Wooseok Shin
Image of Wooseok Shin

Wooseok Shin

Associate

Email

wooseok.shin@aoshearman.com

Phone

+65 6671 6011

Offices

Singapore

V-CARD

Wooseok works on complex cross-border disputes, including high value international commercial arbitrations, investor-state arbitrations and related court litigations such as challenge to, and enforcement of arbitral awards.

Wooseok has worked on disputes spanning multiple sectors like foreign investment protection, infrastructure, joint ventures, energy, technology, finance, and pharmaceuticals arbitrated under the major arbitral rules (like SIAC, ICSID, ICC, LCIA, and UNCITRAL) and involving various jurisdictions such as Korea, China, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, England, and Vietnam. Wooseok publishes and speaks on dispute-resolution topics, including as a panel speaker on Singapore Convention on Mediation at the UNCITRAL Government Capacity Workshop and at the Annual Conference of Asian Society of International Law.

Wooseok serves as a Committee Member of the CIArb Young Members Group for the 2026–2028 term. He is admitted to practise in New York and speaks English, Korean, and Chinese. He received a Chinese Government Scholarship to complete his LL.B. at Tsinghua University and a full-merit-based scholarship from JAMS to complete his Master of Laws (LL.M.) at Pepperdine Caruso School of Law.

Experience

Representative matters

Investor-State arbitration, and related litigation:
  • Korea National Oil Corporation and its subsidiaries in an ICSID treaty arbitration against the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The claim concerns the frustration of the client's investments in the energy sector and acts of State organs.
  • The Republic of Korea in a high-profile investment treaty dispute against a Chinese businessman who was imprisoned in Korea after being convicted of embezzlement, misconduct, and fraud.
  • A Southeast Asian state in a treaty dispute involving a highly valuable real estate project in that state.
  • The Republic of Korea in post-award proceedings before the Singapore International Commercial Court in respect of an investment treaty dispute with Mason Capital, involving corruption allegations against the highest officials of the Korean government.
  • A Japanese conglomerate on the strategic structuring of its prospective investments in the ASEAN region to optimise treaty-based protections.
  • A Thai power producer, a Korean state-owned company, and an international commercial bank on the feasibility of claims under investment arbitration and/or commercial arbitration schemes.
International commercial arbitration, and related litigation:
  • A Singapore AI-technology company and its Chinese parent on an ICC arbitration against a Chinese technology company in respect of the dispute arising from the breach of several software development agreements.
  • A Korean pharmaceutical companies on SIAC proceedings in Singapore brought by a Chinese company in respect of the dispute arising from the joint venture frameworks.
  • A Korean conglomerate on the feasibility of commercial arbitration claims arising from the supply agreements affected by foreign sanctions.
  • A Japanese corporation on the feasibility of commercial arbitration claims under distributorship agreement.

Pro bono

Wooseok frequently acts as a guest arbitrator for the FDI Investment Arbitration Moot Court and the Frankfurt Investment Arbitration Moot Court, in particular for the Chinese national rounds, mentoring student mooters.

Published Work

  • Wooseok Shin, 2026 (forthcoming), “Absence of the Reciprocity Precondition under the Singapore Convention on Mediation: Toward Congruent Implementation in Asia” in Asia and the Transformation of International Economic Law: New Rules, New Challenges, New Disputes, Vietnam: Asian Society of International Law
  • Ed Taylor, Jaehee Suh, Wooseok Shin, 2026, “Expedited and ‘Fast-Track’ Arbitrations: Efficiency at What Cost?”, Korea: KCAB International
  • Wooseok Shin, Rachel T. and Audrey L., 2025, “Chapter 13: Dispute Settlement I – A focus on mediation, conciliation and the Singapore Convention on Mediation” in Practical PIL: Public International Law and Its Implications for Businesses, Singapore: Jus Mundi
  • Wooseok Shin, 2025, “The Role of Mediation Institutions: Ensuring Enforceability under Article 5 of the Singapore Convention on Mediation”, Brisbane: Bond University

Speaking Engagements

  • Moderator, 7th Annual Conference of CIArb YMG East Asia Chapter – “Foreign Sanctions and Arbitration”, CIArb YMG East Asia Chapter, October 2026
  • Panelist, 10th Biennial Conference of the AsianSIL – “Absence of Reciprocity Precondition under the Singapore Convention on Mediation”, Asian Society of International Law, October 2025
  • Panelist, UNCITRAL Government Capacity Building Workshop – “Implementation of the Singapore Convention on Mediation”, UNCITRAL and Singapore Ministry of Law, August 2023

Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations

  • Committee Member (Secretary), Chartered Institute for Arbitrators Young Members Group Committee (Korea Chapter)

Awards

  • First Prize, CIETAC 13th Zhong Lun Cup International Arbitration Essay Competition, CIETAC (中国国际经济贸易委员会), 2025
  • Second Prize, 2nd KOCIA Essay Competition, Korean Council for International Arbitration (한국국제중재실무회)], 2022

Qualifications

Admissions

Attorney-at-law, New York, US, 2024

Academic

LLM, Master of Laws in International Arbitration, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine University, 2022

LLB, Bachelor of Laws (Chinese Law), Tsinghua University, 2021

BA, Business Administration and Economics, Tsinghua University, 2021

Languages

English, Korean, Chinese (Mandarin)
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.