised and appeared in disputes concerning cross-border legal issues and international investment disputes. Greg has also appeared as sole arbitrator in matters concerning international contracts, sale of goods, confidential information, legal professional privilege and intellectual property.
Greg is also a Fellow of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA).
He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and a BarADR approved arbitrator by the NSW Bar Association. A Course Director and Speaker of an Advocacy in International Workshop series run by ACICA.
Areas of expertise
- Select cases as counsel
Select cases as counsel
- Laser Clinics Australia Franchising Pty Ltd v KKR – Acting for 57 franchisees in a dispute concerning the entitlement of an international franchisor for the renewal of franchise agreements (2022).
- Acting for a Chinese owned investment company, concerning the sale of its shares in a major international fund manager (ongoing).
- Acted for the association of firearms retailers, as to termination by its international carrier of firearms into Australia and the terms upon which firearms are carried (2022).
- BBC Developments and Roni Oeuik ats the Owners of SP 90047 – Acted for a major property developer and its managing director in a dispute of approximately 75 owners of units in a residential development alleging latent defects in the construction of a department complex in western Sydney (2021).
- Bondi Road Development Pty Ltd v Selected Properties Pty Ltd [2020] NSWSC 845 – Acted for a major property developer concerning the construction of a joint venture agreement between it and the co-venturer before the Supreme Court of NSW (2020).
- Gram Engineering Pty Ltd v Bluescope Steel Ltd [2018] FCA 539 – Appeared in the Federal Court of Australia in a claim for damages by an engineering firm for breach of an engineering design by a major steel company.
- Appeared for the parents of a newborn baby against a hospital where the child was administered nitrous oxide instead of oxygen. This was a highly publicised case (2017).
- Joseph v Commissioner of Police [2017] NSWCA 31 (6 March 2017) New South Wales Court of Appeal – Administrative Law on the entitlement of the Appellant to a Firearms Dealer License.
- Bestcare Foods Ltd v Origin Energy LPG Ltd (formerly Boral Gas (NSW) Pty Ltd) [2013] NSWSC 1673; New South Wales Supreme Court (Equity Division) – Appeared for the directors of Bestcare Foods Limited in proceedings against the Administration of the company.
- Hampton & Farley [2013] FamCA 213 (5 April 2013) Family Court of Australia – Concerning the circumstances in which a constructive trust will arise based on a representation of future intention.
- Carbone v Calabria Community Club Pty Ltd [2013] NSWSC 998 (26 July 2013) – New South Supreme Court (Equity Division) – Dealt with the obligations of the Directors of a community-based corporation to its members and the circumstances in which a Company can be wound up on just and equitable grounds.
- State of New South Wales v Tyszyk [2008] NSWCA 107 – New South Wales Court of Appeal – Dealt with the liability of police in emergency situations and the liability of the owner of commercial premises to an innocent passer-by.
- Chandos Development Pty Limited v Mulkearns & Anor [2008] NSWCA 62 – New South Wales Court of Appeal – Dealt with the circumstances in which a vendor of commercial property could terminate a contract for sale of land for breach by a purchaser, notwithstanding its own breach.
- Erect Safe Scaffolding (Australia) Pty Limited v Sutton [2008] NSWCA 114 – New South Wales Court of Appeal – The construction of an indemnity clause in a subcontract between a builder and a scaffolder was considered, in the context of an insurance policy, covering public liability of the builder.
- Coshott v Principal Strategic Options Pty Limited [2004] FCAFC 50 – Full Court of the Australian Federal Court – Dealt with the principles of damages and causation in relation to a wrongly obtained injunction.
- Nominal Defendant v Gardikiotis [1996] HCA 53; (1996) 186 CLR 49 – High Court of Australia – Clarified in favour of the insurer, the liability to pay damages for fund management for catastrophically injured plaintiffs.
- Andjelic v Marsland [1996] HCA 55 – High Court of Australia – Clarified in favour of the insurer the obligation to pay damages for funds management to injured plaintiffs.
- Columbia Coffee & Tea Pty Ltd & Ors v Churchill & Ors (1993) 9 ACSR 415 – New South Wales Supreme Court – Major case involving the negligence of the auditor of an international coffee trading company. The case clarified the Australia position on the scope of the duty of care of auditors.
- Arbitration
Arbitration
HKIAC
- Arbitration between two shareholders of an international trading company involving multiple disputes concerning shareholder and director’s conduct and entitlements.
ICC
- Arbitration between a maintenance provider and an aircraft owner concerning a dispute about the entitlement of the maintenance provider to hold his aircraft pursuant to a contractual lien.
ACICA
- Arbitration in Hong Kong between a software provider and an international company about the fitness for purpose of the software.
Australian Dispute Centre
- ADC dispute between vendor and purchaser of shares as to price adjustment and construction of the share sale agreement.
Ad hoc
- Arbitration in Hong Kong between a software supplier and a bank concerning the fitness for purpose of administration software supplied to the bank.
- Arbitration in Hong Kong involving a dispute between the purchaser of software for fast-moving consumer goods retailer and its software supplier.
- Arbitration between two shipping companies about the entitlement of a shipping company for compensation about non-use of cargo space pursuant to a slot agreement.
- Arbitration in Sydney about the entitlement of the police to use documents seized on a warrant.
Select Matters in International Commercial Arbitrations – as Counsel
- Greg has been involved in various international commercial and maritime arbitrations in the following jurisdictions. Select matters in which Greg has appeared are as follows.
