A key figure in international investment arbitration and commercial arbitration, Charles Kaplan is joining ASAFO & CO.’s Paris office with Tunde Oyewole. The team has worked together for over 10 years and is also familiar with many of ASAFO & CO.’s founding partners who launched the Firm, now in its fifth year.

With over thirty years of experience, Charles has acted in some of the world’s largest disputes, primarily advising major energy, infrastructure and industrial key players active in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere. His experience includes conducting arbitrations on oil production sharing agreements, gas pricing disputes, EPC contracts, tax stabilization agreements, international joint ventures, as well as aircraft development programs. He has in-depth experience of arbitrations under all major arbitral rules, including ICC, ICSID, and LCIA rules, among others, and regularly sits as arbitrator.

Charles is a barrister (England & Wales) and a French avocat. Prior to joining ASAFO & CO. Charles led the Paris arbitration team at Orrick (2013-2023). His experience has also included working at Herbert Smith Freehills (1996-2013) where he co-headed the international arbitration practice and at Coudert Frères where he started his career.

Tunde represents investors, developers, States and companies in post-M&A, corporate shareholder, foreign investment and intellectual property disputes in a number of sectors, including energy and power, infrastructure, telecommunications and natural resources. He has acted in arbitrations all over the world, including in Africa, where his practice has grown in recent years.

Tunde is admitted to the New York and Paris bars and is fluent in English, French and Portuguese. He has over 13 years of experience and started his career at Freshfields (2010-2013) before he joined Orrick (2013-2023) where he was Of Counsel.

Charles’ and Tunde’s arrival marks an important milestone in the development of ASAFO & CO.’s dispute resolution practice. Not only will their track record give the Firm the needed bench strength to accelerate its arbitration practice globally and in Africa, but their addition will also generate synergies with the existing team in Paris, particularly in arbitrations involving energy, natural resources and international public law issues, and international commercial disputes, generally. The Firm’s positioning as a global arbitration player is further enhanced by Charles’ and Tunde’s diverse backgrounds and experience of both the common and civil law systems, which will allow them to work seamlessly alongside teams in other offices.

For further information please contact Karin Wiig at kwiig@asafoandco.com.