U.S. and England and Wales qualified partner brings Indonesian experience
Global law firm Reed Smith has announced the appointment of Charles Ball to its partnership. Charles will join the firm’s global Energy & Natural Resources Group, based in Singapore, further strengthening Reed Smith’s presence in South East Asia. Charles joins from Herbert Smith Freehills.
With more than 12 years of experience in Asia, based first in Tokyo and then for the past six years in Jakarta, Charles advises companies in the energy and natural resources sector on disputes, crisis management and compliance issues - with a primary focus on regulatory compliance and country risk issues. He has specific expertise providing support to companies operating in Indonesia.
Charles is dual-qualified in the United States (New York and Massachusetts) and England and Wales, and is admitted as an Arbitrator of the Indonesian National Arbitration Board (since 2010). His clients include foreign oil and gas, oil and mining services and construction companies. He has appeared as an advocate and has achieved successful results before courts, arbitral tribunals, and in mediations in the United States, Japan, the Middle East and Indonesia.
Indonesia – the largest South East Asian economy – is a primary target for foreign investors. With record-breaking FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) into the country, Charles's appointment allows Reed Smith better coverage in the region.
Reed Smith’s energy and natural resources practice has grown significantly in recent years. The arrival of eight high-profile partners brings the number of lawyers focusing exclusively on this sector to more than 120. Moreover, the firm’s expansion into Singapore and Houston (in October 2012 and January 2013, respectively) gives the firm strength in depth to support the firm’s clients in the sector from these regional hubs.
Kyri Evagora, Reed Smith partner and co-head of the firm’s Energy & Natural Resources Group, commented:
“Many of our energy and natural resources clients have significant interests and operations across Asia, and in particular South East Asia, and it is important that we can support them wherever they do business. Charles' experience across the region, and especially in Indonesia, helps us to considerably strengthen our offering to these clients.”
Gautam Bhattacharyya, office managing partner of the firm’s Singapore office, commented:
“Our Singapore office is very important for us strategically, and our team is known for its very strong industry sector expertise and its experience across Asia. Charles’s attributes, and his Indonesian experience in particular, will be a great addition to our Singapore-based team and will be invaluable for our clients.”
Charles’s arrival follows that of market-leading trade finance lawyer Jonathan Solomon, who recently joined the firm’s London office from Dentons.
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