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Damian is a major projects international dispute resolution specialist, primarily focused on the energy (conventional and renewables), power, infrastructure, construction (onshore and offshore), utilities and natural resources sectors.

A barrister of over 18 years’ experience, as counsel/advocate Damian has led numerous substantial international arbitrations around the world under the ICC, UNCITRAL, ICSID, SIAC, HKIAC, SCMA, GAFTA, CIETAC, ADCCAC, DIAC, DIFC, LCIA and DIFC-LCIA rules.  He is also extensively experienced in conducting high-value litigations before the senior courts of Australia and England, plus expert determination and dispute review board proceedings.

Based in our Abu Dhabi office, Damian retains full Higher Rights of Audience before the English courts and has also worked in Sydney, Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong and London on a diverse range of global disputes, many featuring multi-billion dollar claims.

Relevant experience

  • Power Disputes – Saudi Arabian/UAE JV operator in relation to USD 700m disputes with UAE Government entity power offtaker and Chinese/US JV EPC contractor concerning construction of a USD 4bn 2.4GW ultra-supercritical clean coal power plant and related infrastructure in UAE.
  • LNG Dispute - US EPC contractor in relation to USD 600m dispute with Australian oil & gas JV offtaker concerning upstream coal seam gas extraction operations as part of a USD19bn 2-train LNG facility in Australia.
  • Petrochemical Disputes - Saudi Arabian / American JV chemical corporation in relation to USD 230m disputes with Turkish and Italian EPC contractors concerning construction of a USD 20bn petrochemical plant in Saudi Arabia.
  • LNG Dispute – Japanese / American JV EPC contractor in relation to US multi-billion ICC arbitration against Japanese oil company operator concerning construction of USD 40bn 3-train LNG facility and related infrastructure in Australia. 
  • Power Dispute – Saudi Arabian/Omani JV owner and Chinese JV EPC contractor joint party appointment to determine USD110m dispute concerning construction of a USD 700m 1510MW natural gas-fired power plant and related infrastructure in Oman.
  • Offshore Drilling Arbitration - Singaporean shipyard owners in relation to USD 150m SCMA arbitration against Norwegian oil & gas exploration company concerning refurbishment and upgrade of an offshore semi-submersible drilling rig in Netherlands.
  • Oil & Gas Dispute – Italian oil & gas corporation in relation to dispute with British gas transportation company concerning pipeline transportation of natural gas and condensate from North Sea production fields to onshore England.
  • Power & Desalination Dispute - Saudi Arabian EPC JV operator in relation to USD 615m dispute with South Korean engineering contractor concerning construction of a USD 3bn 3100MW power and desalination plant in Saudi Arabia.
  • Oil & Gas Disputes – British oil & gas company in relation to farmout agreement disputes with Italian oil & gas corporation and US energy company concerning exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons onshore Democratic Republic of Congo and onshore Colombia respectively.
  • LNG Dispute - Yemeni national oil company in relation to USD 300m dispute with Yemeni oil & gas company concerning LNG supply and operation contracts on a new USD 4bn 2-train LNG facility in Yemen.
  • Oil Pipeline Dispute - Saudi Arabian oil & gas corporation in relation to USD 200m DIFC-LCIA arbitration against Dutch pipeline contractor concerning construction of a 506km multi-product refined oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia.

Memberships & Roles

  • Fellow of The Singapore Institute of Arbitrators.
  • Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
  • Member of the Technology & Construction Bar Association.
  • Member of the London Court of International Arbitration.
  • Member of the International Bar Association.
  • Member of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Education

  • Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London.
  • Admitted to the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Sydney.
  • Call to the Bar of England & Wales, Lincoln’s Inn, London.
  • Bar Vocational Course, BPP Law School, London.
  • LLB (Hons) Law, Liverpool.
  • BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying, Liverpool.
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