Introduction

International Arbitrator
in Asia and Europe

Based in Paris, Peter Thorp has substantial experience in conducting arbitrations in Asia and Europe under the rules of all of the major international arbitration institutions. He has acted as Chairman, Sole Arbitrator and Co-Arbitrator on a large number of ICC, LCIA, SCC, CIETAC, HKIAC, SIAC and CAA (Taiwan) arbitrations, as well as ad hoc arbitrations under the UNCITRAL Rules. He is on the panel of numerous arbitration institutions, and is regularly selected by those institutions, such as the ICC and HKIAC, for appointments as arbitrator.

Peter has also frequently acted as emergency arbitrator and as sole arbitrator in expedited and fast-track arbitrations.

Peter is fluent in French and Chinese. Peter’s experience as arbitrator spans a broad range of sectors, including joint venture and M&A, shareholder disputes, IP and licensing, construction and infrastructure, media and telecoms, banking & finance, insurance, energy, oil & gas and mining, sale of goods, and pharmaceuticals/biotechnology.

Prior to returning to Paris in 2011, Peter was China Managing Partner of Allen & Overy LLP and head of the firm’s Mainland China disputes practice.

A barrister and solicitor from New Zealand, Peter is also qualified as a solicitor
in England & Wales and in Hong Kong, and is an avocat à la cour in Paris.




Professional Associations

Listed on panels of the major
arbitration institutions

Peter is on the panel of numerous international arbitration institutions, and is regularly selected by those institutions for appointments as arbitrator.

Peter is also New Zealand Member of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR, as well as Member of the ASA, IAI, LCIA Users’ Council, ICCA, IBA and IPBA. Peter is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.




Experience

More than 80 international arbitrations

Mr Thorp has acted as counsel and arbitrator in more than 80 international arbitration proceedings, including those conducted under the rules of most of the major arbitration institutions, including the ICC, LCIA, SCC, HKIAC, SIACCIETAC and CAA, as well as ad hoc arbitrations.

