Matthew Hodgson
Partner
London
Matthew Hodgson
Partner
London
Contact details
Matthew specialises in international commercial and investment treaty arbitration. He has acted as counsel and advocate in more than fifteen investment treaty disputes worldwide under the ICSID and UNCITRAL rules on behalf of investors and States. He also acts as counsel and advocate in commercial disputes, including high value shareholder and post M&A disputes. He is a Solicitor Advocate, with Higher Rights of Audience before the Senior Courts of England & Wales and the Courts of Hong Kong, and a New York attorney. He has also sat as arbitrator in HKIAC, ICC, LCIA and SIAC claims.
Matthew has particular experience of complex disputes relating to joint ventures, distribution agreements, energy and infrastructure projects, technology transfer and patent licence agreements, post M&A matters and shareholder disputes.
Matthew has sat as arbitrator in HKIAC, ICC and SIAC matters. He serves on the editorial board of the International Journal of Arbitration, Mediation and Dispute Management, the editorial board of Dispute Resolution International and the editorial board of the academic journal of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and is a fellow of the International Dispute Resolution Academy.
Market recognition:
Matthew has been ranked in the leading independent legal directories for many years. Chambers Greater China Region 2022 includes client commentary that he is “‘particularly impressive’ for his ‘sound advice and commercial mindset’”, as well as able to “‘explain difficult legal concepts in plain English.’ Another source notes that he is ‘particularly good for investment treaty arbitrations.’”
Chambers Asia Pacific 2021 noted that Matthew is recognised for his experience advising on “cross-border commercial and investment treaty arbitrations for clients in the TMT, energy and natural resources sectors.”
Who’s Who Legal 2022 notes that Matthew “has extensive experience of international arbitration proceedings and is praised as ‘a very knowledgeable practitioner when it comes to investment treaty issues’.”
Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2022 includes commentary that he is “a top-tier lawyer in the area of dispute resolution. He has wonderful expertise and experience.”
Matthew has won various awards including being named Asian Legal Business’ Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year (Hong Kong) 2021, as well as being named in ALB’s Asia’s Top 15 Rising Lawyers in 2021 and its “40 under 40” in 2020.
Qualifications
Professional
Admitted as a solicitor, Hong Kong, 2017
Admitted as solicitor, England and Wales, 2007
Admitted to the bar, State of New York, USA, 2005
Academic
Diploma International Arbitration, Queen Mary College, University of London, 2012
LLM, Law, New York University School Of Law, 2004
MA, Law, University of Cambridge, 2003
Related articles
News: 12 December 2023
Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration 2024 recognises 25 Allen & Overy lawyers as global leaders
The Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration 2024 survey of the world’s leading arbitration lawyers lists 25 Allen & Overy lawyers in its rankings, an increase of six on our 2023 rankings.
Publications: 06 October 2023
The IP Arbitration Podcast Episode 5: Arbitration as an option for FRAND disputes
Publications: 22 September 2023
The IP Arbitration Podcast Episode 4: IP arbitrations in Asia
Experience highlights
Two global energy companies in relation to UNCITRAL and ICC proceedings and an investment treaty claim arising in relation to oil blocks in a South East Asian State. The claim was settled in return for a USD800m payment to our client in 2021.
The Republic of Korea in two investment treaty arbitrations with a total value of over USD$3 billion. It is in the public domain that the first claim, commenced by a Malaysian real estate investor was settled without any payment by the State. The second claim, by a PRC real estate investor, is ongoing before ICSID.
A US private equity company in an HKIAC arbitration against a PRC counter-party arising out of a share purchase agreement in relation to shares in a Hong Kong listed company. Our client was awarded its requested damages in full and 90% of our legal fees.
An international telecommunications company in relation to a series of (ongoing) commercial and investment treaty disputes with States in South East Asia with a total value of USD2.5bn.
Qualifications
Professional
Admitted as a solicitor, Hong Kong, 2017
Admitted as solicitor, England and Wales, 2007
Admitted to the bar, State of New York, USA, 2005
Academic
Diploma International Arbitration, Queen Mary College, University of London, 2012
LLM, Law, New York University School Of Law, 2004
MA, Law, University of Cambridge, 2003
*HONG KONG
9th Floor, Three Exchange Square, Central
Hong Kong
*Matthew is primarily based in London and is a partner of Allen & Overy LLP. He was based in Hong Kong from 2014-2022 and his practice continues to include significant work in the APAC region.
