Charles has been arbitrating since 2002, under LMAA, ICC, GAFTA and FOSFA Rules; he also takes appointments in ad hoc references. Charles has recently become a member of the panel of arbitrators in the Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration.
Since 2002, Charles has either decided or appeared in 200 references, ranging from small values to USD30m. He has had several of his Awards approved on reference up to the Courts, among which most recently:
Soufflet Negoce v Bunge [2011] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 531 on the readiness of the vessel in fob sales.
The Darya Radhe [2009] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 175 on dangerous goods in the carriage of goods by sea.
Sanhe Hope v Toepfer [2008] 1 Lloyds Rep 458 on the measure of damages in sale contracts.
Charles has written prolifically in his areas of expertise, concentrating in particular on the complex relationships between charterparties and bills of lading and the underlying contracts of sale and letters of credit. His writing has frequently been cited in courts in the UK and abroad, most recently in:
Profindo Pte Ltd v Abani Trading Pte Ltd 2013 SGHC 10, Court of Appeal, Singapore
AP Moller-Maersk v Sonaec Villas [2011] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 1 on straight bills of lading.
The Mercini Lady [2009] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 679 on certificate final clauses.
The Rafaela S [2005] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 347 on straight bills of lading.
The Starsin [2003] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 371 on the identity of the carrier in cargo claims.
Uco Bank v Golden Shore Transportation [2005] SGCA 42, Singapore Court of Appeals, on the endorsement of bills of lading.
Major publications include:
Sale of Ships under the Singapore Form, [with F. Lorenzon], Lexis-Nexis, 2013
Maritime Law, Sweet and Maxwell, 2011, co-author
Transfer of Property in International Sales (ICC-Paris, 2010), co-author
The Rotterdam Rules: A Practical Annotation, Informa 2009, co-author
Bills of Lading in Export Trade, Tottel Publishing, third edition January 2009
Halsbury’s Laws of England, vol 4, Carriage and Carriers; November 2008
Halsbury’s Laws of England, vol 41, Sale of Goods and Supply of Services, 2005
Halsbury’s Laws of England, vol. 43(2), Shipping and Navigation, 1997, with Hardy
Registered European Lawyer with Bar of England and Wales (2004) (Middle Temple)
Advocate at the Bar in Malta (1978)
Formerly Professor of Commercial Law at the University of Southampton (to 2011)
Charles read Law at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar (MA, 1983) (BA 1979) and in Malta (LLD 1977)
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