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Maximilian G. Rockall
Partner
Max Rockall is a member of the firm’s Global Management Board and co-head of the London arbitration team working from London and Singapore.
He is described as an “energy arbitration expert”, an “energy industry specialist”, an “energy disputes expert”, “a top notch practitioner”, “very good”, “an emerging top lawyer in the LNG space”, “one of the most diligent and responsive lawyers I’ve ever met, with outstanding knowledge in the LNG field (as well as dispute resolution)”, and a lawyer who “can always be relied upon for his expertise and efficiency” with “great knowledge and experience”.
He is recognised as a Future Leader (Partners) in Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration.
Max has 14 years of energy, gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) experience. He is an energy specialist, strategist and arbitration hearing advocate, advising on an extensive book of cases, including (i) natural gas and LNG price renegotiations, arbitrations and expert determinations, (ii) missed cargo delivery disputes, (iii) force majeure claims, (iv) hardship issues, (v) cargo delays, shortfalls and contested diversions, (vi) disputed flexibility rights and valuations, (vii) fuel quality issues; and (viii) issues of wilful misconduct, as well as interpreting liquidated damages provisions in gas and LNG contracts.
He is also a specialist in technical, pricing and operational LNG cross examinations at arbitration hearings, as well as in developing price review renegotiation strategies to assist gas and LNG companies in preparing for, and participating in, price review negotiations. Max has advised on over 20 LNG price review matters with a specialist focus on Asian markets, working from London, Tokyo and Singapore. He is also the co-author of the leading price review chapter in “The Evolution of Natural Gas Price Review Arbitrations,” The Guide to Energy Arbitrations (5th ed.), Global Arbitration Review.
Max routinely advises energy companies and international corporations on new transactions, and contract portfolio reviews, providing advice on the impact of certain provisions and terminology in practice. He is a regular author and podcast contributor on energy trends and disputes with a particular focus on LNG contracts in the Asian gas markets.
He has considerable experience acting for international energy majors, power utilities, gas companies, traders, governments and state-owned companies in negotiations and arbitrations administered under the rules of all major institutions (ICC, UNCITRAL, HKIAC, LCIA and SIAC), under a broad range of applicable laws but specialising in English law matters.
LNG and Natural Gas
- Acting for a leading Japanese LNG buyer in a billion-US-dollar price review arbitration with Asia Pacific-based sellers.
- Acting for a leading Japanese LNG buyer with two price negotiations in two billion-US-dollar pricing negotiations with Asia Pacific-based sellers.
- Acting for a leading Japanese LNG buyer with its price negotiations in a billion-US-dollar pricing dispute with an Asia Pacific-based seller.
- Acting for a leading Japanese LNG buyer in change of circumstances negotiations with various Asia Pacific-based sellers.
- Acting for a leading Chinese LNG buyer with its price negotiations in a billion-US-dollar pricing dispute with an Asia Pacific-based seller.
- Acting for a leading Chinese LNG buyer with its three separate price negotiations in various billion-US-dollar pricing disputes with Asia Pacific-based sellers.
- Acting for a leading Chinese LNG buyer with an annual delivery programme (ADP) dispute with an Asia Pacific-based seller.
- Acting for a leading Chinese LNG buyer in an LNG flexibility dispute with an Asia Pacific-based seller.
- Acting for a leading Chinese LNG buyer with an ADP dispute with an Asia Pacific-based seller.
- Acting for a leading European LNG buyer in an LCIA arbitration concerning a US greenfield project commissioning dispute.
- Acting for a global LNG trader buyer in a dispute concerning LNG cargo shortfalls.
- Acting for a leading Chinese LNG buyer with its price negotiations in a billion-US-dollar pricing dispute with an Asia Pacific-based seller.
- Advising a Chinese terminal operator in respect of a potential missed cargo dispute against Asia-Pacific based sellers, including in relation to annual programming obligations.
- Advising a European energy company on price review negotiation strategy, including in relation to the application of a previous price review award on future price reviews.
- Advising a Japanese LNG buyer regarding annual programming obligations, potential missed cargoes, and declarations of force majeure.
- Advising a Chinese LNG buyer on sanctions related issues under a long-term SPA.
- Advising an Asia-Pacific LNG project operator on its price review strategy under a long-term LNG SPA.
- Representing a Chinese LNG buyer in an ICC arbitration in relation to cargo deliveries under a long-term gas supply contract with an Asia Pacific-based seller.
- Acting for a major state-owned Chinese LNG buyer in an English law multimillion-US-dollar dispute in relation to the pricing of, and cargo deliveries under, a long-term gas supply contract with an Australasian seller.
- Acting for a major state-owned Chinese LNG buyer in an English law multimillion-US-dollar dispute in relation to cargo deliveries under a long-term gas supply contract with an Asia Pacific seller.
- Acting for a major European LNG buyer with its price negotiations in a billion-US-dollar pricing dispute with a Middle Eastern seller.
- Acting for a major European LNG buyer in an English law multimillion-US-dollar long-term SPA price dispute with a Middle Eastern seller.
- Acting for a major European gas buyer in an English law multimillion-US-dollar long-term SPA price dispute with a North African seller.
- Acting for a leading European LNG buyer in an English law multimillion-US-dollar “baseball” arbitration under a long-term gas supply agreement.
- Advising a South American oil company on the merits of injunctive relief in the English courts in support of a foreign arbitration.
- Acting for an energy company in the Middle East in a multimillion-US-dollar oil pipeline dispute.
Corporate and Commercial
- Assisting counsel in a leading English High Court decision on challenges to arbitrators under the IBA Rules on Conflicts of Interest in International Arbitration: Sierra Fishing v. Farran [2015] EWHC 140 (Comm), [2015] 1 All ER (Comm).