Fraudulent emails
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Other noteworthy experience
Advising:
- Nissan Motor Company in a Singapore-seated arbitration against India under the 2011 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between Japan and India and the 2013 UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules. It is in the public domain that the claim settled following payment of USD350m to our client after a hearing.
- A PRC technology company that develops, produces and sells components for consumer electronic products in an HKIAC arbitration commenced by a Fortune 500 U.S. company. The U.S. claimant sought damages of USD120 million+ and an order restraining our client from processing competitive products (the costs of which it estimated would vastly exceed the claimed damages), and an adverse ruling would have had a profound impact on our client’s business. After settlement discussions, the parties successfully settled the dispute, which resulted in the withdrawal of the claims against our client.
- A U.S. private equity firm on its contractual remedies, as well as on (now suspended) HKIAC and CIETAC arbitrations, to resolve a dispute relating to amounts owed by PRC individuals and offshore entities under multiple transaction documents.
- A U.S. private equity firm on its contractual remedies and an HKIAC arbitration, relating to amounts owed by a Hong Kong company (as purchaser) and a PRC company (as guarantor) under a share transfer agreement with respect to the shares of a Hong Kong listed company. We obtained a favourable award in which the Tribunal upheld our clients’ claims on all substantive issues and awarded interest plus 90% of its legal costs. We are currently advising the client on enforcement of the award in Hong Kong and the Mainland.
- A global financial institution in its ICSID claim against Sri Lanka, under the Germany-Sri Lanka bilateral investment treaty, for interfering with obligations in an oil hedging agreement between the financial institution and a state-owned oil company. The financial institution was awarded its claim in full, plus interest and its full legal costs, totalling around USD78m. This was the first claim to find a derivative product is a protected “investment” for investment treaty purposes. It was also, at the time, one of only three investment cases (out of more than 200) where the investor recovered 100% of its claim.
- A leading Mainland Chinese state-owned company in the energy, oil and gas sector, in an ICC arbitration with a foreign joint venture partner in relation to the delay or failure of a USD1.2bn project in a Central American country.
- An international technology company in relation to a dispute arising out of a multi-billion dollar joint venture in Mainland China.
- The Government of Korea in relation to a USD1bn+ investment treaty claim by a Malaysian property developer. It is in the public domain that the matter settled with no payment from our client.
- The chairperson and largest shareholder of a leading cosmetics brand in Mainland China with operations across the globe, in a Hong Kong seated HKIAC arbitration against the other shareholders and management members of the same group of companies, including two major Mainland Chinese private equity investment firms.
- A leading Mainland Chinese media and entertainment company in a Hong Kong-seated HKIAC arbitration with a U.S. private equity firm (with over USD70bn of assets under management).
- A Korean contractor on a USD125m, Singapore-seated arbitration concerning the construction of a gas-fired power plant in Bangladesh. In addition to the substantive dispute, the arbitration involves complex legal issues relating to time bars, limitations of liability, cross-claims and jurisdiction.
- An international telecommunications company in a SIAC arbitration arising out of a dispute with an infrastructure provider in Myanmar.
- A Taiwanese technology company in a HKIAC claim against a Korean supplier following a breach of supply agreement.
Published work
- “The “Problem” of Costs in Arbitration: Controlling, Allocating and Funding Costs”, edited by Chin Leng Lim (The Cambridge Companion to International Arbitration) (2021)
- “Managing "Belt and Road" Business Disputes: A Case Study of Legal Problems and Solutions”, edited by Michael Moser and Chiann Bao (Kluwer Law International, forthcoming) (2021)
- “Emergency Arbitrator Relief: A Practical Guide”, Korean Arbitration Review (2018).
- “Bumps in The Road: Identifying Gaps in China’s Belt and Road Treaty Network”, TDM Vol.14, issue 3 (2017).
- “Damages and costs in investment treaty arbitration revisited”, Global Arbitration Review (2017).
- “Cost awards – who pays?”, co-authored with Judith Gill QC, Global Arbitration Review (2016).
- “Costs in Investment Treaty Arbitration: The Case for Reform”, TDM 1 (2014).
- “Investment Protection and Public Regulation: The Critical Balancing Act of Investment Treaty Arbitration” in Investment Treaty Arbitration and International Law, Juris Vol. 6 (2013).
