Expertise

• Matthew Gearing KC is a leading international arbitration practitioner, acting as both counsel and arbitrator.
• In addition to his UK-call, Matt is called to the Bar in Singapore (2024) and is also called in Western Australia (2023), as well as being a Hong Kong Solicitor-Advocate (non-practising).
• Matt has been in practice in the field of international arbitration for over 25 years.   He was a partner of Allen & Overy for 16 years and co-head/head of the firm’s arbitration group for 10 years.  He took silk in England & Wales in 2014, as one of the few solicitor silks, and was called to the Bar of England & Wales in 2021.
• Matt has acted in a large number of complex arbitrations around the world, both in commercial and investment treaty arbitrations, in a variety of sectors including technology, financial services, energy and natural resources and manufacturing.  His experience includes arbitrations under ICC, UNCITRAL, SIAC, HKIAC, KLRCA, SCC, LCIA and ICSID rules.
• He was Chairperson of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre for three years (2017-2020) and was previously co-chair of the LCIA Young International Arbitration Group.  He is currently a Vice-President of the LCIA Court. 
• In addition to acting as counsel, Matt sits as arbitrator across a wide range of cases including in ICSID and other investment treaty matters.

Chambers Asia-Pacific Guide 2026: Dispute Resolution: Arbitration: The English Bar - Singapore (Band 1)

Matthew Gearing KC of Duxton Hill Chambers (Singapore Group Practice) has considerable experience behind him in commercial and investment treaty cases. He regularly acts in arbitrations in the projects and energy sectors.

Chambers Asia-Pacific Guide 2026: International Arbitration: Most In Demand Arbitrators - Asia-Pacific Region (Band 3)

Matthew Gearing KC of Duxton Hill Chambers (Singapore Group Practice) is a respected international arbitration lawyer in Asia. He is experienced dealing with a variety of matters including disputes in financial services, energy and technology.

“He is very well prepared, so the questions he asks in arbitration are directed at the heart of the issue, not questions asking for information, which helps with the resolution of the arbitration.”

“Matthew Gearing is meticulous and deserves all the accolades he has achieved. For someone who is not Asian, he has really understood what the needs are for both Asian and Western parties.”

Chambers Asia-Pacific Guide 2026: Dispute Resolution: Most In Demand Arbitrators - Singapore (Band 3)

Matthew Gearing KC of Duxton Hill Chambers has immense experience in sensitive arbitration mandates, and has expertise acting across a diverse range of sectors, including energy and pharmaceuticals.

“I'm impressed by how busy he is, yet still so diligent. Matthew is meticulous and deserves all the accolades he has achieved.”

Chambers Asia & Pacific Guide 2026: International Arbitration - The Bar - Asia-Pacific Region (Spotlight)

Matthew Gearing KC of Duxton Hill Chambers (Singapore Group Practice) boasts a very well-established profile on the international arbitration scene, grounded in extensive experience in the handling of commercial and investment arbitration mandates. His expertise was acquired in such roles as chair of the HKIAC.

“Matthew Gearing is very well known and respected.”

Chambers and Partners UK Bar Guide 2026: International Arbitration: Arbitrators (Band 2)

Matthew Gearing KC is a sought-after arbitrator who has strong capabilities in international arbitration. He handles arbitrations under institutional and ad hoc rules, including ICC, UNCITRAL, SIAC, LCIA and HKIAC, and has experience acting as co-arbitrator, sole arbitrator and presiding arbitrator.

“Matthew Gearing is bright, hardworking, committed and engaged. He has a very sharp mind and has real substance.”

“Matthew Gearing has broken through the wall and figured out what it is like to be a truly international arbitration practitioner.”

Chambers and Partners UK Bar Guide 2026: International Arbitration: General Commercial & Insurance (Band 4)

Matthew Gearing KC is vastly experienced in international arbitrations related to energy and natural resources matters in particular. He has previous experience as a solicitor before joining the Bar and remains a solicitor advocate in Hong Kong. He is also admitted to the Bar in Western Australia.

“A stellar combination of curiosity, intelligence and professional rigour.”

“Matthew is very user-friendly and good to work with.”

Legal 500 2026, London Bar: International arbitration: arbitrators (Tier 2)

‘He is world-class and one of the top arbitrators. He is conscientious, industrious and always quick to respond.’

Legal 500 2026, London Bar: International arbitration: counsel (Tier 3)

‘He is world-class. He is a good lawyer and is able to grasp the relevant law applicable to any case.’    

