Commodities and futures - commodities
‘First choice for a sticky problem in a tough jurisdiction’, Clyde & Co LLP acts on metal, oil, energy and some soft commodities transactions and litigation, advising clients such as Glencore, ED&F Man and the Ministry of Oil of the Government of Yemen. John Whittaker is ‘a strategic thinker who has seen it all before’, while Michael Swangard ‘brings a commercial and trader-friendly approach to legal issues’, and Hatty Sumption is ‘a very thorough and reliable litigator’. Ben Knowles handles oil and other commodity disputes, and Clare Hatcher specialises in commodity trading.
Holman Fenwick Willan LLP has built a comprehensive practice with a series of hires since 2006 and now provides clients with ‘all-round experts and expertise’ across the mining and minerals, oil and gas, soft commodities and freight sectors. Clients include Cargill, Citibank, ED&F Man, Glencore, Merrill Lynch and BNP Paribas. Mark Morrison and his team are ‘excellent in all aspects’. Brian Perrott is a litigator with ‘good contacts’, and Judith Prior, Chris Swart, Damian Honey and Alistair Feeney are also recommended.
Sitting alongside complementary shipping and insurance capabilities, Ince & Co’s ‘absolutely first-class’ commodities practice focuses on the oil and gas sector, but also handles coal, biofuels and soft commodities such as sugar. It has represented oil trader Gunvor International in numerous disputes, while other oil industry clients include Statoil and Vitol. The team has also secured new engagements for Itochu and Midland Metals. Litigator Stuart Shepherd ‘always gives valuable advice’, and leads the international trade and commodities business group. Denys Hickey is ‘very good and always available’, and Joe O’Keeffe and the ‘very experienced’ partner Ian Cranston are also recommended.
Reed Smith has a renowned commodities team noted for its ‘commercial approach and strength in depth’. Richard Swinburn and Diane Galloway are ‘sensible’ and ‘commercial’, and Paul Dillon, Suzanne Bainbridge and team leader Kyri Evagora are also recommended. Clients include Glencore Grain BV and Vertical UK LLP, as well as several financial institutions and traders involved in disputes in the soft commodities and oil and gas sectors.
In July 2009, Hill Dickinson LLP merged with Middleton Potts - renowned for ‘fantastic service, top-quality work and a personal touch’ - in a move that combined two modest-sized commodities practices within a full-service setting. Jeff Isaacs is ‘concise, commercial and highly experienced in matters relating to sugar and freight’; David Lucas is an ‘incredibly bright lawyer’ with ‘an enormous amount of business acumen’; and Stuart Armstrong, Fred Konynenburg and the ‘calculating and positive’ Andrew Meads are also recommended. Grain, sugar and metals are particular areas of focus. Clients include Amalgamated Metal Corporation, Cargill, Fluxo-Cane, Itochu Europe and Louis Dreyfus Group.
Waterson Hicks specialises in oil and has ‘a particular collective grasp of what makes an oil and commodities company tick’, but the firm also does some metals and other work, advising both on contracts and disputes. It has an extensive client roster of major oil and metals trading companies, and takes a ‘creative, pragmatic and results-oriented approach’. ‘Value for money is good’; Martin Wisdom displays ‘attention to detail’ and ‘tremendous determination’, while Mark Aspinall is ‘full of ideas’ and ‘pragmatic’. Chris Jones and Tim Baker are also recommended.
Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP’s commodities litigators act for a long list of buy- and sell-side clients especially on grain and vegoil plus some metals, oil and other work. In January 2009 the team represented Dera Commercial Establishment, a Jordanian trading house, in a dispute over the condition of US-originated corn. Litigation partner Richard Black is ‘very tenacious and hardworking’.
Lovells LLP’s lawyers are ‘technically very accomplished’. Energy commodities - oil, gas, LNG - and metals are areas of particular strength. The team handles contract negotiations and disputes, and recently advised BHP Billiton on power supply agreements and Merrill Lynch Commodities on gas storage. Practice head David Moss and Richard Tyler (‘probably the best lawyer for oil in the UK’) are recommended.
Norton Rose LLP’s energy sector expertise is ‘of the highest standard’ and its mining practice is also notable. Clients include BNP Paribas (Suisse) SA, Lukoil, Standard Bank and Teknik. Martin McCann has ‘a commercial approach and a focus on getting the deal done’, and John Wood and Simon Currie are also recommended.
Stephenson Harwood’s commodities expertise is allied to a renowned shipping practice, with key areas including oil, gas and metals. The firm is representing Petroleos de Venezuela SA in a US$12bn arbitration concerning nationalisation of oil interests, while other clients include Fortis Bank, Trafigura Beheer BV and Vitol. Clients appreciate Haris Zografakis and Ingolf Kaiser.
HBJ Gateley Wareing LLP’s three-lawyer team typically acts for clients in contract disputes before GAFTA and FOSFA, and undertakes a variety of soft commodity work including grains, vegoil and sugar, but also some coal and metal engagements. Practice head Nicholas Walser and David Padovan are recommended.
Howard Kennedy’s absorption of DMA Legal LLP added depth to the commodities practice, bringing three additional partners including Deborah Mills, an expert in renewable energy. Philip Leacock heads the group. Clients include Atlantic Petroleum, Fugro Robertson and Glencore.
Masseys LLP’s small team covers an eclectic range of commodities from stone and paving products to petroleum and grain. It has recently picked up a substantial volume of textile disputes. Clients include Precious Metal Capital Corporation and HG Moda. Sean Upson now leads after Gerald Cooke’s retirement.
McDermott Will & Emery UK LLP is notable as an energy-focused practice with related M&A and corporate law capability. The group represents traders and financial institutions including Barclays Capital, Constellation Energy Commodities Group, and EGL. Prajakt Samant exhibits ‘good knowledge about commodities trading and regulation’. Juliet Blanch heads the disputes team.
Charles Williams leads a three-partner practice at Thomas Cooper, which focuses on soft commodities. Recent activities include GAFTA arbitration and disputes arising from contaminated Ukrainian sunflower seed oil.
‘Commercial’ and ‘excellent in all respects’, Watson, Farley & Williams LLP has recently handled GAFTA and LCIA arbitrations. Established clients include Hydro Aluminium, and the practice now also represents MRI. Renewable energy is a growing focus alongside metals and oil. Andrew Savage is head of litigation and arbitration.