Charlie Lightfoot is a partner and solicitor advocate in the Dispute Resolution group of White & Case in London. Highlighted as "a rising star" in UK Legal 500 2011, he is a specialist in international commercial litigation and arbitration. His focus is upon complex, cross-border matters and his experience covers disputes in various industry sectors, including financial services, telecommunications, energy and defence.

In addition to his practice in international arbitration and the English High Court, Charlie has also acted for clients in a number of offshore jurisdictions including Cayman and the British Virgin Islands.

Charlie is a specialist in conflicts of laws issues. He regularly advises on governing law, jurisdictional and enforcement questions and has extensive experience dealing with forum issues both in England and abroad. Charlie regularly lectures on these topics.

Charlie also frequently advises on contractual questions and issues arising out of the Firm's extensive transactional practice, particularly in relation to financing documentation, having been seconded for a period to the litigation department of a major investment bank.

Examples of recent representations in litigation and international arbitration include:

• Representing a defence contractor in international arbitration in connection with a substantial claim arising out of the cancellation of a contract by a state entity;
• Acting for a major investment bank in proceedings in the Commercial Court concerning a contractual dispute;
• Acting for an English PLC in a claim arising out of its treatment of rival take-over bids pursuant to auction process under the Takeover Code;
• Acting for the claimant in High Court proceedings in London and Cayman in relation to a complex shareholders’ dispute;
• Acting for a bank in relation to enforcement of guarantees against a Kazakh state entity;
• Acting for a Cypriot claimant in High Court proceedings concerning contractual rights to release of escrow funds;
• Acting for the defendant oil major in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and Court of Appeal in relation to a claim brought by minority shareholders in Russian based operating subsidiaries;
• Acting for the Turkish claimant in relation to fraud proceedings in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and Russian arbitrazh and cassation courts;
• Acting for the claimant in ICC arbitration proceedings in London regarding a contractual dispute concerning gas fields in Colombia;
• Acting for a Caribbean state entity in ICC arbitration proceedings in London regarding a contractual dispute with an industrial contractor;
• Acting for the claimant in LCIA arbitration proceedings in London in relation to a contractual dispute over oil rights; and
• Acting for the claimant in ICC arbitration proceedings in Stockholm in relation to a contractual dispute following industry privatisation by a foreign State.

Bars and Courts
England and Wales, 2001

Education
MA, Oxford University, 2002
LPC, Oxford Institute of Legal Practice, 1998
BA, Keble College, Oxford University, 1997

Languages
English

Citizenship
British