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Gurmukh Riyat focuses on international arbitration and strategic project advice, regularly representing clients in the energy, construction, engineering, mining and manufacturing sectors in complex litigation and alternative dispute resolution proceedings. He has represented private companies, state-owned entities, and states in numerous institutional and ad-hoc international arbitrations, including under the ICC, LCIA, SCC, NAI, and UNCITRAL Rules.

Concentrations

  • International arbitration
  • Infrastructure
  • Energy disputes 
  • Construction disputes

Capabilities

Experience

  • Representing an international joint venture contractor in ICC arbitration proceedings seated in the Middle East in the defense of claims amounting to in excess of $250 million, and counterclaims to recover bond amounts and other payments owed to it. The disputes arose out of the construction of complex process facilities and the associated captive power plant.°
  • Acting as project counsel to the owner/developer of a wind farm project and advising on bringing and defending claims arising out of design and workmanship defects leading to the catastrophic failure of wind turbine units, with damages in the region of tens of millions of US dollars.°
  • Representing a contractor JV in an UNCITRAL arbitration seated in Australia against a consortium of oil majors. The dispute concerned the largest work package on the world's most significant LNG development. The contract value was in excess of US$5 billion, with claims and counterclaims amounting to US$500 million.°
  • Representing an advanced manufacturer of vehicle parts and components in a product liability dispute with an automotive OEM, concerning the design and delivery of allegedly defective engine components leading to a worldwide vehicle recall.°
  • Representing the Government of an African country in its defense of a US$130 million UNCITRAL arbitration claim brought by an international energy company concerning crude oil supplied under sale and purchase agreements.°
  • Representing an international contractor JV in advancing and defending claims arising out of the construction of a process facility in Oman. The dispute was valued in excess of US$250 million and included claims related to delay, disruption, variations/scope changes, and force majeure under a bespoke EPC contract subject to LCIA arbitration in London.°
  • Representing a state owned entity on the defence of a US$500 million UNCITRAL arbitration claim brought by an international energy company in respect of crude oil allegedly overlifted under an exploration and production sharing agreement.°
  • Acting as project counsel in providing ongoing project risk advice to a major Turkish international contractor on issues arising out of an EPC contract for a major transportation project in East Africa with a project value of US$1.7 billion. This has included advising on matters both up and down the supply chain on, for example, issues concerning non-payment, extensions of time/delay, disruption, and variations.°
  • Advising major international manufacturer on disputes against a national utility company concerning the supply and installation of smart meters in Scandinavia. The arbitration was seated in Stockholm and concerned disputes valued at €400 million brought under the SCC Rules in relation to agreements that were governed by the Vienna Convention on the International Sale of Goods.°
  • Representing a European contractor in an NAI arbitration seated in the Hague in advancing and defending claims cumulatively valued in excess of US$50 million arising out of the construction of a heavy jacket lifting system for the world’s largest offshore lifting vessel.°
  • Representing a major international EPC contractor in ICC arbitration proceedings in Geneva, on a dispute relating to the design, and construction of a US$1.2 billion LNG project in Chile, South America. The dispute concerned issues with the design and construction of the package for the marine facilities.°
  • Representing a US international contractor in mediation and LCIA arbitration proceedings. The arbitration was seated in the Hague in relation to disputes concerning the $300 million redesign and refurbishment of a disused oil refinery into an oil importation and distribution terminal, which included a deepwater harbour and processing facilities.°
  • Representing an Italian contractor in ICC arbitration proceedings. The dispute concerns claims and counterclaims arising out of two contracts for the construction of the iconic Airbus A380 hangars for the Hamad International Airport in Qatar. The cumulative value of the contracts is circa EUR380 million.°
  • Acted as project counsel for and represented a consortium of multinational oil companies on an UNCITRAL arbitration seated in London concerning claims arising out of the design and construction of the pumping station facilities for a major transnational pipeline project in Africa. The value of the dispute was in excess of US$1 billion and concerned claims for loss of production, transportation tariff costs, delay, and disruption costs.°

°The above representations were handled by Mr. Riyat prior to him joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.

Credentials

Education
  • LL.B., University of Warwick
Admissions
  • England and Wales
Languages
  • Punjabi