Clyde & Co ‘continues to impress combining high-quality advice with practical application‘. International trade and commodities is a key market sector for the firm, which has a specialist trade global practice group focused entirely on addressing the increasingly complex business needs of commodity traders. It has a deep bench of specialists in hard and soft commodities, oil, gas and all other markets, many of whom handle disputes under GAFTA and FOSFA rules, as well as in the LMAA, LCIA, ICC and SIAC fora. Commodities specialist Marko Kraljevic leads the practice, in which Hatty Sumption is a key adviser to major international commodity trading groups. Commodities and dry shipping specialist Eurof Lloyd-Lewis ‘has a thorough knowledge of the law and knows the practical issues that play a role in dispute resolution‘. John Whittaker acts for commodity and natural resources companies in trading disputes, and Michael Swangard is a commodities arbitration specialist. International commercial disputes partner Eleanor Coates ‘provides legally detailed and commercially astute advice‘. Legal director Tara Smith has significant experience of the main arbitral fora, and consultant Clare Hatcher has a strong track record in ground-breaking projects in the trade and commodities space.

HFW ‘is unique in combining sector expertise with deep knowledge and understanding of litigation and arbitration procedure‘. ‘You can rest assured that every issue and matter is handled perfectly‘, remarks one client. The firm represents some of the world’s largest energy and commodity trading companies and banks. The London team, led by Alistair Feeney, who ‘never fails to give prompt, clear and relevant advice‘, works closely with specialists in key trading centres such as Paris, Geneva and Dubai. Standout partner Brian Perrott ‘has a highly commercial mind-set‘. The ‘extremely hands-on, intelligent and efficient‘ Damian Honey advises commodity traders, producers, financiers and insurers on all aspects of their business, including in physical and financial sales and purchases, and disputes. Judith Prior ‘has an abundant knowledge of applicable law and trade practices which she applies very well in her advisory work‘. The firm has a deep bench of associates, among them Michael Buffham and Stephanie Morton, who handle both contentious and transactional matters.

At Hill Dickinson LLP, ‘the team is super-professional, with profound knowledge in our business and honest advice on every problem presented‘. As, ‘the premier commodities team in London‘, it is highly active in disputes concerning grains, seeds, pules, edible oils, fertilisers, cocoa and, most notably, sugar, as well as a wide range of energy products. Jeff Isaacs is ‘great to work with and one of the best opponents‘, remarks one market source, and has ‘great knowledge on every impact of English Law on every step of the international trade of commodities‘. Clients appreciate the ‘well-thought and tactical approach‘ of Paul Taylor, who is qualified in both English and French law. Mark Aspinall has extensive experience in physical and financial oil transactions. Darren Wall has ‘legal expertise combined with the necessary armoury for legal battles‘. Since publication, Paul Sinnott left the practice, and Andrew Buchmann departed to set up an independent legal practice.

Reed Smith LLP provides ‘immediate access to expertise and sound advice, based not only on law but also on commercial considerations‘. The firm is a major force in physical commodities transactions, commodity and energy derivatives trading, commodity and trade financing, regulatory and compliance matters, and major cross-border disputes. Among its clients are some of the largest banks operating in the commodities markets, as well as oil and gas majors, mining companies and major commodity trading houses. In the energy and natural resources practice, led by Prajakt Samant, Andrew Meads is a sector specialist who handles a broad spectrum of physical commodities work and has ‘an acute awareness of commercial considerations and strategy beyond the purely legal position‘. Experienced partners Vassia Payiataki, Paul Skeet and Richard Swinburn are ‘ some of the most experienced and knowledgeable lawyers in the field‘. Up-and coming partners Frances Furness and Elizabeth Farrell are ‘stars of the future‘.

Clients of Stephenson Harwood praise the firm’s ‘availability, transparency and knowhow‘, as well as its ‘professionalism in mastering the commodities issues‘. Acknowledged as a leading firm in physical commodities trading and shipping, its expertise extends to contentious matters, including matters in the High Court and before the ICC, LMAA and LCIA. Haris Zografakis leads the practice, bringing to bear his extensive experience in hard, soft and energy commodities. Peter Bennett is a standout partner for commodity, energy and trading matters. Emma Skakle is ‘clear-minded, pragmatic and a good leader‘ and has ‘ a burgeoning practice with a particular specialism in soft commodities‘. Jonathan Spearing is ‘a brilliant commodities lawyer who can think outside the box and provide practical advice on complex matters at short notice‘.

Mills & Co is a specialist commodities and international trade firm that, though it is based in Newcastle, competes with larger London firms for roles in contentious matters. One client remarks that it ‘offers ex-City of London calibre lawyers with top-notch commodities expertise and service to boot, at regional prices‘, adding that ‘real partner engagement is another key bonus‘. The firm frequently acts for major commodities trading houses, as well as large energy companies and industry associations. In 2021, the firm handled a growing volume of commodities work from large multi-national trading groups and smaller players alike, with clients based in Switzerland, London, Germany and Brazil. The ‘innately thorough and user-friendly‘ Neville Hopper and Jonathan Green (who is ‘always very quick off the mark‘) are the lead partners. ‘Both are go-to lawyers for soft commodities, GAFTA and FOSFA disputes‘, remarks a client.

