Mr Oliver Abel Smith > Fieldfisher > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Fieldfisher‘s financial markets and products group, in which the trade finance team sits, ‘combines a wide range of expertise across different disciplines, which helps clients to reach agreements that will stand the test of time‘. The firm handles trade finance arrangements not only in relation to commodities, but also other sectors and asset classes, and its work spans prepayment finance, documentary and standby letters of credit, export and pre-export facilities, reserve base lending, borrowing base, inventory finance and receivables finance. Practice head Oliver Abel Smith focuses on trade and commodity finance and asset finance, particularly in the energy and natural resources sector. Structured finance partner Dougall Molson, who assisted Invesco with the update of its precious metals-backed exchange traded certificates programme. and debt finance specialist Stephen Moller are closely involved with the practice.

Philip Abbott and Iain Thomas lead the team at Fieldfisher, which ‘provides a high level of legal advice combined with a flexible and commercially oriented approach’. It remains known for its strong property finance capabilities across Europe. Jayne Backett is often involved in complex intercreditor arrangements and restructuring work, while Christian Francis is known for working with senior lenders, life insurers and debt funds. Oliver Abel Smith is a specialist in ground rents as an asset class and is experienced in advising alternative lenders on their funding arrangements.