Recent arbitral
appointments include:
  • *Co-arbitrator in two consolidated ad hoc arbitrations in Hong Kong between two Singapore and U.S. hotel management companies and a PRC real estate developer arising out of a hotel management contract and licence contract.
  • *Chairman in an HKIAC arbitration between a Cayman Islands company and various BVI and PRC companies arising out of an agreement for the sale and purchase of shares.
  • Co-arbitrator in an ICC arbitration in Tokyo between a Singapore company and a Japanese company arising out of a copper bar supply agreement.
  • *Chairman in a CIETAC arbitration in Shanghai between the Shanghai subsidiary of a U.S. hotel management company and a PRC real estate company arising out of a hotel management agreement.
  • Emergency Arbitrator in an SCC arbitration in Stockholm between a Luxembourg company and its Swedish manager arising out of a Shareholders’ Agreement.
  • Co-arbitrator in a CIETAC arbitration in Beijing between the Chinese subsidiary of a French multinational and a PRC company arising out of a hydrogen and steam supply contract.
  • Emergency Arbitrator in an SCC arbitration in Stockholm between a Canadian company and a PRC company arising out of an Equity Joint Venture Agreement.
  • Chairman in an HKIAC arbitration between a PRC company and a Korean company arising out of a share purchase agreement.
  • Chairman in an ICC arbitration in Singapore between a Korean company and two PRC companies in relation to a series of IP licence agreements.
  • *Chairman in an SCC arbitration in Stockholm between BVI, PRC and Hong Kong claimants against a PRC respondent corporation arising out of a PRC joint venture contract.
  • Chairman in consolidated HKIAC arbitrations between PRC and Cayman Islands claimants against US and UK respondents in relation to an equity investment agreement and partnership agreement.
  • *Emergency Arbitrator in two separate applications under the HKIAC Rules between a Cayman Islands company, a BVI company and a PRC individual in connection with a series of interrelated investment agreements.
  • *Sole Arbitrator in an ICC Expedited Procedures arbitration in Hong Kong between an Australian hotel management company and a PRC investment group arising out of a hotel management agreement.
  • Co-arbitrator in an HKIAC arbitration between a Hong Kong and Mauritius company against various PRC entities and individuals arising out of a shareholders’ agreement.
  • Co-arbitrator in consolidated HKIAC arbitrations between Singapore and US claimants against a PRC respondent in relation to series of hotel management agreements.
  • Sole Arbitrator in a SIAC arbitration in Singapore between Hong Kong and Singapore parties arising out of a share purchase agreement.
  • Sole arbitrator in an HKIAC arbitration between PRC and Hong Kong parties in connection with a debt equity swap agreement.
  • Sole arbitrator in an ICC arbitration in Hong Kong between a Hong Kong company and various PRC individuals arising out of a share purchase agreement.
  • Co-arbitrator in an ICC arbitration in London between Greek, PRC and Cypriot parties in relation to a gas-fired power plant project in Iraq.
  • Chairman in an ICC arbitration in London between French and Chinese parties arising out of a contract for the supply and commissioning of generators for a hydro-electric power project in Turkey.
  • Co-arbitrator in an UNCITRAL Rules arbitration in Hong Kong between PRC and UK parties arising out of a series of certified emission reductions trading agreements.
  • Co-arbitrator in an HKIAC arbitration between Mauritius and PRC parties arising out of a share transfer agreement.
  • Co-arbitrator in a CIETAC arbitration in Beijing between Spanish and PRC parties arising out of an agreement for the manufacture of air-conditioning equipment systems for railway vehicles.
  • Sole arbitrator in an ICC arbitration in Hong Kong between Swiss and PRC parties arising out of an insulation equipment joint venture contract.
  • Chairman in a CIETAC arbitration in Beijing between PRC and German parties arising out of a motorcar racing promotion contract.
  • Chairman in an ad hoc arbitration in Hong Kong between Israeli and PRC parties in connection with an agreement for the distribution of air-conditioning units.
shemaArbitral2
  • Co-arbitrator in an ICC arbitration in Singapore between PRC and Maltese parties arising out of a contract for the supply of photovoltaic equipment.
  • Chairman in an ad hoc arbitration in Stockholm between Swedish and PRC parties arising out of a honey supply agreement.
  • *Co-arbitrator in a CAA arbitration in Taipei, Taiwan between Taiwanese and Swiss parties in connection with an investment management agreement.
  • Sole arbitrator in an ICC arbitration in Paris between PRC and French parties arising out of an agreement for the distribution of buses and coaches.
  • Sole arbitrator in an ICC arbitration in Paris
    arising out of a fibre optic cable parts supply contract between German and PRC parties.
  • Sole arbitrator in an ICC arbitration in Singapore arising out of a television programme licence agreement between US and PRC parties.
  • *Co-arbitrator in a CIETAC arbitration in Beijing
    arising out of a dairy farm joint venture contract
    between PRC and Australian parties.
  • Chairman in a CIETAC arbitration in Beijing
    arising out of a joint venture contract
    between PRC and Italian parties.
  • Chairman in an UNCITRAL Rules ad hoc
    arbitration in Hong Kong arising out of
    an equity transfer agreement between US
    and PRC parties.
  • Sole arbitrator in an ICC arbitration
    in Singapore arising out of a flight training contract between PRC and Canadian parties.
  • *Chairman in an ICC arbitration in Hong Kong
    arising out a machinery supply contract
    between Cypriot and PRC parties.
  • Sole arbitrator in an HKIAC arbitration arising out of a rubber supply contract between French and PRC parties.
  • *Co-arbitrator in a CIETAC arbitration in Beijing
    arising out of an equipment supply contract
    between Swiss and PRC parties.
  • *Co-arbitrator in a CIETAC arbitration
    in Shanghai arising out of a machinery
    manufacture joint venture between PRC
    and Hong Kong parties.
  • Co-arbitrator in an LCIA arbitration in London
    related to a coal sale and purchase agreement
    between Hong Kong and Singapore parties.
  • Co-arbitrator in an HKIAC arbitration arising out of
    an equipment sale and purchase contract between PRC
    and South Korean parties.
  • Co-arbitrator in an HKIAC arbitration arising out of
    a nickel sale and purchase agreement between Hong Kong
    and Indonesian parties.
  • Chairman in an HKIAC arbitration related to a share purchase agreement between a Cayman Islands company and various PRC and other investors.
  • *Chairman in a SIAC arbitration in Singapore arising out of a wind turbine manufacturing contract between various BVI and PRC parties.
  • Co-arbitrator in an ICC arbitration in Geneva arising out of
    a power equipment sale and purchase agreement between Taiwanese and PRC parties.
  • Sole arbitrator in an LCIA arbitration in
    London related to the validity of certain licences
    of intellectual property rights.

