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Clyde & Co LLP advises investment banks, trading houses and producers including Glencore and Tata Steel. Michael Swangard is ‘responsive and very commercial’; Paul Friedman is ‘a wise person to have on your side in litigation’; and John Whittaker is ‘talented, with strong professional ethics’. Hatty Sumption, Ben Knowles and former commodity trader Clare Hatcher round out a team that is ‘hardworking, quick, and practical: a class act’. Defending sugar trader ED&F Man is among its recent highlights.

For disputes, especially in soft commodities, Hill Dickinson LLP’s vastly experienced team is noted as ‘good value, quick and commercially focused’. Its recent work includes FOSFA arbitrations and the defence of S/A Fluxo in a major sugar dispute. Fred Konynenburg is ‘one of the best, very impressive’; and ‘Mr. Sugar’ Jeff Isaacs, David Lucas and Andrew Meads are other key figures in an ‘efficient, knowledgeable and very helpful’ team. Clients include TNK BP, The Sugar Association and Vitol.

‘One of the leading commodity players: timely, thorough, commercial and pragmatic’, Holman Fenwick Willan LLP recently represented Sucden Financial in a $5.6m claim, and advises many banks on energy, metals and softs trading. Chris Swart is ‘meticulous and hardworking on meaty arbitrations’; Damian Honey ‘appreciates the stresses of a busy trading desk’; Mark Morrison is ‘a safe pair of hands’; and Brian Perrott is ‘a market leader’ for freight issues. Andrew Ridings has specialist metals expertise, and Andrew Johnstone (‘impressive and intellectually very able’) recently returned from a secondment at Glencore. Judith Prior (‘practical and user friendly’) has developed a niche in biofuels.

‘One of the best-qualified firms dealing with commodities’, Reed Smith’s advice is ‘prompt, detailed and easy to understand’, and its ‘commitment to service and support is unparalleled’. The firm has 30 lawyers focusing solely on commodities, and advises trading companies including Noble and Glencore Grain. Recent highlights include the defence of a GAFTA arbitration for Bunge. The team of ‘true professionals’ includes Richard Swinburn, who is ‘hardworking, with good initiative and a dynamic personality’; Diane Galloway, who is ‘thorough, concise and honest’; Kyri Evagora (‘pretty much the best in commodity trading’); Paul Dillon; Suzanne Bainbridge; and Sian Fellows, who returned from an in-house role at Shell.

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP stands out for its strength and breadth across all commodities, and for significant client wins including Deutsche Bank’s coal division. Richard Black and Eurof Lloyd-Lewis are ‘good at thinking outside the box; they provide creative commercial solutions’. The largest-ever sugar default case features in its recent workload, alongside significant transactional matters for clients such as Alfa Trading and ED&F Man.

‘A reputable firm with an extremely good network and in-depth knowledge’, Ince & Co can draw on the experience of transactional partners Ian Cranston and Joe O'Keeffe, litigators Nick Burgess and Ted Graham, and group heads Stuart Shepherd (who ‘puts problems to bed’) and Steven Fox (‘tremendously valuable on novel legal issues’). Oil is the main focus of the practice, but its metals and grains work is growing. Recent highlights include a $70m claim over oil supply defaults, alongside work for traders such as Vitol and Gunvor.

‘Seasoned, results-orientated lawyers’ Mark Aspinall, Martin Wisdom and Paul Sinnott at boutique firm Arbis LLP are ‘very strong in the oil market’, and increasingly active in metals. Recent disputes include a $7m claim for off-spec cargo and over 30 non-delivery cases, and it also advised on a $90m joint venture between a metals trader and an investment bank. The up-and-coming Julian White is ‘a very valued asset’.

Gateley has ‘excellent in-depth knowledge and provides valuable advice’, mainly in soft commodities disputes. Nicholas Walser has ‘a deep knowledge of the law and the market’, and recently advised Soufflet Negoce in a GAFTA arbitration appeal regarding grain buyers’ duties. The ‘proactive and responsive’ James Cradick is also recommended.

Hogan Lovells International LLP’s team is ‘commercially minded and has a high degree of expertise’, particularly in energy disputes. Kieron O’Callaghan handles ICC and LCIA disputes. Head of arbitration Michael Davison and David Moss are also recommended, for disputes and crude oil trading matters respectively.

‘One of the best in the business’ for sugar, metals and grain, McDermott Will & Emery UK LLP is notable for its regulatory advice to financial institutions, and also advises RWE Energy Trading and Gunvor. David Birchall provides ‘pragmatic advice, and is a joy to work with’, and recently advised JP Morgan on physicals aspects of its RBS Sempra Commodities acquisition.

Norton Rose LLP has a strong energy, renewables and metals practice. Jonathan Herbst and Peter Snowdon are recommended for financial matters, Mark Bankes for mining, and Richard Metcalf for energy. The team recently advised BP on commodities regulation, and the Green Exchange on its UK operations.

Stephenson Harwood is noted for complex litigation. Haris Zografakis leads ‘a true team, perfectly organised, providing excellent legal and commercial advice’. Paolo Ghirardani is ‘extremely resourceful, and can think outside the box’; and Peter Bennett ‘has a deep knowledge of the markets’. Recent highlights include a cargo loss claim for Vitol.

Charles Williams at niche firm Thomas Cooper is widely lauded for his experience in commodity disputes; and John McCaskill, previously at Reed Smith, is ‘very bright and commercially switched on’, and one to watch. The firm advises a number of major soft commodity trading houses.

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is notable for the strong disputes practice of Nic Fletcher and David Hughes. Amir Ghaffari (‘client focused and driven’) joined from Shearman & Sterling LLP, adding weight in commodity arbitrations.

Donald Lambert at Penningtons Solicitors LLP is a specialist in minor metals disputes.

Watson, Farley & Williams LLP is recommended for commodity-related disputes. Andrew Savage gives ‘fast and concrete advice’; and he and Andrew Hutcheon are ‘a pleasure to deal with, always competent and effective problem-solvers’. The firm recently advised Nordea on a demand guarantee claim.

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