Clients from around the world trust Gordon McAllister to resolve their most complex and business-critical disputes. Gordon provides clear, commercial advice, counseling clients at all stages of their disputes: from advising on dispute prevention and avoidance strategies to obtaining and enforcing awards and judgments around the world.
Gordon is multilingual and qualified in three jurisdictions. He is often the first call for international businesses with issues arising under English or international law. He has worked on some of the largest litigation in the English High Court in recent years, including claims in excess of £1 billion, and some of the most complex international arbitrations, both commercial and investor-state.
Gordon has a track record of obtaining precedent-setting and frequently cited judgments, including in areas as diverse as competition law and the obligations of expert witnesses in English civil litigation.
Gordon is passionate about understanding clients’ businesses and works seamlessly as part of their teams, rather than as a traditional external counsel. He has experience across a wide range of sectors: aviation, finance, pharmaceuticals, transportation, logistics, and construction.
Gordon is a fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. He is committed to pro bono matters and holds regular advice sessions at legal clinics in London. Gordon also has experience working at the Office of Capital Defense Counsel in Jackson, Mississippi.
Affiliations
Professional Activities and Memberships
- Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
- Fellow, Royal Society of Arts
- ICC Young Arbitrators Forum
- London Solicitors Litigation Association
- Junior London Solicitors Litigation Association
- DIS (German Institution of Arbitration)
- Solicitors' Association of Higher Court Advocates
- International Bar Association
Representative Matters
Examples of recent commercial litigation representations include:
- Representing Qatar Airways in a claim against Airbus concerning the premature degradation of its fleet of A350 aircraft.
- Advising defendants with respect to allegations of a $200 million fraud.
- Representing a creditor in relation to large-scale, multijurisdictional insolvency proceedings.
- Advising an aviation insurer with respect to a dispute arising from a ground handling agreement.
- Representing a group of companies in a cartel follow-on claim in the English High Court seeking £20 million in damages for illegal price fixing across Europe.
- Defending an airline in relation to an allegation of cartel activity.
- Representing an AIM-listed transportation company in the English High Court in relation to the repudiation of an operating contract.
Examples of recent commercial arbitration representations include:
- Representing a multinational chemicals and biotechnology company in London-seated arbitration proceedings for breach of a license agreement.
- Acting as lead claimant for a French transportation company in an €800 million dispute arising from a construction project in Asia.
- Representing a South American company in an International Chamber of Commerce arbitration against a Caribbean government in relation to the construction of an aluminum smelter.
- Defending a claim for losses arising out of the operation of a state lottery.
- Defending an insurer in a $50 million claim pursuant to a Bermuda Form insurance contract.
- Advising an online accommodations reservation company in relation to an appeal against a decision of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers to place an application for a generic top-level domain into a contention set.
- Representing a South African mineral and mining company in a London Court of International Arbitration proceeding, claiming damages of $190 million.
- Representing a Canadian company in an ICC arbitration against a government- and a state-owned entity, following the repudiation of a joint venture agreement.
- Providing English law advice to a Middle Eastern company in a commercial arbitration under the Swiss Rules of International Arbitration.
Examples of recent investment arbitration representations include:
- Representing an investor in an ad hoc arbitration under the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Arbitration Rules.
- Advising an international hotel developer as claimant in a $600 million dispute under Internal Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes rules.
- Advising a European construction and development consortium as claimant in an investment dispute under ICSID rules.
- Advising a claimant in relation to an application for the annulment of an ICSID award.
Insights
Speeches & Presentations
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"Gatekeeping and Experts: The Importance of Instructing Lawyers Oversight and the Perils of Getting it Wrong," Paris Arbitration Week, Paris, France.
(March 29, 2023).
Speakers: Gordon McAllister and Nicola Phillips.
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"Tools for Turbulent Times: Force Majeure and Frustration," Crowell & Moring Webinar
(May 7, 2020).
Presenters: Ian A. Laird, Gordon McAllister, and Edward Norman.
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"Getting Your Arbitration Off on the Right Foot," AIA Brussels Arbitration School, Brussels, Belgium
(October 17, 2016).
