Matthew Hodgson

Matthew is a Partner in Linklaters’ International Arbitration Group in London. He specialises in complex disputes arising from cross-border investments. He has appeared as counsel and advocate in high stakes commercial arbitrations under all major arbitral rules. He has also acted for investors and States in more than 20 investment treaty disputes under the ICSID and UNCITRAL Rules. He has sat as arbitrator in HKIAC, ICC, LCIA and SIAC claims.

Matthew represents clients in a broad range of sectors including energy and infrastructure, life sciences, oil & gas, mining, real estate, technology and telecommunications. He has acted for private equity and funds clients in numerous claims arising out of M&A transactions and joint venture / shareholder 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. During 2014-2022 he was based in Hong Kong. He was named Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year in 2021 by Asian Legal Business.

Matthew is recognised as a leading arbitration practitioner by Chambers & Partners, Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal, which also ranks him as a “Thought Leader”. Chambers has commented that "He has a real knack for taking a bird's-eye view and thinking strategically and laterally about a problem, and has a way of making the academic practical."

Work highlights

Matthew’s experience includes advising:

Prior to working at Linklaters*

• Two oil & gas clients: on a U$1bn+ dispute arising out of the termination of production sharing contracts in an offshore project in South East Asia. Following the commencement of two commercial arbitrations and an investment treaty claim, the claims were settled for payment of U$800m to our clients in 2021. This is one of the largest known settlements by a State / SOE*
• A client: in an ongoing U$1.3bn UNCITRAL arbitration claim against Myanmar as a result of the client’s exit from the territory following the military coup in February 2021*
• A life sciences client: in relation to an LCIA arbitration arising out of an aborted M&A transaction. The claims were settled for over 95% of the damages sought by our client*
• A US private equity company: in an HKIAC arbitration claim arising out of an aborted M&A transaction in the real estate transaction. The claims against our client were dismissed and our client was awarded its full counterclaim of US$90m together with legal costs*
• Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC): in an ongoing ICSID claim for more than U$350m against Nigeria arising out of termination of a production sharing contract*
• The Government of Korea: in relation to several investment treaty arbitrations, two of which have concluded. It is in the public domain that the first claim, for U$3.1bn by Malaysian real estate investor Berjaya, was settled without payment by the State. The ICSID claim for US$190m by Mr Min, a PRC national and real estate investor, was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction in 2024*
• A US private equity company: in a HKIAC claim arising out of the disposal of its shareholding in a PRC listed entity. Our client was awarded its full claim and legal costs*
• A PRC technology company: in relation to a US$100m HKIAC claim by a US entity in relation to a technology transfer agreement. The claim settled without payment by our client*
• A Japanese automotive client: in an investment treaty claim against India arising out of non-compliance with an investment agreement. Following a jurisdictional decision in our client’s favour the claims settled for an amount in the region of US$350m*
• The Kingdom of Cambodia: in two separate ongoing ICSID and UNCITRAL arbitrations arising under investment agreements*