Hugh specializes in international commercial, investment and construction arbitration in a range of industry sectors. He also focuses on investment protection disputes arising under investment protection laws and treaties.
Hugh has advised a range of Canadian and international companies in disputes with joint venture partners, owners, vendors, service providers, developers, governments and contractors over a range of issues, including delays, quality control and performance, financing, expropriations, fair treatment, and wrongful terminations.
His international arbitration experience includes advising on and acting in proceedings governed by the rules of ICC, LCIA, UNCITRAL, ICDR, BCICAC and DIAC. He has also served as a sole arbitrator in real property and procurement disputes.
He has also acted in alternative dispute resolution procedures regarding complex infrastructure projects within Canada, including adjudication, expert determination and arbitration.
In conjunction with his arbitration practice, Hugh also appears at all levels of court on arbitration-related matters, including applications for set aside and enforcement, appeals of awards and decisions as an intervenor on matters of public importance.
Prior to joining BLG, Hugh practiced for five years in London and the Middle East in Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s international arbitration group. He was assistant legal counsel at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, where he supported arbitral tribunals in international investment arbitrations.
Hugh co-authored the Guide to the PCA Arbitration Rules, published by Oxford University Press and is an adjunct professor of international commercial arbitration at Osgoode Hall Law School. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) and has acted as a sole arbitrator in real property and procurement disputes.