Presenter: Gordon McAllister.
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"Investment Arbitration Masterclass," Brussels Diplomatic Academy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
(September 21, 2016).
Presenters: Gordon McAllister and John Laird.
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"Arbitration of IP and Technology Disputes," Crowell & Moring's 2016 Spring Seminar, Brussels, Belgium
(June 8, 2016).
Presenters: Flip Petillion, Adrian Jones, Jan Janssen and Gordon McAllister.
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"Getting Your Arbitration Off on the Right Foot," International Arbitration: Keeping One Step Ahead of Your Opponent, Crowell & Moring, Brussels, Belgium
(October 29, 2015).
Presenters: Adrian Jones and Gordon McAllister.
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"Investment Arbitration Masterclass," Brussels Diplomatic Academy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
(September 7, 2015).
Presenter: Gordon McAllister.
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"The Constitution of an Arbitral Tribunal," Association for International Arbitration, Brussels, Belgium
(February 11, 2015).
Presenter: Gordon McAllister.
Publications
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"The ICSID and UNCITRAL Draft Code of Conduct for Adjudicators—a reflection," LexisNexis
(May 15, 2020).
Authors: Gordon McAllister, Edward Norman, and Catherine Hammeson-Jones.
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"Updates On SFO Investigations," Economia
(August 26, 2019).
Authors: Michelle J. Linderman, and Gordon McAllister.
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"Arbitration in England & Wales," Getting the Deal Through – Arbitration 2019
(March 2019).
Co-Authors: Adrian Jones, Gordon McAllister, Edward Norman, and John Laird.
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"Ethical Standards in International Arbitration—an Introduction," Lexis PSL
(February 2019).
Author: Gordon McAllister.
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"UK Supreme Court Moves English Common Law Towards International Consensus on 'No Oral Variation' Clauses," ABA International Contracts Committee Newsletter
(Summer 2018).
Co-Authors: Gordon McAllister, Edward Norman, and John Laird.
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"Arbitration in England & Wales," Getting the Deal Through – Arbitration 2018
(March 2018).
Co-Authors: Adrian Jones, Gordon McAllister, Edward Norman, and John Laird.
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"Arbitration in England & Wales," Getting the Deal Through – Arbitration 2017
(March 2017).
Co-Authors: Adrian Jones, Gordon McAllister, Edward Norman, and John Laird.
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"Brexit: UK Trades Bargaining Power for Autonomy," Law360
(June 30, 2016).
Authors: Charles De Jager, David (Dj) Wolff, and Gordon McAllister.
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"Arbitration in England & Wales," Getting the Deal Through – Arbitration 2016
(January 2016).
Co-Authors: Adrian Jones, Gordon McAllister, Edward Norman, and John Laird.
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"Towards a Workable Approach to Ethical Regulation in International Arbitration," Canadian International Lawyer, The Canadian Bar Association, Vol. 10, No. 2
(2015).
Co-Author: Gordon McAllister.
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"Arbitration in England & Wales," Getting the Deal Through – Arbitration 2015
(February 2015).
Co-Authors: Adrian Jones, Edward Norman, and Gordon McAllister.
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"The LCIA Takes Control: Whether You Want It To Or Not," Canadian International Lawyer, Vol. 10, No. 1
(Winter 2014).
Co-Authors: Jane Wessel and Gordon McAllister.
Client Alerts & Newsletters
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"U.K. Supreme Court Delivers Landmark Judgment on Apparent Bias of Arbitrators,"
International Dispute Resolution Alert
(December 10, 2020).
Contacts: Robert Weekes, Laurence Winston, Nicola Phillips, Gordon McAllister, David Russell, CFA
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"The New LCIA Arbitration Rules - Progress Despite 2020!,"
International Dispute Resolution Alert
(December 4, 2020).
Contacts: Gordon McAllister, Robert Weekes, Laurence Winston, Edward Norman, Edmund Northcott
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"UK Government Guidance Calls for Responsible Contractual Behaviour in Contracts Materially Impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic,"
International Dispute Resolution Alert
(June 15, 2020).
