Highly dependable and a pleasure to work with, extremely personable and the quality of his work is excellent.

Chambers Global

Biography

Charles Nairac is the Global Co-Head of White & Case's International Arbitration Practice. He advises on commercial and investor-state arbitration, with a focus on the construction and energy industries.

Charles has handled difficult cross-border disputes from Africa and Latin America to the Middle East and Central Eastern Europe, supporting a wide range of clients from governments to the owner of a family business. A citizen of Mauritius, the United Kingdom and France, Charles is fluent in English and French and is able to handle complex arbitrations in either language. He has been involved in international commercial and investment arbitrations under most of the major institutional rules, as well as in ad hoc arbitrations.

Charles is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Paris Journal of International Arbitration and serves on the boards of a number of organizations with worldwide recognition, among which are the Paris Arbitration Academy (Board of Directors), Africa International Legal Awareness (Advisory Board), Paris, the Home of International Arbitration (former Treasurer), and IBA (Recognition and Enforcement of Arbitral Awards Subcommittee).

Charles started his career as an M&A and finance lawyer and then served as in-house legal adviser for a French bank in Singapore. When he joined White & Case LLP in 2001, Charles focused his practice exclusively on international dispute resolution, but his experience with transactional work and in the day-to-day business of a major bank has given him an excellent understanding of the environment in which his clients operate.

Charles is recognized in leading legal directories such as Chambers, Legal 500, Lexology Index and Global Arbitration Review 100. He also teaches international arbitration at Sciences-Po Paris, Université de Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne and Panthéon-Assas.

Experience

Charles' experience has included representing:

Arbitrations involving Sovereigns

A Turkish supplier of power solutions against a West African State and its national power company, in a CCJA arbitration arising out of a contract for the long-term supply of power solutions.

A joint-venture of West-European contractors in an ICC arbitration brought against the airports authority of an East-African state, concerning disputes arising out of an EPC contract for airport construction works.

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.

A French contractor in an ad hoc arbitration against the government of an East-African state, concerning a dispute arising out of a contract for airport renovation works.

The government of Georgia in an 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.

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

Other construction and energy-related experiences

The owner of a thermal power plant in Cote d'Ivoire, in two ICC arbitrations arising of the construction of the plant.

The owner of a thermal power plant in Togo, in an ICC arbitration arising of the construction of the plant.

The owner of a mega shopping mall in the UAE, in a DIAC arbitration against the contractor JV arising out of the construction of the shopping mall.

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 of the EPC supply and construction of a power plant in a North African country.

The owner of an oil and gas field in Kazakhstan in a dispute that gave rise to three LCIA arbitrations against 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 an 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.

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

Other disputes experience

A French bank in a post-M&A dispute with the seller of the target acquired by the bank.

A manufacturer and distributor of specialty foods products in a post-M&A dispute and arbitration arising out its acquisition of a foodstuffs manufacturer.

The owner of a mega shopping mall in Dubai, in an ICC arbitration against one of its anchor tenants arising out of the market positioning of the store.

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.

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

Paris
CAPA
Paris Bar School
Diplôme d'Etudes Approfondies - Droit International Privé et Droit du Commerce International (Postgraduate Degree in International Law)
University of Paris II Panthéon-Assas
Maîtrise en Droit des Affaires
University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne
Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
King's College London
English
French

Band 1, Dispute Resolution, Africa wide, Chambers Global, 2026

Global Elite Thought Leader: Arbitration and Construction, Lexology Index, 2026

Hall of Fame, Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration (France)

Mentioned, Construction (France)
Legal 500, 2026

Band 1, International Arbitration, Chambers France, 2026

Leading Lawyer, International Arbitration, Leaders League, Décideurs Magazine, 2025

Recommended, International Arbitration, Option Droit & Affaires, 2025

"Charles is fantastic. He has great reasonability, integrity and is one of those counsel who's word a tribunal can take to the bank. His word is worth gold."

