As a former legal adviser to the governments of Australia and the United Kingdom, WFW said in a statement, Mr Eastwood has “significant expertise in bilateral and multilateral treaties and drafting and reviewing regulatory instruments” and has acted for both the United Kingdom and Australia in domestic and international dispute resolution proceedings and represented other states before the International Court of Justice and other international dispute resolution mechanisms.

Most recently, it went on, he has advised and represented Australian mining companies in investment treaty arbitration disputes against the Kingdom of Thailand and the Republic of Egypt.

WFW Asia-Pacific region dispute resolution head and partner Steven Burkill said: “Nathan is an exceptional lawyer and a true expert in his field. His arrival fits perfectly with the firm’s strategy of adding dispute resolution capabilities to complement our sector focus.

“His recognised experience in seabed mining aligns with our longstanding expertise in maritime, energy and mining and commodities. We are looking for Nathan to play a leading role for us in building out our investor-state arbitration offering.”

The firm’s Sydney office head, Robert Williams, added: “I am delighted to welcome Nathan to Sydney, where his arrival highlights to both the Australian and APAC legal markets WFW’s commitment to building our platform in Sydney and a first-class global arbitration practice across our international network.”

VIEW ALL

And Mr Eastwood noted: “I am thrilled to be joining WFW, which, with its longstanding maritime and energy sector expertise, provides a truly exciting and distinct platform from which to expand my international disputes practice, especially in energy transition and mining in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

“I greatly look forward to working with all my new colleagues to help cement WFW’s standing as the firm to watch in the international arbitration space.”