Matthew Skinner

Matthew Skinner

Partner

Email

matthew.skinner@aoshearman.com

Phone

+44 20 7655 5797

+1 212 848 4038

Offices

London

V-CARD

Matthew is an experienced arbitration practitioner and litigator. He has extensive experience representing clients in factually and legally complex disputes and is skilled at identifying strategies to favourably resolve the same.

Recognized as a leader in his field and with truly global experience, Matt has practiced in London, Sydney, and Singapore and handled disputes in many forums all over the world, including courts and international arbitration tribunals (SIAC, LCIA, LMAA, HKIAC, ICC, UNCITRAL, and CAS). He also has experience in various forms of alternative dispute resolution, including adjudication and mediation.

Matt acts for significant oil and gas, pharmaceutical, construction, manufacturing and resources corporations as well as banks and energy companies. He has represented clients in commercially important matters including joint venture, fraud, construction, gas pricing and post-M&A disputes.

Matt has been praised in leading professional directories for his “strong commercial sense coupled with an ability to focus on what’s really relevant” and for his “outstanding legal acumen and advocacy skill”. One of his clients commented that he makes “the difficult experience of international arbitration easier for corporate counsel by clearly communicating costs-and-benefits, identifying strategic opportunities, and maintaining an eye towards the commercial big picture”.

Matt is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb), a Member of the SIAC Users Council, a Supporting Member of the LMAA. He features on the SIAC, KLRCA, HKIAC, JCAA, KCAB and AIAC Panels of Arbitrators.

Experience

Representative matters

  • EFG Bank AG in one of the largest fraud claims ever heard in the English Commercial Court. The US$874 million claims are brought by the Kuwait Public Institution for Social Security (PIFSS) against a large number of defendants, including EFG, and arise from the alleged corruption between 1994 and 2014 of PIFSS’ former Director General, the late Mr Fahad Al Rajaan. The claims are brought under English, Swiss and Kuwaiti law.
  • An international oil company in respect of litigation before the courts of Bangladesh and related arbitration proceedings concerning breaches of the PSCs and condensate sale agreements. 
  • A South East Asian company as Claimant in a SIAC arbitration in Singapore against a European oil & gas company. The dispute arises from the breach of an LNG sale and purchase agreement. English law applies. 
  • A bank in multiple disputes in Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong. The matter has involved arbitration proceedings and court litigation including proceedings to set aside and resist enforcement of an arbitration award.
  • A joint venture partner in a series of arbitrations and court proceedings arising from a failed joint venture. Hong Kong law applied.
  • A national oil company in disputes with the vendor of significant oil and gas assets in Malaysia. Potential disputes included breaches of warranty as well as fraudulent misrepresentation. English law applies.
  • An offshore marine contractor in an ICC arbitration seated in Qatar in connection with a gas pipeline project. The value of the claim was in excess of USD8bn. Qatari law applied.
  • A pharmaceutical company in an HKIAC arbitration arising from an investment in a Taiwanese based biosimilar business. The claim was in excess of USD120m and concerned allegations of fraud and trade secrets theft. Hong Kong law applied.
  • A ship construction company in LMAA arbitrations regarding the construction and delivery of three advanced drillships. English law applied.
  • A national oil company in and ICC arbitration regarding the construction and operation of a gas pipeline. English law applied.
  • An IOC in a SAIC arbitration relating to the development of a software program for the sale of petroleum products across a number of jurisdictions in Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Singapore law applies.
  • A software development company in a range of potential disputes relating to the development of systems for servicing the telecoms industry. Singapore law applies.
  • A construction consortium involved in the construction of a port.
  • An engineering and construction company in a SIAC arbitration in Singapore arising from the supply of engineering and procurement services to a mining project in Vietnam. English and Australian law applied.
  • An Indonesian coalbed methane company in an ICC arbitration in Singapore against its former joint venture partner. The dispute related to the termination by the Claimant of its participation in the joint venture project. Over USD 380 million was at stake. English law applied.
  • A major integrated Korean steel maker, Respondent in an ad hoc arbitration in Singapore concerning allegedly defective goods.
  • A major U.S. oil company on its rights and potential remedies under a bilateral investment treaty and several production sharing contracts with a Southeast Asian State in relation to adverse conduct by State-owned entity and local government in connection with an investment.
  • A major U.S. oil company in relation to the indictment of its joint venture entity and its employees by the South Korean Prosecutor’s Office.
  • A Cyprus based investment holding company in its recovery of a multi-million dollar amount guarantee issued in connection with its investment into an Indian company in the hospitality industry. English law governed.
  • A U.S. based company in a dispute arising under the representations and warranties given in respect of the acquisition of a Chinese business. Singapore law applied.
  • A Samoa-based energy investment management and holding company in an ICC arbitration in London arising out of a share sale and purchase agreement. English law applied.
  • An Australia-based company in a SIAC arbitration in Singapore against an India-based company arising from a breach of a television services agreement contract. Singapore law applied.
  • A U.K.-based financial services company in respect of litigation arising in Malaysia concerning the recovery of shares. Malaysian law applied.
  • A manufacturing company in a SIAC arbitration in Singapore concerning the pricing and minimum purchasing obligations of aluminum sheet ignot. Singapore law applied.
  • A Japanese-based customer in a dispute arising under a long term contract for the supply of a certain material. The contract provided for SIAC arbitration. English law applied.
  • An energy company in an arbitration under the BANI Arbitration Rules arising from a claim for indemnity under an insurance policy of directors and officers. Indonesian law applied.