Chambers and Partners 2025, Global – Asia-Pacific Region – International Arbitration: Most In Demand Arbitrators (Band 3)

Chambers and Partners 2025, Global – Philippines – Dispute Resolution (Singapore expertise based abroad)

Chambers and Partners 2025, Global – Singapore – Dispute Resolution: Arbitration: The English Bar (Band 1)

Within  Chambers Global and Chambers Asia Pacific 2024, he is ranked in the Spotlight Table for Arbitration (International) in the Asia Pacific region and in Band 1 for his Dispute Resolution arbitration work in The English Bar – Singapore. In recognition of his contribution to the Asian legal community, in 2019, Chambers & Partners awarded Matt the Outstanding Achievement Award.

He has also been listed in the Hall of Fame for International Arbitration in Hong Kong by The Legal 500 and is currently ranked by the directory for his commercial work across the Asia Pacific region. In 2023, Matt was shortlisted for International Arbitration Counsel Silk of the Year by The Legal 500.

"He is an exceptional barrister when it comes to advocacy and the application of mind and facts. He has given us good results."

Chambers, Asia Pacific (Dispute Resolution: Arbitration)

"For Asia-related arbitration, he's top drawer. He's an exceptional advocate. With a background at international firms, he knows how practice works, understands the framework and how you need to mobilise teams to win cases. I would strongly recommend him."

Chambers, Asia Pacific (Dispute Resolution)

"He is at the very top of practitioners in Asia in my view. I think Matthew is a real star." Chambers Asia Pacific (International Arbitration – The Bar)

"Matthew is a skillful advocate and engages with the intricate details of the matter. His oral advocacy and court craft are very good."

The Legal 500 (International Arbitration: Counsel)

"He does an excellent job of handling the parties and at the hearing as well as rapidly producing a draft award following tribunal deliberations."

The Legal 500 (Asia Pacific – Regional International Arbitration: Arbitrators).

• Acting for BG (now part of the Shell group) and Reliance in arbitration proceedings exceeding US $5 billion commenced under the UNCITRAL Rules against the Union of India, in disputes arising out of two production sharing contracts, and also advising them in related court proceedings. 
• Acting for an international energy company in a dispute with an Asian buyer concerning a long-term contract for the sale of LNG; ICC, Singapore seat.
• Acting for an Asian life-sciences company in a dispute with a service provider concerning the development of a vaccine. 
• Acting for the Claimant in the SIAC arbitration proceedings, Westbridge Investments v Anupal Mittal concerning an investment in Shaadi.com, the Indian marriage website. 
• Acting for various other private equity investors in disputes with promoters of Indian companies concerning exit rights, including related issues concerning the arbitrability of proceedings before the Indian Company Law Board (the NCLT). 
• Acting for the investee company in a dispute between a PRC based technology company and its private equity investors; HKIAC, Hong Kong seat. (Acting in other similar cases)
• Acting for various investment banks in a dispute with counterparties concerning derivatives documented under the ISDA Master Agreement.  
• Union of India v Reliance Industries Ltd & Anor [2022] EWHC 1407 (Comm) - Acting for the Claimants against India in long-running commercial arbitration proceedings arising out of two offshore Production Sharing Contracts in the Mumbai basin.  The amount in dispute exceeds US$3 billion.  There have been three separate challenges to Awards issued in the case before the Commercial Court; Union of India v Reliance Industries Ltd & Anor [2022] EWHC 1407 (Comm) (09 June 2022); Reliance Industries Ltd & Anor v The Union of India [2020] EWHC 263 (Comm) (12 February 2020); Reliance Industries Ltd & Anor v The Union of India [2018] EWHC 822 (Comm) (16 April 2018). 
• Nissan Motor Co Ltd v Republic of India (2017, PCA) - Acting for Nissan against India in respect of allegations of failure to provide stable investment conditions in respect of Nissan’s large operation in Tamil Nadu.  Claim under the Japan/India CEPA (investment treaty). 
• Acting for an oil major in a SIAC arbitration against its joint venture partner relating to exploration activities in an offshore oil and gas block in the Philippines. 
• Acting for the Owner in two arbitrations relating to the Ichthys LNG Project, Darwin. 
• Acting for two oil majors in contractual and treaty proceedings concerning offshore oil and gas blocks in Thailand. 
• Acting for a major private equity group in an HKIAC arbitration arising out of an interest in a real estate fund.  
• Baggerwerken Decloedt En Zoon NV v Republic of the Philippines (ICSID, 2017, ICSID) - Acting for the Claimants in an ICSID arbitration against the Republic of the Philippines, arising out of the cancellation of a €280 million infrastructure project. This was the first successful ICSID award obtained against the Republic of the Philippines. 
• Deutsche Bank v Sri Lanka (ICSID, ARB09/02) - Acting for Deutsche Bank in its successful arbitration against Sri Lanka under the German-Sri Lanka bilateral investment treaty in respect of indirect expropriation of derivatives. 
• Acting for the Belize Bank and various other investors in related treaty claims and investment treaty claims against the Government of Belize. 
• Acting for a Chinese SOE in an ICC arbitration in relation a project to redevelop an oil refinery in Central America. 
• X, Y v ZPRC, ZHK [2020] HKCFI 631 - Acting for the Plaintiff in anti-suit injunction proceedings in Hong Kong against the Defendants in respect of proceedings commenced in the PRC in breach of the arbitration agreement. 
• Competition Commission v Nutanix & Others CTEA 1 of 2017 - Acting for a software company (1st Respondent) in the first set of breach proceedings brought by the Hong Kong Competition Commission

