James (Jim) Morrison is a specialist in international arbitration, acting as arbitrator and counsel, as well as having extensive experience working in multiple arbitral institutions.

An Australian-qualified lawyer, Jim has worked at leading international law firms, representing leading companies in a wide variety of complex high-stakes commercial and investor-state disputes, including in the fields of construction, infrastructure, energy and resources, M&A, intellectual property, shipbuilding and joint ventures.

Jim is formerly Counsel at the ICC International Court of Arbitration in Paris and Counsel at the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration in Sydney where he managed teams of lawyers responsible for the conduct of hundreds of international arbitrations taking place all over the world (but particularly in Asia). He holds a Master's Degree in International Commercial Arbitration Law from the University of Stockholm.

Jim has been regularly recognised in the WWL: Arbitration and Thought Leaders - Arbitration. He has participated in working groups to revise various institutional and ad hoc arbitration rules, including as co-chair of the committee revising the ACICA Rules 2021. He regularly speaks and lectures at arbitration conferences and universities. Jim is a former Co-Chair of Young ICCA, a co-author of the first English language text book on Korean arbitration law and regularly publishes in international dispute resolution.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Arbitration / Litigation Private International Law Investment Law

INDUSTRY SECTORS

Construction & Engineering Infrastructure Energy & Resources M&A Intellectual Property Shipbuilding Joint Ventures

REPRESENTATIVE CASES

represented a major mining and metallurgy consortium in an ICC arbitration with more than USD 500 million in dispute, under Swiss law; represented an Australian mining company in a high value and complex ad hoc arbitration concerning iron ore tenements; represented a well-known Korean retail store in a dispute with its Japanese joint venture counterparty in Tokyo seated JCAA arbitration; represented a large Korean construction company in an ICC Singapore seated arbitration against a US developer concerning a mega-development project in Korea; represented a European hedge fund in a SIAC Singapore seated arbitration against a Thai insurance company concerning an M&A transaction; represented the principal of one of the most significant LNG projects in the world concerning a multi-billion dollar ICC arbitration seated in Singapore; represented a major steel company in a SIAC Singapore seated arbitration against liquidated damages and defects claims in the design and supply of steel for a major infrastructure project in Australia; represented an international consortium of oil producers in a SIAC arbitration in Singapore against a contractor concerning change orders, defects and delays in the construction of an FSO facility in Vietnam; represented a consortium of insurers in a complex high-value dispute concerning defective and delayed works in the construction of a water desalination plant in Australia; represented one of the world’s leading hotel operators in a joint venture dispute concerning hotel development in India - ICC arbitration seated in Singapore; represented the owner of one of Indonesia’s largest gas pipeline transmission systems in an UNCITRAL arbitration seated in London concerning the effect of certain regulations on pipeline operations; represented a large steel manufacturer in an ICC arbitration in London concerning the alleged wrongful termination of an iron slab off-take agreement; represented a well-known shipbuilding business in an arbitration before the LMAA in London concerning the construction of ship hulls; represented a leading construction company in a number of related ICC London and Zurich seated arbitrations for delays and defects in power plant and water treatment projects in the Middle East; represented a major welding products supplier in an ICC arbitration seated in Zurich in a dispute concerning the termination of a joint venture agreement; represented a leading engineering and construction firm in an ad hoc arbitration in London concerning delays and defects in the construction of an offshore oil platform.

RANKING

Who’s Who Legal (WWL): Thought Leaders Arbitration WWL: Arbitration and National Leader: Australia – Arbitration

QUOTES

WWL (Arbitration, 2021) says: “James Morrison is applauded by peers for his ‘extensive knowledge’ of international arbitration as well as his ‘sharp mind’ and ‘pragmatic and strategic’ approach”

Master of International Commercial Arbitration Law (AB cum laude approbatur), University of Stockholm (2006) Diploma of Legal Practice, College of Law, Sydney (2004) Bachelor of Law (First Class Honours), University of Sydney (2003) Bachelor of Economics (First Class Honours), University of Sydney (2001)