- Assisting with an arbitration in London under the LCIA Rules regarding an alleged breach of an investment services deed.
- Acting for a European telecommunications company in an action involving breaches of various shareholder warranties under a sale and purchase agreement. The dispute was the subject of an arbitration under the ICC Rules.
- Assisting on a multimillion-US-dollar shareholder dispute for a leading media and advertising agency over the breach and enforceability of restrictive covenants in a share purchase agreement.
- Acting for a leading banking institution obtaining a freezing injunction order.
Education
- BPP Law School, L.P.C., 2010
- BPP Law School, Graduate Diploma in Law, 2009
- University of Leeds, B.A., 2008
Memberships & Affiliations
- Member, Young International Council for Commercial Arbitration, the ICC Young Arbitrators Forum and the ICDR Young & International
- Recognized in Chambers Global 2025 as Up and Coming for International Arbitration
- Chambers UK 2025 describes Max as “very good” and “an emerging top lawyer in the LNG space”.
- Listed as Up and Coming in Chambers UK 2025 and Chambers Global 2025 and is noted for his expertise in energy arbitrations, particularly regarding gas pricing. He has experience under a variety of rules including ICC, UNCITRAL, HKIAC, LCIA and SIAC.
- Recognised as an Arbitration Future Leader by Lexology Index 2024 & 2026.
- Legal 500 2024 describes Max as an “energy arbitration expert” and “energy disputes expert”.
- Legal 500 2023 notes that Max “can always be relied upon for his expertise and efficiency” and that he has “great knowledge and experience.”
- Legal 500 2022 describes him as “one of the most diligent and responsive lawyers I’ve ever met, with outstanding knowledge in the LNG field (as well as dispute resolution) and a friendly character” and “… available seven days a week at any time, picking up the technicalities of the case with ease.”
- Legal 500 2021 describes him as “outstanding in delivering quick accurate information and management, pulling together a first class team from those at his disposal, ensuring the right people are on the job and the required service is quickly and efficiently being executed. His relaxed yet highly professional management approach gives confidence the job is being resourced and executed as best it can. His attention to detail and quick understanding of the brief is first class, he is a pleasure to deal with.”
- Legal 500 2020 describes him as “heavily dedicated and clearly on top of all aspects of cases – he will go far.”
- GAR 100, 15th Edition, notes, “Partner Maximilian Rockall in London is a ‘diligent and responsible lawyer with a bright and cheerful personality’.”
- Speaker, GAR Live Energy, "Life During Wartime: Work in War Zones", 3 July 2024.
- Speaker, Global Disputes Summit, Navigating Disputes in Cross-Border Energy Projects, 1 July 2024.
- Co-author, Preparing for LNG Oversupply, Gasworld 13 June 2024.
- Speaker, Slovak Gas and Oil Association Workshop, Bratislava, May 2024.
- Speaker, ICC YAAF: Energy Arbitrations in a Time of Crisis and Transition, London, December 2023.
- Speaker, Institut für Energie und Regulierungsrecht Berlin “Gas Supply in Europe – A Market in Flux”, Berlin, November 2023.
- Speaker, SIAC “Asian Gas Disputes: Trends for a New Market Era”, Singapore June 2023.
- Co-author, “The Evolution of Natural Gas Price Review Arbitrations,” The Guide to Energy Arbitrations (5th ed.), Global Arbitration Review, August 2022.
- Co-author, “Force Majeure Issues in Today’s Gas Market”, Global Arbitration Review, July 2022.
- Co-author, “The Asia LNG Market: Ongoing Impact of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict”, Squire Patton Boggs Insight, June 2022.
- Co-author, “Gas Payment Issues in Europe: What Are the Next Steps?” Global Arbitration Review, May 2022.
- Podcast presenter, “Podcast: The Impact of Russia/Ukraine Conflict – Energy Supply and Impact on the Global Gas Market”, Squire Patton Boggs Now and Next Podcast, April 2022.
- Co-author, “Impact of the Russian-Ukrainian Conflict on the Global Gas Market and Solutions for the Way Forward”, Squire Patton Boggs Insight, April 2022.
- Author, “To Arbitrate, or Not to Arbitrate, That is the Question”, Squire Patton Boggs Insight, March 2022.
- Co-author, “Are Traditional Asian LNG Contracts Equipped to Deal With Extreme Price and Demand Volatility?” Squire Patton Boggs Insight, January 2022.
- Author, “Strategic Considerations for Price Review Success”, Squire Patton Boggs Insight, September 2021.
- Co-author, “COVID-19 and LNG Contracts”, Squire Patton Boggs Insight, April 2020.
- Co-author, “Gas and LNG Alert: All Hands to Contract Management Stations”, Squire Patton Boggs Insight, April 2020.
- Co-author, “Material Adverse Change Clauses Amid the COVID-19 Outbreak”, Squire Patton Boggs Insight, April 2020.
- Co-author, “Eastward movement of gas prices means the transition of LNG disputes from Europe to Asia”, LNG Journal, January 2020.
- Author, “New IBA Guidelines on Conflicts of Interest in International Arbitration: An Overview of the Main Changes”, International Arbitration Bulletin, December 2014.
- Author, “Public Eye: New Transparency Rules unveiled for Investor-State Arbitrations”, Lexology and International Arbitration Newsletter, November 2013.
- Author, “A Frustrating Decision: English Court of Appeal refuses to intervene in arbitration award”, International Arbitration Newsletter, July 2013.
- Author, “Tasting your own medicine? Case C-457/10 P AstraZeneca AB and AstraZeneca plc v European Commission”, Law Lore & Practice, May 2013.