Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

Charles Golsong is a dispute resolution Counsel based in Pillsbury’s London office, focusing on international arbitration. Charles has a wide range of experience in all aspects of international arbitration, across a broad range of industry sectors (including energy, construction, infrastructure and petrochemicals). Charles has advised clients in numerous jurisdictions under the rules of major institutions including the LCIA, ICC, DIAC, SCC and UNCITRAL Rules. He also has experience in investor-state disputes, litigation (principally arbitration related) and regulatory investigations.

Chris Knight

Chris is an Asset Finance counsel with considerable experience acting for lessors, banks, funds, export credit agencies and airlines on a wide range of high-value, cross-border aircraft and engine finance transactions. Chris’ extensive transactional experience spans sale and leasebacks, finance and operating leases, novations, JOLCOs, Balthazar / ECA backed finance and lease structures, PDP, warehouse, and bridge financings (amongst others), OEM purchase agreements and engine maintenance and support agreements.

Deborah Ruff

Deborah Ruff is Pillsbury’s International Arbitration Practice Group Leader. She has extensive experience in multi-jurisdiction disputes, with a focus on high-value and complex international arbitration in the energy, infrastructure and construction, telecommunications and financial sectors. Deborah conducts international arbitration disputes often over JOAs, the construction of and off-take from refineries and petrochemical plants, as well as rig, energy trading and transport, and coal and nuclear power plant disputes. She also regularly represents clients in other infrastructure, shareholder and financial disputes. Deborah conducts arbitrations under the rules of all of the major institutions and rules including the LCIA, the ICC, DIAC, the Swiss, Stockholm, Hong Kong and UNCITRAL Rules. She has also represented both investors and states in BIT and ICSID cases.

Gavin Watson

Pillsbury partner Gavin Watson advises clients on complex corporate and commercial transactions, specializing in the energy and sustainable finance sector, as well as the development and financing of energy and infrastructure projects worldwide. In recent years, Gavin’s practice has focused more closely on various aspects of the energy transition and the emerging circular economy, including advising one of the first floating offshore wind developers on its plans to decarbonize oil & gas operations and large onshore industrial processes, advising a leading fusion energy company on the development of a commercial scale demonstrator in the UK, and counseling several engineering and technology companies seeking to commercialise technologies and concepts that advance energy transition or enable growth of the circular economy. As traditional energy sources underpin energy security in the near term, Gavin continues to support clients on oil & gas, LNG, petrochemical and related transactions or projects. His experience spans Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Graham Tyler

Graham Tyler leads the firm's Asset Finance team globally. A recognised authority on aircraft finance and leasing, Graham regularly represents financial institutions, leasing companies, equity investors, airlines and arrangers in the procurement, financing and leasing of new and used aircraft and engines and aircraft portfolio acquisitions, financings and sales. Adept at crafting complex cross-border leasing and innovative financing structures, Graham negotiates commercial debt deals including warehouse facilities, export credit-supported arrangements, operating and finance leases, Islamic finance transactions, tax-based and capital market deals and where necessary the restructuring of those deals.

James Campbell

James Campbell leads the Corporate practice of the London office and acts for clients, ranging from startups to Fortune 50 companies and governments, on a broad range of issues. James’s practice includes mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, joint ventures, IPOs, private equity, venture capital, fund formation, investment management, issues of compliance and corporate governance, investigations and asset recovery, and sports law.

Julia Kalinina Belcher

Julia Belcher is a dispute resolution special counsel based in Pillsbury’s London office, focusing on international arbitration. Julia has substantial experience in complex international disputes, having advised clients in various jurisdictions (in particular, CIS and MENA) and industries (including energy, construction, petrochemicals and financial services). Julia has advised clients under the best known arbitration rules (LCIA, ICC, SCC, DIAC, UNCITRAL) and conducts her own advocacy at arbitration hearings. She also has experience in investor-state disputes and in international litigation, primarily arbitration related (interim relief, enforcement).

Matthew Oresman

Matthew Oresman helps clients navigate complex international challenges, succeeding at the intersection of cross-border business, law, policy and politics. Matthew is managing partner of the London office, from where he leads the firm’s International Government Law & Strategies practice, carrying out high-profile activities in many of the world’s capital cities. He principally advises governments, political leaders, businesses and NGOs on achieving their most important objectives. He regularly designs and implements legal and policy solutions, including managing integrated U.S. and Europe-based initiatives. He advises global businesses on entry into emerging markets and compliance with U.S. and international regulations.

Rakhi Savjani

Rakhi Savjani has acted for clients across the aviation industry including several of the top ten operating lessors, major Middle Eastern airlines and various financial institutions. Rakhi has extensive experience working on a wide range of high-value, cross-border aircraft and engine trading, financing and leasing transactions utilising a variety of structures including finance and operating leases, secured debt, pre-delivery payment financings, export credit agency-supported deals and Islamic financings. Rakhi also regularly assists our clients with their aircraft and engine acquisitions and disposals and the related lease novations.

Steven Farmer

Steven Farmer advises companies, from some of the world’s largest multinationals to startups, looking to launch or expand in the UK/EU, whilst navigating complex regulatory and legal issues. His client relationships encompass a range of sectors, including technology, financial services, energy, manufacturing, aviation and defence. Steven is a member of the firm’s Technology Transactions and Regulatory teams, with a focus on international trade, e-commerce and data privacy issues. He co-chairs the firm’s Global Privacy, Data Protection and Cybersecurity team and leads the firm’s UK/EU AI Task Force. He regularly advises on regulatory compliance in the pre- and post-incident environments, often dealing with government/regulator investigations and audits. On the international trade side, his areas of expertise include export controls, economic sanctions, foreign direct investment and national security, anti-boycott controls, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering, product launches and supply chain issues.

Vincent Zabielski

Vincent Zabielski focuses on international nuclear energy matters, including providing strategic advice related to new-build EPC contracts, power purchase agreements, operation and maintenance, fuel supply chain, liability issues, international treaties, mergers and acquisition, dispute resolution and export controls. Prior to joining Pillsbury, Vincent was Senior Nuclear Counsel for the UAE nuclear new build program, where he was responsible for integration of nuclear licensing strategy with the largest-ever public financing of a public works project. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Vincent was an engineering manager at a large nuclear facility in the United States. He has particular experience in crafting integrated solutions for international new-build projects that leverage his legal, business and engineering experience to deliver maximum value for the client.

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