Charles Robinson

‘Charles Robinson has a vast understanding of the B2B utility sector, both operationally and legally.‘ Legal 500 (2020)

Expertise

Charles is widely known for gas and electricity supply dispute resolution and advisory work and oversees a specialist team of experienced solicitors. 

Experience

Charles has over 20 years’ experience acting for suppliers including a majority of the Big Five.

With deep industry knowledge Charles advises on late billing, shipperless supplies, multi-tenanted sites, split supplies, off-site metering, vacant and squatter sites, erroneous transfers, supplies to insolvent entities, mis-selling and broker disputes, fraudulent COTs, datalogger / SMART meter failures, late meter installations, meter accuracy disputes, disputed disconnections, multiplier errors, mis-estimation and industry charge challenges.

He acts on disputed warrant applications and has obtained multi million pound recoveries for commodity theft.

Charles’ team is experienced in working with suppliers in countering fraud including phoenixism, ‘creditor avoidance’ and commodity theft.

Regulatory and Compliance

Charles advises suppliers and provides training on general regulatory and licence compliance including back-billing, domestic and micro-business supplies, energy theft and vulnerability.

Reported cases

High-profile reported cases include:

Laverty v British Gas Trading Limited [2014] EWHC 2721 (Ch), Etherton Ch., 31 July 2014

Preliminary issue before the Chancellor of the High Court as to the ranking of statutory deemed contract charges in administrations

British Gas Trading v Oak Cash & Carry [2016] EWCA Civ 153 (15 March 2016)

Widely cited Court of Appeal decision on CPR 3.9 Relief from sanctions for unless order breaches.

Angel Group Limited v British Gas Trading [2012] EWHC 2702 (Ch)

Winding up of multi-site consumer, interrogation of ‘disputed’ debt.

Commendations

Charles is a Legal 500 (2000) Leading Individual and has presented utility supply training and authored articles for LexisNexis.  Moon Beever’s team is ranked Legal 500 Tier 1.

‘Charles Robinson specialises in utilities litigation with a focus on high-value disputed debt.  He has acted for the majority of the Bix Six energy suppliers as both claimant and defendant.’ The Times – Best Law Firms 2020

Career

Charles started his career with a niche City practice and a multi-jurisdictional American firm renowned for its upstream energy work.  He joined Moon Beever as a partner in 2010.