International law firm Addleshaw Goddard has recruited energy specialist Chanaka Kumarasinghe as its Singapore office head.

Chanaka, a qualified lawyer both in England & Wales and Singapore, joins the firm's Construction & Engineering team from HFW. He is an energy sector lawyer with more than 20 years' experience in the upstream, energy, construction and oil & gas sector.

Chanaka has worked in the upstream energy sector advising on the negotiation of agreements between key contractors, super majors and NOCs for the construction, hook-up, lease and operation of various oil fields assets, including rigs and FPSOs, for offshore fields in Latin America, North Sea, Asia and Australia. He also regularly advises on contracting arrangements for international windfarm and cable laying projects.

Chanaka is a well-known Asia based senior arbitration counsel, having practiced out of Singapore for over 20 years.  He is recognised in the Legal 500 as lead counsel in complex arbitrations, acting for various international energy companies, construction conglomerates and major oil & gas sector contractors. Chanaka was one of the early users of the SIAC Emergency Arbitrator procedure well over 10 years ago and continues to provide strategic advice on securing injunctions for arbitration disputes in Latin America, the Middle East and Asia. With his team, he regularly leads LCIA, ICC, BANI and SIAC international arbitrations, seated in various locations including Singapore, India, Dubai, New York, London and Indonesia.

Jonathan Tattersall, Head of Asia at Addleshaw Goddard, said: "We are thrilled to welcome Chanaka to the firm and in particular to our team in Asia. He has a fantastic reputation in the market and is a trusted adviser to high profile clients in the region and beyond, with an energy practice based on decades of project expertise."

Chanaka Kumarasinghe said: "The opportunity to be part of Addleshaw Goddard's growing presence internationally, and especially in Asia, was an offer I could not refuse, and I look forward to working with the firm's sector specialists to enhance Addleshaw Goddard's existing energy, construction and global disputes practices."