Norton Rose Fulbright has ‘a fantastic commodities disputes practice with some market leading partners, and it is involved in some of the most high-profile cases‘. The firm ‘provides well-resourced teams that are very able to handle the most complex litigation in this field‘. In the disputes and litigation practice led by the ‘unflappable, disarmingly intelligent‘ Holly Stebbing, commodities are a key focus. The firm provides legal advice across the commodities supply chain to financial institutions, commodity trading houses, national and international mining and energy companies. Stebbing focuses on disputes in the energy and natural resources sector, particularly on Africa, while Ruth Cowley, Antony Corsi, international arbitration specialist James Rogers and commercial litigator Harriet Jones-Fenleigh are among the partners for whom commodities constitutes a significant proportion of their caseload.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP has ‘a wealth of knowledge in the soft commodities market‘. The firm provides ‘good, strong and professional advice after weighing up all options‘. George Mingay (who is ‘always willing to discuss and explain situations in an easy friendly way‘) and Mark Sachs lead the international trade and commodities practice, which acts for a diverse roster of clients. Its work spans soft commodity, metals, mining, oil and gas, and trade finance cases. Mingay chairs the Arbitration and Mediation Committee of the MMTA; Sachs is fluent in Mandarin and frequently handles arbitrations in London, Singapore, China, Hong Kong and Stockholm.

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP is a litigation boutique that frequently acts for major energy and mining companies, as well as commodities traders, in high-value disputes. Key partner Ted Greeno has built up the energy and natural resources disputes practice, which handles a broad range of work that includes commodities and trading cases. It has notable strength in energy, mining and construction matters, and handles a growing flow of instructions concerning corporate investigations from leading trading houses and entities involved in the extraction and trading of resources. Nick Marsh led a claim for Gerald Metals against mining magnate Frank Timis and in an LCIA arbitration against his family trust.

Watson Farley & Williams LLP ‘provides the most practical solutions‘ and clients praise its ability to take on ‘high-value, serious work, based all over the world‘. Andrew Ward and Rebecca Williams lead the dispute resolution practice, which is ‘very well resourced and able to take on the biggest opponents‘. Andrew Hutcheon is the key partner for contentious matters in the commodities, mining, oil & gas, shipping and aviation sectors. Rob Fidoe specialises in international commercial dispute resolution, particularly arbitration, and advises corporates and multinationals in industry sector such as energy, infrastructure and international trade.

DWF exhibits a ‘very pragmatic approach and very good understanding of client’s business by the partners‘. The firm frequently handles disputes for marine insurers, P&I Clubs, shipowners and cargo interests where theft or detention of cargo is a key aspect of the case. Head of the global risks team David Abbott and London managing partner Jonathan Moss, who leads the marine and trade practice, are the standout lawyers. They are ‘knowledgeable, experienced in various fields, and can communicate key messages to clients in the simplest form‘. Antony Woodhouse focuses on Bermuda Form Arbitration with underlying risks relating to marine trade and energy.

Jackson Parton Solicitors is a ‘streamlined firm where client matters received careful partner attention, supported by highly able associates who are given a significant degree of responsibility from an early stage‘. It has ‘a very strong team in all areas of commodities, particularly GAFTA and sugar disputes‘. Nicholas Parton, Alexander Askew (who is ‘level-headed and very commercial‘) and Jonathan Clyne lead the shipping and international trade practice, which can conduct its own advocacy without counsel in the Commercial and Admiralty Court. Askew and Parton are recognised experts in Refined Sugar Association and Sugar Association arbitrations. Managing partner Andrew Patrinos is ‘an experienced litigator with an instinctive grasp for the issues in a case‘.

Schjodt LLP continues to grow its team of experienced commodities partners, who handle numerous large and complex commodities disputes in London arbitration and in the High Court. Will Marshall leads the trade and commodities practice and frequently handles complex and high-value disputes. He is currently acting for commodities trading company Trafigura in respect of a $76m claim relating to misdelivery of a high-value crude oil cargo. Carl Walker focuses on commodities disputes and his clients include two of the world’s largest trading houses, as well as numerous other commodities traders. Jeremy Biggs, who joined from Ince & Co in late 2021, handles both both shipping and commodities matters, notably for major oil and gas traders.

The shipping and offshore practice at Wikborg Rein continues to build on its in-depth knowledge of the LNG sector, which sees it handle disputes concerning physical trade, transportation and storage. The practice is led by Chris Grieveson, who frequently handles disputes for clients in the oil and gas sector including cargo, fraud and asset recovery matters. Up-and-coming partner Eleanor Midwinter is ‘a star – super-responsive and a client favourite'. She handles disputes concerning crude oil, oil products, biofuels, fertilisers/additives and metals; her work encompasses matters arising from bespoke pricing provisions, sanctions considerations arising from trading with Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, and change-management clauses for longer-term contracts.