Thomas is a commercial litigator, working with clients to resolve complex disputes through litigation and arbitration.

He has a wide range of experience, which spans international commercial arbitration, multi-jurisdictional bondholder proceedings, international investment law, joint venture disputes, telecommunications and engineering arbitrations and energy and mining disputes.

Thomas joined Bell Gully after spending seven years in New York and London. He began his career in New Zealand, clerking for the Rt Hon Sir Ivor Richardson, the President of New Zealand's Court of Appeal. After working for another New Zealand law firm, he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study at New York University. He subsequently worked in the London offices of two New York law firms — Debevoise & Plimpton LLP and Dewey & LeBoeuf — where he concentrated on international commercial arbitration and was promoted to the position of counsel.

Qualifications

BA, LLB (Hons), Victoria University of Wellington
LLM, New York University

Admitted

2002 New Zealand
2006 England and Wales (non-practising)

International Career

  • Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, London
    2004-2005
  • Dewey & LeBoeuf, London
    2005-2010

Contact

Email: Thomas Geuther

DDI: +64 9 916 8989

Download Vcard: Vcard for Thomas Geuther

Areas of Expertise

Work Highlights

Gustav FW Hamester GmbH & Co KG v Republic of Ghana
Acting as counsel for the Government of Ghana in a €140 million ICSID arbitration arising under the bilateral investment treaty between Ghana and Germany, with the tribunal dismissing all claims against the Government.

UNCITRAL arbitration
Acting as counsel for a South-East Asian Government in an UNCITRAL arbitration, with the tribunal ruling that the Government was entitled to terminate a US$5 billion gold and copper mining concession agreement unless the foreign investors complied with their obligation to sell down their stake in the project company.

Multi-jurisdictional noteholder enforcement and insolvency proceedings
Managing a US$300 million noteholder enforcement dispute arising from a default on guaranteed secured notes, including multiple proceedings in Russia, London and Cyprus.

Complex telecommunications and engineering dispute
Representing one of the world's largest project management contractors in a series of ad hoc arbitrations and related proceedings arising from a £1.2 billion telecommunications project.

Joint venture ICC arbitration
Acting as counsel for a Brazilian cement company in an ICC arbitration in Paris, defeating a US$100 million claim which raised complex issues under US and Brazil GAAP.

Recent New Zealand experience
Representing a New Zealand property investor in a construction arbitration and advising major New Zealand corporations on contractual, insurance and electricity disputes.