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Ben Knowles

Partner

020 3319 3700

ben.knowles@keystonelaw.co.uk

“Outstanding professional who combines his extensive knowledge of arbitration with a flexible approach.”

- Client

Ben Knowles is a partner with more than 30 years’ experience. He provides both transactional advice in the oil and gas sector and handles disputes, particularly international arbitrations, across all sectors.   

Ben also advises venture capital investors, particularly in Saudi Arabia.  

His client base is almost entirely international, with a particular focus on Middle East clients, particularly from Saudi, Yemen, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Iraq, and Kuwait. 

Ben’s clients include governments, state companies including National Oil Companies, venture capital investors, and other large corporates. He has advised investor clients on numerous shareholder disputes, particularly in fintech and neo banking, and especially in relation to Saudi investments. 

Ben also advises on public international law including as to recognition of states and state entities. 

In relation to his arbitration practice, Ben has extensive experience acting in arbitrations conducted under the rules of leading institutions including the ICC, ICSID, LCIA, PCA, CIETAC, and ICDR, and regularly represents clients in matters involving allegations of fraud, expropriation, regulatory disputes, and long-term contract disputes. 

Expertise

Ben advises on high-value international arbitrations under major institutional rules, acting for states, investors, and corporates in commercial and investor–state disputes across multiple jurisdictions. 

Experience

  • Advised on jurisdictional challenges in a novel arbitration arising from an unexecuted contract. 
  • Advised on the defence of a state in high-value telecoms licensing and related investment law disputes. 
  • Advised on the defence of a state in an investor–state claim relating to airport redevelopment. 
  • Ben has led teams on more than 15 high-profile oil and gas disputes, including, what was at the time, the second largest arbitration in history, by value. 

Ben advises on disputes arising from major infrastructure and construction projects, including highways, ports, airports, electricity networks and power generation facilities, often involving public sector counterparties. 

Experience

  • Advised on a long-running dispute concerning the construction of a highway. 
  • Advised on disputes concerning the termination of a port concession agreement. 
  • Advised on the defence of a state in an investor–state claim relating to airport redevelopment. 
  • Advised on the defence of a state in high-value telecoms licensing and related investment law disputes. 

Ben advises on shareholder issues and disputes in relation to venture capital investments, typically through offshore holding structures, and focused on the Middle East. This often requires advice on corporate governance and the roles of directors, board members, and other officers, as well as forms of security particular to the region and fundraising rounds. 

Experience

  • Advised on investments in Saudi’s leading on-demand delivery platform. 
  • Advised on investments in Saudi’s leading digital grocery platform. 
  • Advised on a dispute with a former partner in a VC company. 
  • Advised on funding rounds in relation to Saudi’s leading peer-to-peer hospitality platform. 
  • Advised on funding rounds in relation to Saudi’s leading e commerce platform. 
  • Advised in relation to governance issues concerning a Saudi investment and trading platform. 

Ben advises on complex energy disputes, including upstream and downstream oil and gas, LNG projects, production sharing agreements, expropriation claims, and long-term supply and infrastructure contracts.

Experience

  • Advised on multiple arbitrations concerning production sharing agreements in the oil and gas sector. 
  • Advised on LNG project disputes involving both states and contractors. 
  • Advised on long-term supply and refining contract disputes for a National Oil Company. 
  • Advised on disputes relating to the construction of electricity infrastructure projects. 
  • Advised on disputes concerning the deployment of temporary power generation equipment. 
  • Advised on disputes involving the expropriation of offshore drilling assets by a South American government. 

Ben advises on international trade and commodities disputes, including long-term supply arrangements, fraud allegations, regulatory breaches, and arbitrations involving state-owned and private counterparties.

Experience

  • Advised on multiple arbitrations concerning production sharing agreements in the oil and gas sector. 
  • Advised on LNG project disputes involving both states and contractors. 
  • Advised on long-term supply and refining contract disputes for a National Oil Company. 

Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.

Recognition

Recognised by Chambers Global for General Business Law 2026

Recognised by Chambers Global for International Arbitration 2026

Recognised by Chambers for International Arbitration 2023–2026  

Recognised by The Legal 500 as a Leading Individual for International Arbitration 2026 

Listed in The Legal 500 Internation Arbitration Powerlist 2026   

The Legal 500 has described Ben as “excellent” and “extremely efficient and hardworking,” and someone that “takes a great deal of trouble to gain the confidence of the clients”. The Legal 500  

Member of the editorial board of the Global Arbitration Review 

Member of the ICC UK Arbitration Committee  

Board member for London Chamber of Arbitration and Mediation (LCAM) 

Founder of Virtual Arbitration 

“London-based Ben Knowles is a renowned figure in the international arbitration circuit.”

Chambers UK

Ben qualified as a solicitor in 1995. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2026, he worked at the following firms: 

  •  Clyde & Co