Meet Gordon

Meet Gordon

GORDON TREGASKIS

Introducing your International Mediator – Gordon Tregaskis B.A. (Hons) DipICArb, FCIArb, C.Arb Barrister, Mediator and Chartered Arbitrator

I offer substantial experience as a dispute resolver having been active over 40 years in international business. Over the past 20 years there has been a marked focus on resolving business issues arising out of joint ventures, planning, financing and construction of assets and major infrastructure projects. My experience is principally related to Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas. Originally employed in legal advisory roles, my career progressed holding positions as country manager, commercial director and subsequently CEO of a Malaysian Public Company.


Commercial awareness began as a barrister in England in 1980 and later moves into the shipping and marine insurance world added further depth through conducting and managing high value shipping and commodity arbitrations. A number of roles followed as a public company secretary and general counsel in aviation and industrial sectors. The hallmark of my career has been a marked focus on managing disputes arising on major capital projects around the world. r I have lived and worked in places such as Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Middle East. Between 2007 and 2013 I worked in Dubai, initially for the Government and subsequently began a consulting career on major engineering and construction contract disputes as a director with Hill International now HKA.


In 2013 I became a full time Independent Neutral whilst maintaining a consultancy practice. I am a panel member of several well known arbitration institutions and believe in making clear decisions in accordance with contract provisions based on the facts established by evidence. I am above all a passionate believer in Mediation as a tool for promoting successful commercial settlements and outcomes in appropriate cases at the appropriate time. Where parties fully engage in mediation results can be truly impressive. I was accredited by CEDR in 2003 and immediately used the training to settle two long running and expensive international arbitrations. I act as mediator and mediation advocate and in either role my primary duty is to make clients comfortable with the process.


I am solutions oriented and bring a unique understanding of cross-cultural issues to disputes or differences affecting international business. I have conducted ADR training as a member of faculty for the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and have lectured on the LLM program at the British University in Dubai. I was voted ‘Star Arbitrator’ by students and staff of the 2016 Vis East Moot Competition.


My formal qualifications are as a Barrister, Chartered Arbitrator, CEDR Solve International Mediator as well as Adjudicator (CIPAA). My informal qualifications are as a businessman with more than 40 years’ experience of international business and dealing successfully with the problems which arise.


Contact Me

Areas of Expertise

Gordon’s specific areas of expertise are:

  • Construction and Major Infrastructure Projects
  • Joint Ventures (incorporated and unincorporated) particularly shareholder disputes
  • Offshore Wind
  • Hydroelectric Plants
  • Desalination Projects
  • Power Plants and distribution networks
  • Process Plants of all types, especially water and wastewater effluent use and reuse
  • Hospitals, Airports and Ports
  • Franchise Agreements
  • Aviation both ownership and operation
  • Shipping and Marine Insurance
  • PPP and Privatisation including all variations on BOT Schemes
  • Project Finance
  • Convention on the International Sale of Goods 

Qualifications

  • BA (Hons) Law 1978
  • Bar Final Exams 1980
  • Called to the bar of Gray’s Inn of Court November 1980
  • CEDR Solve Mediator 2003
  • FCIArb Fellow Chartered Institute of Arbitrators 2006
  • DipICArb Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration 2006
  • C.Arb Chartered Arbitrator 2011
  • CIPAA Accredited Adjudicator (Malaysia) 2012   

Gordon's Professional Background

Gordon is an accomplished and pragmatic Independent Neutral working primarily on engineering and construction disputes worldwide with a particular focus within the MENA and SEA regions.


Gordon’s early career developed from legal advisory and General Counsel roles with rapid promotion to Commercial Director where in addition to providing board level advice on many highly political water and power privatisation projects in MENA, Asia and South America, he was also entrusted with leading commercial negotiations on project financing, joint venture agreements, mergers, acquisitions, asset sale, asset purchase, private placements and Initial Public Offerings. Over the course of a long career he has successfully managed and resolved major engineering, construction, energy, intellectual property and shipping disputes through a considered mix of negotiation, arbitration and mediation.


In the past few years Gordon has accepted more than 30 arbitrator appointments, as party, sole and chair appointments, and is a panel member of the London Court of International Arbitration, Asia International Arbitration Centre, Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, Abu Dhabi Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration Centre, the Thai Arbitration Institute, DIFC-LCIA Centre and the Dubai International Arbitration Centre. In 2016 he was voted ‘Star Arbitrator’ by the students and staff of the Vis East Moot Competition held at City University Hong Kong.


