Charles has been a lawyer for over 40 years. He qualified in 1980 and was a partner in international law firms including Dechert LLP before establishing his own firm in 2005. He retired as a Solicitor in 2014 to concentrate his practice as arbitrator, adjudicator, lecturer in arbitration and ADR and advising on the avoidance and resolution of disputes.
Charles has extensive international experience as arbitrator and party representative especially, though not exclusively, in the construction sector.
He joined CIArb in 1980 and took the International Pathway to Fellowship. He has been a Chartered Arbitrator and member of the Presidential Panels since 2004 and is a member of the Faculty of Trainers.
Charles was the Chairman of the South East Branch in 2009. He was chair of the Examination Board in 2010 and Chairman of the Board of Management from 2011-13.
Elected at the Congress in 2012, he was the President of CIArb in 2015, the centenary year, a role he regards as an honour and one of the high points of his professional career.
He remains active as an Arbitrator and Adjudicator and spends a significant part of his time lecturing and running ADR training courses for CIArb, its branches and a number of universities.
Charles has three children and three grandsons with more expected. His interests include Manchester United, Italy and the never ending battle with his garden!