Published Work

  • Skinner, M., contributor, (2020) “BRG M&A Disputes Report - Asia–Pacific”, Singapore: BRG
  • Skinner, M., (2020) “Singapore”, The Private Competition Enforcement Review - 13th Edition London: Law Business Research
  • Skinner, M., (2018) “Jurisdiction,” Arbitration in Singapore: A Practical Guide (L. Reed, F. Xavier and V.L. Chong eds. 2nd Edition), Singapore: Sweet & Maxwell

Speaking Engagements

  • Speaker, “Board Focus Series: Unpacking the S risks in ESG,” SICC - Singapore International Chamber of Commerce, webinar, April 2022
  • Speaker, “Practical Tips for Managing Documentary Evidence in Complex Cases,” SIAC International Arbitration Webinar Series 2020, May 2020
  • Speaker, “Strategic considerations when Pursuing Construction Disputes,” SIAC-KCAB Seoul Conference 2019: Cross-Border Construction Disputes in 21st Century Asia, September 2019 
  • Panelist, Workshop – EPC Contracts in Vietnam, Hanoi, June 2019
  • Speaker, “Drafting and Enforcing Arbitration Clauses,” The Legal 500 Taiwan Dispute Resolution Forum 2019, May 2019 
  • Speaker, “Enforcement of multi-tiered Dispute Resolution clauses,” QMUL/SMU/SIAC Arbitration Colloquium – Managing the International Arbitration Process, July 2016
  • Panelist, SPE/IAEE Hydrocarbon Economics and Evaluation Symposium, May 2016 
  • Speaker, 2015 Singapore International Arbitration Forum, September 2015
  • Speaker, “The Dynamics & Challenges of International Arbitration – The Road Ahead,” The Inaugural YSIAC Conference 2015, June 2015
  • Speaker, “The Practical Problems of Confidentiality in Arbitration,” Jones Day Professorship of Commercial Law Lecture, March 2015 
  • Speaker, Singapore International Arbitration Centre Congress 2014, June 2014 
  • Speaker, “Foreign Judgments, Foreign Insolvency, and the results of Rubin,” Jones Day Professorship of Commercial Law Lecture, April 2013

Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations

  • Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb)
  • Member, City of London Law Society (CLLS) 
  • Member, City of London Law Society Arbitation Committee
  • Member, Singapore International Arbitration Center (SIAC) Users Council
  • Supporting Member, London Maritime Arbitration Association (LMAA)
  • Member, SIAC, KLRCA, HKIAC, JCAA, KCAB and AIAC panels of arbitrators

Recognition

“Matthew Skinner is not only very well versed in international arbitration, but also commercially and culturally very astute.”
Legal 500, 2023
“Matthew Skinner is very easy to work with as he knows what the client wants and needs, whatever the cultural context.”
Legal 500, 2023

Qualifications

Admissions

England and Wales, 1998

Courts

Supreme Court of New South Wales, Australia
Federal and High Courts of Australia
Singapore International Commercial Court (Registered Foreign Lawyer)

Academic

LLB (Hons.), Law, King’s College London, 1995

Languages

English
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.