Alexander Fawke

Alex accepts appointments as both counsel and arbitrator. He has represented clients under all of the major institutional rules (ICC, LCIA, HKIAC, DIFC-LCIA, DIAC, SCC and DIS), as well as in ad hoc arbitrations under the UNCITRAL Rules. He has particular experience in post-M&A, energy, construction and long-term supply disputes. He advises clients around the world and has worked in Linklaters’ offices in London, Singapore and the Middle East.

He spent much of 2018 and 2019 on secondment at the UK Government, assisting the Department for International Trade in the establishment of its new trade law regime post-Brexit.

Alex has published over 15 articles in academic and industry journals concerning international arbitration, trade law and investment treaty disputes. His work has been widely cited in national parliaments, academia and by the WTO. He is also a regular presenter at industry seminars and conferences on international arbitration, trade law and judicial review.

Before joining Linklaters, Alex served on the staff of various Members of Parliament in Australia as an advisor and speechwriter. He also worked as a researcher in international arbitration at Monash University and at the International Court of Arbitration at the ICC in Paris.

Work highlights

As arbitration counsel, Alex has acted on a range of high-value matters, including representing:

• the sellers of a European entertainment company in an LCIA arbitration against the company’s Canadian purchasers
• a European commodities company in an HKIAC arbitration against a Chinese metals producer
• a Brazilian conglomerate in an LMAA arbitration in a construction dispute

In trade and public law matters, he has advised:

• the operator of the UK National Lottery, Camelot, in judicial review proceedings concerning the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s regulation of lottery betting ([2018] EWHC 3111 (Admin))
• the UK Department for International Trade on the establishment of its new trade law regime
• the BBC on various aspects of its regulatory functions under its Charter 

Alex’s further international arbitration includes representing:

• a group of European transport companies in an LCIA arbitration against one of their regulators
• a Nigerian commodities company in an LCIA arbitration against a German marketing company
• the sellers of an Eastern European metals company in an LCIA arbitration against the company’s Russian purchasers
• a South African media company in an ad hoc arbitration against a licensee
• a European bank in an investment treaty dispute with an African state

His further experience in public law matters includes advising:

• an industry mutual fund in judicial review proceedings concerning the Government’s regulation of its business 
• a major retail bank in judicial review proceedings concerning regulation of payment protection insurance
• senior members of a UK government body on their obligations in a judicial review 
• a UK water company in judicial review proceedings against one of its regulators 
• Visa Europe in litigation before the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court concerning alleged breaches of competition law
• a Swiss medical company in (French-language) proceedings in Belgium against a former employee

Alex has published over 15 articles in academic and industry journals concerning international arbitration, trade law and investment treaty disputes. His work has been widely cited in national parliaments, academia and by the WTO. He is also a regular presenter at industry seminars and conferences on international arbitration, trade law and judicial review. He is a former Deputy Secretary of the Asia-Pacific Forum for International Arbitration (AFIA) and sits on the Committee of the Young Public Lawyers’ Group in London.

Alex holds degrees in politics, French and law (with first class honours) from Monash University.

He speaks English, French, German and Spanish.

“International arbitration in Australia: 2017/2018 in review”, (2019) 29 Australasian Dispute Resolution Journal 215 (co-authored with Albert Monichino QC)

“Arbitraż inwestycyjny a kryzys strefy euro” (in English: BIT claims and the Eurozone crisis) (2014) Przegląd Prawa Handlowego (in English: Commercial Law Review) 39 (co-authored with Tom Lidstrom)

“Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, Issue Estoppel and Comity: Developments in Australia” (2014) 16 Asian Dispute Review 1 (co-authored with Albert Monichino QC)