Hong Kong
- Two container shipping companies over the terms of, and the amount due, under a Slot Agreement.
- A computer hardware and software supplier and a Hong Kong financial services company over the quality of the computer equipment and software supplied.
- The CEO of a container shipping company and the company, about whether the CEO was wrongfully dismissed and the amount of compensation owed by the company under the CEO’s employment agreement.
- The head contactor and a sub-contractor about the value and quality of work performed in a major construction dispute.
Dubai
- A CEO in a wrongful dismissal claim by his employer.
Germany
- An IT provider and a head contractor about the supply of IT services in 120 countries; wrongful termination of a services agreement and unpaid invoices for services rendered.
- An international commercial arbitration administered by the German Arbitration Centre in a dispute between an IT supplier and the commercial arm of Deutsche Telecom.
London
- Recovery of significant sum due under a guarantee of a Hong Kong registered Company.
- For the Plaintiff in a dispute concerning breaches of a Shareholders Agreement between two Hong Kong residents.
- An IT provider and head contractor for the supply of IT Services.
- A telecommunications company for the sale of its infrastructure.
Australia
- Two telecommunications companies about the terms of a Supply Agreement and other amounts due under it.
- Two telecommunications companies about the ownership of the intellectual property in Apple I telephone application and the amounts due under an agreement to export it.
- Non-arbitrated international and domestic disputes
Non-arbitrated international and domestic disputes
Greg has appeared and advised in a broad range of matters relating to international and domestic commercial law, international estates, cross-border transportation law, and construction and infrastructure disputes.
Greg also has extensive experience advising and appearing in disputes concerning jurisdiction and cross-border legal issues relating to insolvency, sale of goods, commodities, information technology and insurance law. A selection of recent cases is as follows.
- Advised and appeared in a variety of domestic and cross-border disputes concerning charter parties, cargo and general shipping matters.
- Acting for an international corporation providing services to an airline industry and the agent of the owner of the owner of real estate leased by it.
- Acting for a French corporation of a franchise hairdressing salon against a claim of fraud by one of its directors in the borrowing of funds involved tracking funds into a development into the Maldives.
- Acting for a major producer and retailer of hens’ eggs being sold into the Australian Egg Market concerning alleged breaches of its bi-security obligations which resulted in tainted eggs entering the Australian market.
- Advised a manufacturer in Queensland about the term of a Distribution Agreement, including drafting a dispute resolution clause in an agreement with its US distributor.
- Appeared as Counsel in a mediation between a Hong Kong investor and its agent, concerning the acquisition of a property in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney.
- Advised on and appeared in matters involving cross-border estate disputes, including property, equities and tracing cash and other assets.
- Acted for head contractors; specialist sub-contractors and government and local government departments in both national and cross-border disputes involving infrastructure – roads; rail; bridges and ports; commercial high rise and high and low rise residential. These matters involved issues concerning engineering; design; defective workmanship; breach of contract and statutory warranty; delay and liquidated damages; and security of payment.
- Acted in matters regarding the professional negligence of engineers (civil, electrical and mechanical); architects, quantity surveyors; building surveyors and payment managers.
- Acted for insurers and re-insurers of risks associated with the construction and infrastructure projects and quantum claims for building and construction; design; landlord, underground services locator and business interruption.
Appointments and admissions
- Admitted to the Bar of England and Wales – 2015
- Appointed Senior Counsel (and entitled to practise in all Australian jurisdictions) – 2003
- Admitted to the Bar of New South Wales – 1982
Principal areas of practice
- Commercial Law (International and Domestic)
- Construction and Infrastructure
- Arbitration and Mediation (International and Domestic)
- Insurance Law
- Transportation Law (including Maritime and Aviation)
Professional qualifications
- Master of Laws (International Business and Economic Law): University of New South Wales – 2008
- Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration: University of New South Wales – 2007
- Professional Certificate in Arbitration: University of Adelaide – 2006
- Diploma of Law: University of Sydney (Legal Practitioners Admission Board) – 1982
Professional memberships & appointments
- Current Chair – International Committee of the NSW Bar Association
- Head of Chambers – Thirteen Wentworth Chambers, Sydney
- Consultant to Gatehouse Chambers – London
- Fellow – Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA)
- BarADR Approved Arbitrator – New South Wales Bar Association
- Member – Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb)
- Accredited Mediator – Australian National Mediator Accreditation Standards
- Court-Appointed Mediator – Supreme and District Courts of New South Wales
- Registered Mediator – Civil Mediation Council (UK)
- Member – Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR)
Publications, speaking engagements and academia
- Shareholders Rights – seminar conducted for New South Wales solicitors
- Practice and Procedure – Interpleader (Thomson Reuters)
- Expert Evidence – seminar conducted for New South Wales solicitors
- Drafting Dispute Resolution Clauses – seminar conducted for New South Wales solicitors
- Presenting Persuasive Arguments – Thomson Reuters
- Advanced Commercial Litigation – webinar
- Establishing Reliance for Misleading and Deceptive Conduct – webinar
- Cross Cultural Awareness and Communication in Asia – ACICA seminar
- Instructor – CIArb Advocacy Course: 2022
- Instructor – Australian Bar Association International Faculty to Bangladesh: since 2005
- Instructor – New South Wales Bar Practice Course: 1999 to 2001
- Instructor – Australian Advocacy Institute
- Instructor – New South Wales Bar Association
- Course Director ACICA – Advocacy in International Arbitration: 2018