
James Morrison
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.
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, sports, M&A, intellectual property, shipbuilding and joint ventures.
Jim is formerly Counsel at the ICC International Court of Arbitration in Paris and Counsel (Acting Secretary General) 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 was listed in the GAR 45 Under 45 in 2023 and 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 chair of the committee revising the ACICA Rules. 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 steel company in a SIAC Singapore seated arbitration under NSW law against liquidated damages and defects claims in the design and supply of steel fora major infrastructure project in Australia.
Represented a major mining and metallurgy consortium in an ICC arbitration with more than USD 500 million in dispute, under Swiss law, concerning the engineering and construction of a state of the art metallurgical facility.
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 large Korean construction company in an ICC London seated arbitration against Turkish sub-contractor concerning design and construction of a power plant in Iraq under Iraqi law.
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 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 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.
Represented an Australian mining company in a high value and complex ad hoc arbitration under WA law concerning rights to mining tenements
RANKING
Lexology Index: Arbitration (2025)
GAR 45 Under 45 (2023)
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”





