Matthew Secomb concentrates on international commercial arbitration with a focus on construction and energy-related disputes. He has been involved in international commercial arbitrations under most of the major institutional rules as well as in ad hoc arbitrations. In addition to his counsel work, Matthew also serves as arbitrator. He is admitted to practice in both common and civil law jurisdictions.

Prior to joining White & Case in 2006, Matthew was counsel to the ICC International Court of Arbitration, where he oversaw thousands of arbitrations, spanning almost all industry sectors and regions.

His recent matters include:

• Representation of a former CIS state-owned gas company in a dispute concerning the sale, transit and storage of natural gas.
• Representation of a Japanese subcontractor in a Japan Commercial Arbitration Association (JCAA) arbitration regarding the construction of a desalination and power plant in North Africa.
• Representation of a several state-owned utilities companies before the Arbitration Court Attached to the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry relating to electricity distribution.
• Representation of a French industrial company in an SCC arbitration arising out of a project in Northern Russia.
• Representation of an entity in an ICC arbitration against a series of Canadian parties concerning prospecting rights.
• Representation of a Japanese company in an UNCITRAL arbitration against a Middle Eastern party in connection with a services contract.
• Representation of a Turkish contractor in an ICC arbitration concerning a central Asian construction project.
• Representation of a Middle Eastern developer in four related ICC arbitrations involving a dispute with a contractor concerning a major land remediation project in the Middle East, as well as ancillary court proceedings in the United States.
• Representation of an investor in parallel ICC and LCIA arbitrations arising out of the divestment of interests in a telecommunications company in a Central European country.
• Representation of a major petroleum company in a dispute over option rights over an oilfield against a subsidiary of a Russian state-owned oil company.
• Representation of a contractor in an ICC arbitration arising out a desalinization project in the Middle East.

In addition to his work in international arbitration, Matthew has experience advising clients on construction (both contentious and non-contentious) and oil and gas-related matters. Prior to moving to France in 2001, he worked at a leading Australian law firm in both the construction and corporate law groups.

Bars and Courts
Paris Bar, 2010
Solicitor of England and Wales, 2004
Barrister and Solicitor, Victoria, Australia, 2000

Education
LLM, University of Melbourne, 2006
LLB (Hons), Deakin University, 1999
BCom, University of Melbourne, 1995

Professional Associations and Memberships
ICC Commission on Arbitration, including its taskforce on revision of the ICC Rules
Swiss Arbitration Association
German Institution of Arbitration (DIS)
International Law Association (French branch)

Publications
Co-author, "A turning point in Arbitration : ICC rules unveiled," Option Droit & Affaires, 21 September 2011 (with Nathalie Makowski)
Co-author, "The impact of the Bribery Act on French companies," Option Droit & Affaires, 7 September 2011 (with Sabrina Mannai)
Co-author, "ICC Arbitration" in Concise International Arbitration (2010) (Loukas A. Mistelis, ed.) (with Stephen R. Bond and Marily Paralika)
Co-author, "Life After the Moot" in The Vis Book: A Participant's Guide to the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot (2008) (Janet Walker, ed.) (with Christian P. Alberti)
Co-author, "William Nagel v The Czech Republic: Is the "Investment Question" Jurisdictional Substantive or Both," Stockholm International Arbitration Review, 147, 2006(2) (with Michael Polkinghorne)
Co-author, "Practical Issues In Arbitration Practice Involving The People's Republic of China," MEALEY's International Arbitration Report, 30, 2006 (with Michael Polkinghorne)
Co-author, "Questions pratiques nées de la procédure arbitral impliquant la République populaire de Chine", Decideurs, 159 (15 September – 15 November 2006 (with Michael Polkinghorne)
Co-author, "Interest in ICC Arbitral Awards: Introduction and Commentary," ICC International Court of Arbitration Bulletin, 53, 2004 (with Lara Hammoud)
"Amaltal Corp. Ltd v Maruha (NZ) Corp. Ltd. – Scope of the public policy exception," International Arbitration Law Review, N-66, 2004
"Awards and Orders Dealing with the Advance on Costs in ICC Arbitration: Theoretical Questions and Practical Problems," ICC International Court of Arbitration Bulletin, 59, 2003
Co-author, "Terms of Reference and Negative Jurisdictional Decisions: A Lesson from Australia," Arbitration International, 125, 2002 (with Simon Greenberg)
"Suspension of the Enforcement of Awards under Article VI of the New York Convention – Proof and LSAs," International Arbitration Law Review, 1, 2002
"Shades of Delocalisation – Diversity in the Adoption of the UNCITRAL Model Law in Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore," Journal of International Arbitration, 123, 2000
"Confidentiality and Privacy in International Commercial Arbitration: The Lessons of Ali," Vindabona Journal, 89, 2000
"Beaufort Developments (NI) Ltd v Gilbert-Ash," Building Dispute Practitioners Society Newsletter, 2000

Speaking Engagements
Lecturer, Queen's University, Ontario - International Commercial Arbitration

Speaker at various conferences and guest lecturer at various universities, including:

• The art of written advocacy, ICC Court Secretariat, Paris (2010)
• Influence of a bankruptcy procedure on arbitration proceedings (international approach), Multiparty Arbitration and Parallel Proceedings, ICC Russia, Moscow (2010)
• Provisional measures in arbitration and Current enforcement issues, International Arbitration in the Current Economic Climate, Vilnius/Riga (2010)
• Dispute Resolution: State Tribunals, ADR, arbitration or combination of the "med-arb"? PIDA Seminar, ICC Institute of World Business Law, Paris (2009)
• Drafting Arbitration Clauses for International Contracts, LAWIN Academy, Vilnius (2008)
• A day in the life of an international arbitration, Court of Arbitration at the Polish Chamber of Commerce (2006)
• Two guest lectures on international arbitration at King's College, London (2004)
• How to manage an administered arbitration, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators European Branch Autumn Meeting, Vilnius (2004)
• ICC Arbitration in the resolution of oil & gas disputes, International Oil & Gas Conference, Managing Risk – Dispute Avoidance & Resolution, London (2004)
• Arbitration from the ICC perspective, Society of Construction Arbitrators Annual Conference, Brussels (2004)
• Seminar on avoiding mistakes and rapport building, Generations in Arbitration, organized by the MAA (2004)
• Guest lecture on ICC arbitration for Cornell-Paris I summer program on international arbitration (2004)

Languages
English
French

Citizenship
Australia