Contacts: Gordon McAllister, Laurence Winston
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"U.K. Accelerating Plans to Go Driverless,"
Regulatory Alert
(February 7, 2019).
Contacts: Simon Evers, Cheryl A. Falvey, Gordon McAllister, Maarten Stassen
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"U.K. Supreme Court Moves English Common Law Towards International Consensus On 'No Oral Variation' Clauses,"
International Dispute Resolution Alert
(June 11, 2018).
Contacts: Gordon McAllister, John Laird, Edward Norman
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"The Month in International Trade – April 2018,"
International Trade Bulletin
(May 2, 2018).
Contacts: Jeffrey L. Snyder, Edward Goetz, Gordon McAllister, Michelle J. Linderman, John B. Brew, David (Dj) Wolff
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"The Month in International Trade — September 2017,"
International Trade Bulletin
(October 9, 2017).
Contacts: Jeffrey L. Snyder, Edward Goetz, Robert Holleyman, Evan Yu, Michelle J. Linderman, Gordon McAllister, David (Dj) Wolff, Eduardo Mathison, Daniel Cannistra, Alexander H. Schaefer
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"The Month in International Trade — July 2017,"
International Trade Bulletin
(August 8, 2017).
Contacts: Jeffrey L. Snyder, Edward Goetz, Robert Holleyman, Michelle J. Linderman, Maria Alejandra (Jana) del-Cerro, Gordon McAllister, Alan W. H. Gourley, Carlton Greene, David (Dj) Wolff, John B. Brew, Aaron Marx
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"The Month in International Trade — June 2017,"
International Trade Bulletin
(July 10, 2017).
Contacts: Jeffrey L. Snyder, Edward Goetz, Michelle J. Linderman, Gordon McAllister, Edward Norman, John Laird, Carlton Greene, David (Dj) Wolff, Ian A. Laird, John B. Brew, Daniel Cannistra, Eduardo Mathison, Robert Holleyman, Robert L. LaFrankie
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"The Month in International Trade — April 2017,"
International Trade Bulletin
(May 4, 2017).
Contacts: Jeffrey L. Snyder, Edward Goetz, Daniel Cannistra, Alan W. H. Gourley, Alexander H. Schaefer, John B. Brew, Robert L. LaFrankie, Carlton Greene, David (Dj) Wolff, Gordon McAllister, Edward Norman, Maria Alejandra (Jana) del-Cerro, Kris D. Meade
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"Requirements for Security in English Foreign Award Enforcement Actions,"
(May 4, 2017).
Contacts: Gordon McAllister, Edward Norman, John Laird
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"United Kingdom Supreme Court Holds That a Challenge to Enforcement of an International Arbitration Award May Not be Conditional upon Provision of Security on the Award,"
International Dispute Resolution Alert
(March 7, 2017).
Contacts: Gordon McAllister, Edward Norman, John Laird
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"This Month in International Trade — January 2017,"
International Trade Bulletin
(February 9, 2017).
Contacts: John B. Brew, Edward Goetz, W. Scott Douglas, Patricia L. Wu, Jeffrey L. Snyder, Charles C. Hwang, Daniel Cannistra, Eduardo Mathison, Carlton Greene, David (Dj) Wolff, Lorenzo Di Masi, Gordon McAllister, Robert A. Burton, Lorraine M. Campos, Peter Eyre, Alan W. H. Gourley, James G. Flood, Maria Alejandra (Jana) del-Cerro, Monique D. Almy
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"United Kingdom Supreme Court Confirms Westminster Parliament Must Approve Brexit,"
Brexit Update
(January 25, 2017).
Contacts: John Laird, Gordon McAllister, Edward Norman
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"This Month in International Trade — December 2016,"
International Trade Bulletin
(January 11, 2017).
Contacts: John B. Brew, Edward Goetz, Daniel Cannistra, Carlton Greene, Patricia L. Wu, Jeffrey L. Snyder, Charles C. Hwang, David (Dj) Wolff, Gordon McAllister, Lorenzo Di Masi, Alan W. H. Gourley, Wing Cheung, James G. Flood, Daniel W. Wolff, Thomas A. Lorenzen
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"This Month in International Trade — November 2016,"
International Trade Bulletin
(December 8, 2016).
