Education

  • University of Warwick, B.A. English and German literature (2007) first class honours
  • Oxford Brookes University, LL.B. (2009)

Admissions

  • Solicitor in England and Wales, Higher Rights of Audience
  • Solicitor in the Republic of Ireland
  • Solicitor in Northern Ireland

Languages

  • German (Fluent)
  • Spanish (Conversational)
  • Swedish (Conversational)

Gordon McAllister

Partner
gmcallister@crowell.com
+44.20.7413.1311

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

  • "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.
  • "Tools for Turbulent Times: Force Majeure and Frustration," Crowell & Moring Webinar (May 7, 2020). Presenters: Ian A. Laird, Gordon McAllister, and Edward Norman.
  • "Getting Your Arbitration Off on the Right Foot," AIA Brussels Arbitration School, Brussels, Belgium (October 17, 2016). Presenter: Gordon McAllister.
  • "Investment Arbitration Masterclass," Brussels Diplomatic Academy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (September 21, 2016). Presenters: Gordon McAllister and John Laird.
  • "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.
  • "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.
  • "Investment Arbitration Masterclass," Brussels Diplomatic Academy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (September 7, 2015). Presenter: Gordon McAllister.
  • "The Constitution of an Arbitral Tribunal," Association for International Arbitration, Brussels, Belgium (February 11, 2015). Presenter: Gordon McAllister.

Publications


Client Alerts & Newsletters


Press Coverage


Firm News & Announcements

January 3, 2022 Crowell & Moring Elects 13 New Partners, Promotes Seven to Senior Counsel, and 19 to Counsel
July 20, 2021 Crowell & Moring Named to Global Arbitration Review’s 2021 “GAR 100” List
June 30, 2021 LITIGATION NOTE: Crowell & Moring Wins in English High Court for Dana UK Axle in Long-Running Breach of Contract Case
September 9, 2020 Crowell & Moring Shortlisted at Legal Business Awards 2020
January 4, 2018 Crowell & Moring Elects Seven New Partners and Promotes 23 Associates to Counsel
May 5, 2017 Crowell & Moring Featured in Global Arbitration Review’s 10th Annual "GAR 100" List
March 22, 2016 Crowell & Moring Featured in Global Arbitration Review’s 9th Edition “GAR 100” List