Zachary Song

Partner

New York

+1 212 506 3900

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Areas of Work

International Arbitration, Commercial Litigation, Judgment Enforcement & Asset Recovery, Energy Litigation

Languages

Korean

Overview

Zachary Song is experienced in conducting international arbitrations and advising on disputes in the construction sectors, as well as general commercial arbitrations.

Zachary is a New York-qualified lawyer who worked in New York, London, Singapore, Seoul, and Bangkok. He has a proven track record of successfully representing international clients in international arbitrations administered under the ICC, LCIA, SIAC, SCC, UNCITRAL, and KCAB rules. He has also represented clients in ad hoc tribunals and niche domestic arbitration rules required under national construction projects. Zachary is a pragmatic problem solver and has also represented clients in complex mediations administered by the Singapore Mediation Centre.

Zachary particularly has experience in the construction sector and helps clients in their disputes from the beginning stages of a project with contract administration and onwards to issues such as delay, project management and joint venture related problems and other claims arising out of construction projects. Zachary works very closely with his clients to advise on difficult negotiations with owners, subcontractors and other counterparties. He acutely understands the commercial and on-site realities of his clients when advising on legal positions to be taken against the particular counterparty.

Zachary sits as a registered panel arbitrator of the Thailand Arbitration Center (THAC), serves as mediator of the International Division of the Korea Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB), and is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Singapore) and the Society of Construction Law (CIArb Singapore). He is also a panel lawyer for the Ministry of Law of South Korea regarding Singapore related matters. Zach is also frequent speaker on arbitration issues internationally.

As a committee member and advisor to the Korean Association in Singapore, Zachary assists the Korean community in Singapore on a pro bono basis.

US District Court, Southern District of New York
Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, First Judicial Department
District of Columbia
New Jersey
Registered Foreign Lawyer, England and Wales

J.D., Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
B.A., University of Virginia, Economics and Foreign Affairs

Areas of Work

Representative Matters

Represented a South Korean solar panel manufacturing conglomerate as Claimant in an arbitration under SIAC rules against an Indian subcontractor for breach of an offshore subcontract for delay of construction of a Philippines based solar plant.
Represented a South Korean steel manufacturing company as a co-defendant in a Singapore seated ad hoc arbitration under the 2013 UNCITRAL rules in defense against an Indonesian company regarding the breach of a steel sale and purchase agreement for a large-scale Indonesian government project.
Represented a Singapore dredging company against a subcontractor for excessive claims made for dredging activities for a major Singapore reclamation project.
Represented an Asian company against a joint venture partner in a dispute arising out of delays and financial and managerial issues of a major infrastructure project in Singapore.
Represented a South Korean conglomerate in an arbitration claim against the Ministry of Transport of the Government of Azerbaijan under LCIA rules for non-payment for the installation of a smart transportation system in Azerbaijan.
Represented a major Indonesian state owned enterprise in claims against its main contractors for failure to meet schedule for the construction of a mega energy project in Indonesia.
Represented a Philippines company as defendant in an arbitration with an Indian construction company regarding various claims including insurance claims and tax claims arising out of a solar power plant in the Philippines under the CIAC rules.
Represented an Indonesian company as defendant in a dispute with a South Korean conglomerate regarding the breach of a joint venture agreement for the development of palm oil plantations in Indonesia in view of an arbitration under the SIAC rules.
Represented a South Korean conglomerate in an arbitration claim in relation to the supply of heavy industry equipment against Russian and British defendants regarding the supply of heavy industry equipment under the SCC rules.
Represented a Singapore petrochemical trading company as claimant against a Chinese buyer in an arbitration under the expedited rules of SIAC for claims of unpaid demurrage by the buyer that was asserting off-specification goods delivery by the claimant.
Represented a Korean conglomerate against an Indonesian buyer as seller of steel in an arbitration under the expedited rules of the SIAC for the non-delivery of steel although an import ban in Indonesia was implemented on the particular steel to be delivered.
Represented a South Korean conglomerate as claimant in an arbitration claim against a Japanese insurance company regarding non-payment of trade credit insurance proceeds under the SIAC rules which involved proving highly fact intensive trade practice details.

Speaking Engagements

"Managing Adverse Physical Conditions and Increased Costs in Singapore Consturction Projects," Singapore, February 1, 2024
"Award Enforcement in Hong Kong/Singapore and Hurdles in the Arbitration Process," Singapore, January 31, 2024
"What Does the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership Mean for Investment?, Steptoe joint webinar, November 29, 2023
"US and International Dispute Resolution: Cross-Border Technology Protection, Intellectual Property Enforcement and International Arbitration," Seoul ADR Festival 2023, October 31, 2023