Thomas Smithurst is a U.S.-qualified lawyer with deep experience in China.
Thomas previously worked within the China practice of a leading U.S. litigation firm, where his practice covered arbitration, general business disputes, and white collar defense and investigations. Thomas also has experience working in-house for a tech startup, with a heavy focus on IP-related issues.
Before entering the legal profession, Thomas served in the Australian military, with some of his last work involving interpreting under the Australian Defence Attaché to China.
- Associate, Peter & Kim (2024 – Present)
- In-House Counsel, Sirius-beta, Brisbane (2023 to 2024)
- Foreign Legal Consultant, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, Shanghai (2016 to 2021)
- Juris Doctor, University of Chicago (2023)
- Master of Laws, University of Chicago (2015)
- Juris Master, Peking University (2013)
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Australian Defence Force Academy (2000)
- Represented a Korean construction company in an ICC arbitration seated in
London concerning the construction of an electrical substation in Iraq. - Represented Viet Nam in an investor-state arbitration concerning a court
decision to set aside an arbitral award. - Represented an Indonesian gas pipeline operator in connection with potential
proceedings against an arbitral award rendered by an ICC tribunal seated in
Hong Kong. - Represented a Korean heavy manufacturing company in an ICDR arbitration brought by two U.S. companies regarding a contract to supply wind turbines.
- Represented a Swiss private bank in a CAA arbitration seated in Taipei in a
dispute with a Taiwanese life insurance company concerning a banking mandate and related security agreement. - Represented a Middle Eastern branch of a Chinese bank in litigation filed in a
federal district court in California concerning, in part, payment on a letter of
credit for an allegedly fraudulent international sale-of-goods transaction. - Represented a Chinese biotech company in court litigation filed in Delaware
against a U.S. clinical research organisation relating to a biologics drug trial in the United States. - Represented employees of a commodities trading company in connection with
parallel investigations by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission
and the U.S. Department of Justice into alleged trading irregularities. - Represented a former executive of an offshore and marine construction
company in connection with investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice and Singapore Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau.
“Tech Giants Reined In: China Tightens Antimonopoly Regulation of Digital Platforms”, Journal of European Competition Law & Practice, 2 July 2021
James Morrison and Thomas Smithurst, “Swiping Right to Arbitration: An
Imperfect Match?”, Kluwer Arbitration Blog, 20 February 2025 (anticipated).