About
Ian has nearly four decades of experience acting for and counseling parties in complex high value disputes.
His practice started with Hammond Suddards in 1988, where he became a partner. He was a partner and UK head of international arbitration with Steptoe & Johnson between 2000 and 2003 and from 2003 he has been a partner and co-head of the international arbitration group at what was Nicholson Graham & Jones and is now K&L Gates LLP. He stepped down from the partnership at K&L Gates with effect from 31 March 2026 to focus on sitting as an independent arbitrator.
Ian has arbitrated disputes under a wide range of different rules including those of the HKIAC, ICC, LCIA, ICDR, UNCITRAL, LMAA, SCC, SIAC and ICSID as well as a number of ad hoc arbitrations and arbitrations proceeding under the rules of various trade bodies.
A particular feature of his practice over the last 20 years has been Bermuda Form insurance coverage disputes. They are disputes involving major losses incurred in the US market which are resolved by ad hoc arbitration seated in either London or Hamilton Bermuda under New York law. He acted for the claimant policyholder, Halliburton in the dispute, arising from a Bermuda Form arbitration, that led to the UK Supreme Court decision in Halliburton Company v Chubb Bermuda Insurance Ltd [2020] UKSC 48, that redefined English law on arbitrators’ duties.
His practice has been largely sector agnostic and truly international. Amongst other things he has been involved in disputes concerning energy, telecoms, oil & gas, speciality chemicals, insurance, heavy engineering, construction products and mining, with a number involving allegations of bribery and corruption. Disputes have been seated in all the major arbitral centres in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.