Gordon is an experienced Chartered Arbitrator and CEDR Solve Mediator having experience of over 200 arbitration cases spanning a career over 40 years in the legal and commercial services sector. He is an effective communicator with foreign language skills and has earned an established track record of achieving results in international commerce, acting as advocate, client representative and litigation manager. From his base in the Southwest of England he has recently conducted mediations between parties in Qatar, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Australia.


Familiar with both facilitative and evaluative mediation processes, Gordon specialises in disputes requiring an understanding and appreciation of cross-cultural influences in the international resolution of conflict. Most of all he is a seasoned commercial resource with deep insights into managing issues and people which affect successful business outcomes. He has guest lectured Mediation for the LLM Course at the British University in Dubai.

Gordon's International Mediation and Dispute Resolution Experience

In the past few years Gordon has delivered commercial and contractual solutions within more than ten jurisdictions. He has been nominated and appointed in more than 30 arbitrations and mediated many construction disputes. He has advised government entities and international contractors on important and strategic infrastructure projects, as well as iconic cultural installations and buildings. The list of projects below highlights a sample of the projects where he has led teams providing successful dispute management solutions to an international client base:


  • Algeria – Advising an International Contractor on commercial, contractual and legal issues in relation to a delayed/suspended twin track 160kph rated catenary railway system. Auditing commercial function and suggesting improvements to contract administration procedures. Subsequently advising on a number of other cases of delayed commercial developments, shopping centres, hotel resorts  and conference venues.
  • Bahrain – Leading an expert team on a high value (US$200m) commercial arbitration resisting contractor claims for loss and expense resulting from delay on iconic housing project.
  • Botswana – Advising on international bridge crossing construction involving multi-jurisdictional challenges.
  • China – Advising a major construction company on wrap agreements for on-shore and off-shore contracts for the construction of thermal power plants in Africa. Advising water and power utility companies on infrastructure contracts in Libya, on financial and commercial issues, with respect to recovery of documentary credits, valued at US$ 300m+. Negotiating joint venture arrangements and structures for foreign investors.
  • Hong Kong – leading teams advising contractors and government entities in day to day general construction claims in the region. Developing business and running the busy Hill International office.
  • Iraq – Advised Korean Corporations on disputes arising on major infrastructure projects including 16.5 Kilometre breakwater. Also advising on rock procurement and delivery contracts involving considerations of maritime law.
  • Jordan – Advising Contractors and Employers on various disputes including large development projects with particular emphasis on the operation of FIDIC Rainbow series contracts under Jordanian Law.
  • Kazakhstan – Advising Contractor on design build risks including local law Civil Code considerations.
  • Kuwait – Advising on agency claims arising out of high value construction procurement and disputes on water sector infrastructure projects.
  • Laos PDR – Acting as interim legal director to international consortium building dam and hydro electric infrastructure.
  • Myanmar – Making recommendations by written report and personal presentation to the President’s committee of advisors on the introduction of modern arbitration laws and practice to the Union of Myanmar.
  • Palestine – Advising on joint venture arrangements and liability under major wastewater works contract.
  • Qatar – Advising two International Contractors on pre-bid terms and contract conditions for an underground railway line – advice lead to rethink of harsh contract terms by the Government of Qatar. Provided audit and advice on contract management strategies for a bridge and stadia projects.
  • Saudi Arabia – Advising two International Contractors on two projects to help refine claims against dominant Government Oil & Gas majors, leading to early financial settlement of disputes. Also advising a US Multinational on commercial aspects of constructing an Aluminium Process Plant and Rolling Mill as well as issues on a Red Sea Resort project.
  • Thailand – providing advice and assistance in offshore O&G contracting including an agreement for the construction and operation of FPSO and FSO vessels. Acting as arbitrator and mediator in construction and commercial franchise cases.
  • UAE – Advising government entity and reviewing proposed contract for major airfield terminal suggesting changes to contract form where necessary. Producing arbitration pleadings and evidential bundles for US$100m claim for UAE based Contractor. Providing commercial and contractual advice to a diverse base of construction and developer organisations. Acted as Lead Mediator in a successful resolution of a 1 billion dollar dispute through an 18 month evaluative mediation. Acted as arbitrator in more than 20 commercial and construction cases for both DIAC and DIFC-LCIA.
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