Contacts: John B. Brew, Edward Goetz, Jeffrey L. Snyder, Carlton Greene, David (Dj) Wolff, Ian A. Laird, Eduardo Mathison, Lorenzo Di Masi, Gordon McAllister, Edward Norman, Matthew B. Welling
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"English High Court Rules Parliament Must Approve Brexit; Government Appeals to the Supreme Court,"
Brexit Update
(November 4, 2016).
Contacts: John Laird, Gordon McAllister, Edward Norman
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"English High Court Elects Not to Intervene Where Emergency Arbitral Procedures Are Available,"
International Dispute Resolution Alert
(October 19, 2016).
Contacts: John Laird, Edward Norman, Gordon McAllister
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"This Month in International Trade — September 2016,"
International Trade Bulletin
(October 11, 2016).
Contacts: John B. Brew, Edward Goetz, Ian A. Laird, John Laird, Gordon McAllister, Aaron Marx, David (Dj) Wolff, Daniel Cannistra, Alexander H. Schaefer, Robert L. LaFrankie
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"This Month in International Trade - July 2016,"
International Trade Bulletin
(August 4, 2016).
Contacts: John B. Brew, Edward Goetz, David (Dj) Wolff, Gordon McAllister, George D. Ruttinger, Edward Norman, Jeffrey L. Poston, Emmanuel Plasschaert, Jeane A. Thomas, CIPP/E, Evan D. Wolff, Frederik Van Remoortel, Carlton Greene, Jeffrey L. Snyder, Matthew B. Welling, Daniel Cannistra, Alexander H. Schaefer, Ian A. Laird, Eduardo Mathison, Warren Lehrenbaum, Preetha Chakrabarti
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"Post-Brexit London Will Remain a Pre-Eminent Arbitration Seat,"
Brexit Update
(July 25, 2016).
Contacts: George D. Ruttinger, Gordon McAllister, Edward Norman
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"This Month in International Trade - June 2016,"
International Trade Bulletin
(July 11, 2016).
Contacts: John B. Brew, Edward Goetz, David (Dj) Wolff, Gordon McAllister, Jeffrey L. Snyder, Aaron Marx, Jeffrey L. Poston, Emmanuel Plasschaert, Jeane A. Thomas, CIPP/E, Evan D. Wolff, Frederik Van Remoortel, Alan W. H. Gourley, Carlton Greene, Adelicia R. Cliffe, Maria Alejandra (Jana) del-Cerro, Ian A. Laird, Eduardo Mathison
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"Brexit: What Happens Now?,"
Brexit Update
(July 1, 2016).
Contacts: Gordon McAllister, Edward Norman
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"International Trade Implications of Brexit – What Companies Should Do Now,"
International Trade Bulletin
(June 27, 2016).
Contacts: David (Dj) Wolff, Gordon McAllister, Jeffrey L. Snyder
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"English Court of Appeal Sets Sights on Post-Breach Windfalls, Demonstrates It’s Not Always So Straightforward,"
International Dispute Resolution Alert
(July 15, 2015).
Contact: Gordon McAllister
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"This Month in International Trade - March 2015,"
International Trade Bulletin
(April 7, 2015).
Contacts: John B. Brew, Edward Goetz, Daniel Cannistra, Alexander H. Schaefer, David (Dj) Wolff, Gordon McAllister, Maria Alejandra (Jana) del-Cerro
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"When Might the English Court Claw Back an Innocent Party’s Post-Breach Windfall?,"
International Dispute Resolution Alert
(June 20, 2014).
Contact: Gordon McAllister
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"The Expediency, Ethics, and Express Powers of the Draft LCIA Arbitration Rules,"
International Dispute Resolution Alert
(May 8, 2014).
Contact: Gordon McAllister
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"The English Court's Solution to the French Blocking Statute Problem,"
International Dispute Resolution Alert
(April 1, 2014).
Contact: Gordon McAllister
Press Coverage
Firm News & Announcements