David Brynmor Thomas

David Brynmor Thomas specialises in complex, high value International Commercial Arbitration and Litigation. He has appeared as advocate before a range of Tribunals, including under the Rules of the ICC, LCIA, ICDR and AAA, SCC, SIAC, the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules and others, in a range of jurisdictions.

David has significant experience of disputes arising under joint venture and shareholders' agreements; contractor and sub-contractor chains; EPC and other contracts for the execution of complex construction and engineering works; PSAs, JOAs and similar arrangements; and disputes in professional partnerships.

David has also advised on matters ranging from issues arising under Treaties; sanctions issues (in particular under United Kingdom and EU sanctions regimes); the drafting and amendment of industry wide dispute resolution provisions; the ability of Governments to sue on behalf of their citizens for alleged mass torts; and arbitration in the context of licenses of intellectual property rights.

As well as appearing as counsel David sits as an arbitrator in institutional and ad hoc arbitrations, including arbitrations under the Rules of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR) and the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules.

As well as writing and lecturing on international arbitration, David participates in wider international arbitration related affairs. He is a Trustee of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, having represented the Chartered Institute at the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Working Group on International Commercial Arbitration, participating in the Working Group's deliberations on amendments to the UNCITRAL Model Law and its recent amendments to the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules. He is also a member, nominated by the United Kingdom Committee, of the International Chamber of Commerce's Commission on Arbitration.

Before moving to the Bar, David was a partner in the Litigation and Arbitration practice at Herbert Smith, where he practiced as a Solicitor Advocate.