*Chinese language or bilingual




Publications

  • Belt and Road Initiative Disputes:
    How and Where Will They Be Resolved?

    New York Dispute Resolution Lawyer
    Fall 2019, Vol. 12, No. 2

  • IBA Arbitration Guide

    CHINA chapter (2018)

    Download .pdf

  • First ICC Award Enforced in China

    The International Law Review
    Issue 6 – (2009)

  • The PRC Arbitration Law:
    Problems and Prospects
    for Amendment

    24 Journal of International
    Arbitration – Issue 6 (2007)
    Kluwer Law International

    www.kluwerlawonline.com

  • China and Hong Kong:
    New interpretation – one step forward,
    two steps back?

    Volume 1, Issue 4 (2006)
    Global Arbitration Review

    www.globalarbitrationreview.com

  • Transnational Dispute Management:

    Special Issue on China (2010)
    Co-editor

    www.transnational-dispute-management.com

  • International Arbitration in China

    Special Report (2008)
    Global Arbitration Review

  • Corruption, Bribery
    and Criminal Law Aspects
    of Business Disputes

    Chapter in “Managing Business Disputes
    in Today’s China: Duelling with Dragons”
    (2007), Kluwer Law International

    www.kluwerarbitration.com




Speaking

  • Tribunal Chair,

    Case Management Conference simulation, CAA Seminar – Taipei, 22 November 2019.

  • Moderator,

    “Dispute Resolution Involving Chinese SOEs”, HKIAC Department of Justice / HKIAC / ICC Seminar – Paris, 11 April 2019.

  • Panellist,

    Seminar on Prague Rules, Hogan Lovells Seminar – Paris, 3 April 2019.

  • Speaker,

    “Direct Settlement Facilitation by Arbitrators”, ICC Institute Advanced Level Seminar – Abu Dhabi, 3 March 2019.

  • Speaker,

    “Direct Settlement Facilitation by Arbitrators”, ICC Institute Advanced Level Seminar – Miami, 11 November 2018.

  • Moderator,

    “Better Serving the Parties: Efficiency and Flexibility of Arbitral Proceedings”, CIETAC Global Arbitrators’ Forum – Beijing, 18 September 2018.

  • Judge,

    Mock Hong Kong court proceedings in aid of a CIETAC Mainland China arbitration, CIETAC Hong Kong’s Day of Arbitration – Beijing, 16 September 2018.

Panellist,

“Dispute resolution options outside of China for resolving BRI disputes”, CEAC Conference – Hamburg, 13 September 2018.

  • Panellist,

    “Dispute resolution options for Belt and Road disputes”, 2nd ICC European Conference – Paris, 9 April 2018.

  • Panellist,

    “Post M&A disputes involving Asian parties”, Joint ASA/IPBA Conference: Asian – European M&A and Dispute Resolution Day – Geneva, 14 September 2017.

  • Panellist,

    2017 Summit on Commercial Dispute Resolution in China – London, 19 June 2017.

  • Panellist,

    “Vers un droit uniforme de l’arbitrage international”, Chambre Arbitrale Internationale de Paris / CIETAC seminar – Paris, 20 April 2017.

  • Speaker,

    “Approaches to promote the attractiveness of Chinese arbitration and the competitiveness of Chinese arbitration institutions”, China Arbitration Summit – Beijing, 28 September 2016.