"Charles is a top advocate, a renowned practitioner and he leads a team that - in my view - is among the best."

"I rate Charles Nairac very highly. He always provides good advice."
Chambers France, 2026

"Charles Nairac is diligent, strategic and highly professional. He is also highly regarded for being a gentleman, which makes him one of the best Paris-based arbitrators. Moreover, his ability to handle both civil and common law jurisdictions adds to his versatility in arbitration."

"[He] is one of the most knowledgeable experts in the sector."

"[He] is recognised for his deep expertise in construction law and arbitration."
Legal 500, 2025

"Charles Nairac is a very good, constructive lawyer."

"[He] is an amazing lawyer."

"[He] is phenomenal."
Chambers France, 2025

"Charles Nairac is an industry veteran. His strategic insight on how to formulate defense is invaluable."
Legal 500, 2024

"Charles is exceptional for arbitration cases. He knows the key arguments we should focus on, he knows all peers in the market, he made an excellent speech in the hearing, and he is very experienced."

"The best thing for me was seeing his cross-examination and the way he deals with people - it is an absolute joy to watch."
Chambers, France, 2024

Charles Nairac is well reputed for his expertise in investor-state and commercial arbitrations across the construction, finance and energy sectors.
Legal 500, 2023

Charles Nairac is regularly instructed on complex arbitration cases and handles both investment and commercial arbitrations across a variety of jurisdictions, including in Eastern Europe and Central America.
Chambers Europe, 2023

Charles Nairac is admired among market commentators for his "impressive management of large and complex cases"
Lexology Index, 2022

Clients describe him as "highly dependable and a pleasure to work with", "extremely personable and the quality of his work is excellent"
Chambers Global, 2018

Charles is "charismatic, skilled and persuasive and therefore very effective during negotiations."
Chambers Global, 2017

He is praised for his "high analytical ability, his attention to even the slightest detail, his logical reasoning and sound judgement"
Chambers Global, 2016

Charles is "impressive and efficient"
Legal 500, 2016

"Construction Arbitration", 20 December 2017: CFA-40 Expert Series, Paris

"Third Party Funding: From the Ethical to the Financial Considerations" (keynote speaker), 27 April 2017: Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, Paris

"Africa & International Arbitration" (moderator), 25 April 2017: CFA/Paris, Home of International Arbitration Joint Conference, Paris

"Focus on the law Firms: (i) Challenges for African Arbitration Law Firms; (ii) Successes Stories in West Africa: Counsel's perspective; (iii) Co-Counseling: opportunities for Africa?", 20 April 2017: I-ARB West Africa International Arbitration Conference, Abidjan

"Comparative study of the public and arbitrability exceptions under Article V (2) of the New York Convention", 20 September 2016: IBA Conference, Washington DC

"Abuse of Process in International Arbitration and the Unwillingness of Counsel to Accept the Outcome of Arbitration in Sub-Saharan Africa - Damaging the Brand", 19 – 21 June 2016: 1st ICC Africa Regional Arbitration Conference, Lagos

"Constituting the Tribunal & Challenging Its Members: Due Process Issues and Concerns", 9 May 2016: ICCA Mauritius 2016, Pailles

"La place de Paris dans l'arbitrage interna-tional à l'épreuve de l'enquête QMUL 2025", Charles Nairac,  March 2025, (Co-author with Bogyung Hwang)

"How should the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak be managed on projects under FIDIC and NEC?", JD Supra, 31 March 2020 (Co-author with Dr. Markus Burianski, Dr. Dimitar Kondev, Yasmine El Achkar and Rebecca Shorter)

"Public Policy and the Enforceability of Arbitral Awards - To What Extent Do Arbitral Tribunals Take into Account Public Policy in the Jurisdictions of Prospective Enforcement of an Award? An Analysis of ICC Awards", ICC Dispute Resolution Bulletin, Issue 1, 2016 (Co-author with Elina Aleynikova and Manu Thadikkaran)

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