Sam Firmin is an Associate in Gibson Dunn's London office and a member of the firm's International Arbitration and Judgment and Arbitral Award Enforcement practice groups.
Sam represents clients in high-value international commercial arbitrations under all major institutional rules, as well as in ad hoc proceedings. His practice has a particular focus on disputes in the mining, natural resources and construction sectors, and on shareholder and joint venture disputes. Sam also has extensive experience in the cross-border enforcement of arbitral awards and in resisting enforcement, including proceedings in offshore jurisdictions.
Sam is dual-qualified as a solicitor of England and Wales and of the Supreme Court of Queensland, Australia.
Recent representations include:*
- Representing an international commodities trading and mining group in consolidated HKIAC arbitrations against a PRC state-owned enterprise concerning a poly-metallic mining project in Africa.
- Representing a global mining group in an ICC arbitration against a US coal producer arising from the purported termination of a multi-billion dollar sale of steelmaking coal assets in Australia.
- Representing the claimants in a long-running ad hoc arbitration seated in London arising out of a long-term gas sales and purchase contract with a state-owned oil company, with claims valued in the billions of US dollars.
- Representing two privately owned mining companies in resisting the attachment of their assets by the assignee of ICC arbitral awards against a sovereign state, under which sums in excess of US$350 million are claimed to be outstanding.
- Acting for a Middle Eastern state-owned railway company in an ICC arbitration against an international construction consortium arising out of the design and construction of major metro stations, involving claims relating to delay, defective works, termination, and recovery of completion costs.
- Defending members of an international financial services group in English Commercial Court proceedings alleging deceit, intimidation and unlawful means conspiracy in connection with the sale of a minority shareholding in a payments business.
In addition to his client work, Sam maintains an active pro bono practice. He is a member of the Domestic Abuse Response Alliance, and has also acted for the Public International Law and Policy Group.
Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Sam worked in the Arbitration team at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan in London. Before that, he practised at a boutique litigation firm in Australia, acting for clients in the building and construction sector, and appearing regularly in the District, Supreme and Federal Circuit Courts of Queensland.
*Some of these representations occurred prior to Samuel's association with Gibson Dunn.
Capabilities
Credentials
Education:
- Queensland University of Technology - 2015 Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice
- Queensland University of Technology - 2015 Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)
Admissions:
- England & Wales - Solicitor