Charles' experience has included representing:

Arbitrations involving Sovereigns

The government of Georgia in parallel ICC and ICSID (ARB/20/28 – Bob Meijer v. Georgia) arbitration proceedings brought respectively by a local investment vehicle and its Dutch indirect minority shareholder in connection with a dispute arising out of the termination of an investment agreement to build and operate a deep-sea port;

The government of Georgia in a pending arbitration brought under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules pursuant to the 1996 Georgia-Kazakhstan BIT and the Energy Charter Treaty relating to a dispute over the regulation of gas tariffs;

A publicly listed Canadian mining company in annulment proceedings before the French courts of long-running ICSID arbitration (Gold Reserve Inc. v. Venezuela), under the Canada-Venezuela BIT, relating to one of the world’s largest undeveloped gold/copper deposits;

A German company in an arbitration against an Eastern European State, pursuant to a bilateral investment treaty, arising out of the State's treatment of the German company's investments in the host State;

Hungary in the successful defense of the claims in Vigotop Ltd. v. Hungary, an ICSID arbitration arising under the Hungary-Cyprus bilateral investment treaty relating to the alleged expropriation of the concession to a "mega casino" project;

The government of Georgia in Gardabani Holdings B.V. and Silk Road Holdings B.V v. Georgia, an ICSID arbitration under the Netherlands-Georgia BIT relating to the regulation of electricity tariffs;

The government of Georgia in an SCC arbitration brought by a major Russian energy company in relation to a dispute over electricity tariffs;

The government of Georgia in Karmer Marble Tourism Construction Industry and Commerce Limited Liability Company v. Georgia, an ICSID arbitration arising out of alleged breaches of Georgia's treaty obligations to the claimant, in connection with the construction of a motorway and the concession of a hotel in the Autonomous Republic of Adjara;

The government of Georgia in two ICSID cases (Itera International Energy LLC and Itera Group NV v. Georgia), arising out of alleged breaches of Georgia's treaty obligations to the claimants, suppliers of natural gas;

The Republic of Bulgaria in Plama Consortium Limited v.Republic of Bulgaria, an ICSID arbitration which resulted in the successful defense of claims brought under the Energy Charter Treaty and a BIT;

A former Soviet Republic in an UNCITRAL arbitration brought against it by an individual under that country's foreign investment statute, in connection with the alleged expropriation of such individual's assets;

A Middle Eastern infrastructure investor in claims against an African State;

A consortium of major Western European contractors, in an ad hoc arbitration against a Southern European State, arising out of the construction of a motorway; and

A major petroleum company in a PSA dispute involving the Russian Federation.

Other construction and energy-related experiences

The main contractor on one of the world's largest infrastructure projects located in Central America, in a series of proceedings before the project's Dispute Adjudication Board (DAB) and related ICC arbitrations against the employer, worth in excess of US$2 billion;

A consortium comprising a European supplier and North African contractor, in disputes against a State-owned energy company arising out the EPC supply of a power plant in a North African country;

The owner of an oil & gas field in Kazakhstan who was in dispute with the supplier of commissioning, operating, and maintenance services for a gas treatment plant;

A European construction company in an ICC arbitration regarding the construction of a hydroelectric project in Chile;

A Spanish contractor in an ICC arbitration arising out of the EPC construction of an oil refinery;

An American firm of consulting engineers in relation to disputes over their design and construction management of underground gas storage facility in France;

A Western European contractor, in a dispute and mediation arising out of the construction of a specific facility within an olefin production complex in the Middle-East;

A Western European contractor, in an ICC arbitration arising out of the construction of a stadium in Eastern Europe;

An oil company in an equity redetermination dispute in the context of the unitization of oil blocks in an offshore oil field in Africa;

A Middle-Eastern company in an ICC arbitration arising out of the termination of a chemical industry joint-venture in Egypt with a Western European partner;

A Western European mining concern, in a dispute arising out of design and construction advisory services provided to a North African operator of a lead smelting plant; and

A Japanese contractor, in various claims arising out of a contract for public works in Dubai.

Other disputes experience

The founder and minority shareholder of a retail chain in a former Soviet Republic, in a dispute with the majority shareholders arising out of the performance of a shareholders' agreement;

A Middle-Eastern family business in a dispute with a former partner regarding the ownership of assets in France and Africa;

The purchaser of a French manufacturer of specialty food products, in a post-M&A arbitration against the seller, in connection with inaccurate representations and warranties; and

A North African mining company, in a dispute arising out of a long-term supply agreement with a North American customer.