The 33-year-old Scotland international centre-half is a free agent after leaving the Jambos following a disagreement with Hearts Vladimir Romanov.
"There is a good chance he will be at Charlton and he will be a good addition if we can secure him for nothing," Pardew said.
"We are interested in bringing him here before the transfer window, but I am never confident about signings until they are done.
"What I like about him is that he is a leader.
"I think we have got some very good centre-halves here, but he comes into a pack where we need characters and leadership."