• Zhongshan v Nigeria - Co-arbitrator in a claim by a PRC investor against Nigeria under the PRC/Nigeria bilateral investment treaty concerning the development of a free-trade zone in Nigeria.  
• Presiding arbitrator in a SIAC arbitration concerning a joint venture in the agrochemical sector in the PRC. 
• Sole arbitrator in respect of a disputed agency agreement relating to a diamond mine in Asia. 
• Sole arbitrator in respect of a disputed real estate investment in Sri Lanka. 
• Presiding arbitrator in respect of a disputed joint venture agreement relating to clothing stores in the PRC; HKIAC, Hong Kong. 
• Co- arbitrator in substantial UNCITRAL arbitration between two large energy companies concerning supply obligations relating to a major pipeline. 
• Co-arbitrator in ICC arbitration concerning the status of contractual obligations in the light of EU sanctions. 
• Co-arbitrator concerning claims relating to an international beverage business; HKIAC, Hong Kong seat. 
• Aderlyne Limited v. Romania (ARB/22/13) - Co–arbitrator in ICSID arbitration, Aderlyne Limited v. Romania (ARB/22/13).  Claim under the Energy Charter Treaty. 
• Company Holdings B.V., Ethiopian Capital Goods Finance S.C. (Ethiopia) v Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia = Co-arbitrator in African Asset Finance Company Holdings B.V., Ethiopian Capital Goods Finance S.C. (Ethiopia) v Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, under Netherlands/Ethiopia bilateral investment treaty; UNCITRAL Rules, administered by PCA. 
• FCL Ambiente S.r.l. v. Republic of North Macedonia (ICSID Case No. ARB/23/31). - Co-arbitrator in ICSID arbitration. 
• Co-arbitrator in arbitration under the ICC Rules concerning the supply of raw materials from a South American mining company to a Middle Eastern entity. 
• Co-arbitrator in a series of consolidated cases concerning inter alia allegations of fraud arising out of ship building contracts; London seated. 
• Co-arbitrator in a shareholders’ dispute concerning a major commodity trading business; LCIA, London seat. 
• Presiding arbitrator in for consolidated cases concerning coal supply contracts; London seat. 
• Presiding arbitrator in ICC arbitration relating to the supply of equipment to a major infrastructure project in India; Singapore seat.

• Solicitor, England & Wales (1997)
• Solicitor, Hong Kong (2001)
• Solicitor-advocate, England & Wales (2005)
• Solicitor-advocate, Hong Kong (2013)
• Queen’s Counsel, England & Wales (2014)
• Called to the Bar of England & Wales (2021)
• Called to the Bar of Western Australia (2023)
• Called to the Bar of Singapore (2024)
• Chairperson of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (2017-2020)
• Vice President, Court, London Court of International Arbitration (2022-current)
• Panel member HKIAC, SIAC and various other arbitral institutions
• Prime Finance’s panel of Dispute Resolution experts
• Past Co-Chair of the LCIA Young International Arbitration Group (2005-2009)

• BA (Hons), Jurisprudence, Oxford University (1993)
• Legal Practice Course (LPC), The College Of Law, Chester (1995)

• Trainee solicitor, Slaughter & May, London, 1995-1997
• Associate Solicitor, Allen & Overy, London and Hong Kong, 1997-2005
• Partner, Allen & Overy, London and Hong Kong, 2005-2021
• Head/Co-Head of International Arbitration, Allen & Overy, 2007-2020
• Chairperson, Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (2017-2020) (Also - Council Member (2008-2020); Chair, Rules Committee, 2013 Rules revision process; Chair, Proceedings Committee, 2012-2017)
• Barrister, Fountain Court Chambers, London, 2021-2024
• Door tenant, Quayside Chambers, Perth, 2022 to date
• Arbitrator Member, Temple Chambers, Hong Kong, 2023 to date

Matthew is a joint editor of Russell on Arbitration (23^rd and 24^th Editions, Thomson) a leading text on arbitration in England & Wales.  He has written and spoken widely on arbitration.