Firm Profile > Hill Dickinson LLP > London , England

Commodities disputes Tier 1

Hill Dickinson LLP handles a vast array of commodities cases and, though it is best known as a prominent player in the soft commodities markets, the practice in London also has a strong caseload in the energy and metals sectors. In disputes involving grains, seeds, pulses, edible oils, fertilisers and cocoa, the firm is highly active both in the major trade association arbitral forums - The Grain and Feed Trade Association (GAFTA), Federation of Oils, Seeds and Fats Associations (FOSFA) and The Federation of Cocoa Commerce (FCC) - and before the High Court. The firm has the premier sugar practice, thanks to the long track record of Jeff Isaacs, who is a long-standing adviser to, inter alia, the raw and refined sugar associations. Fred Konynenburg and Darren Wall are among the other key lawyers for sugar market disputes. Paul Taylor leads the firm’s oil trading practice and the firm also acts for clients in the fuels, coal and renewable energy sectors. The London team also handles LME arbitrations and High Court litigation relating to ferrous and non-ferrous metals, ores and concentrates. The arrival in 2019 of Paul Sinnott and Mark Aspinall from Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP added extensive experience in high-value claims in the trading, financing and shipping markets.

Aviation Tier 1

Neil McGilchrist - Hill Dickinson LLP

Healthcare Tier 1

Hill Dickinson LLP continued to expand its healthcare capabilities with two lateral hires from Hempsons: Jamie Foster, who has 'breadth of industry experience' advising NHS organisations, private providers, and health and life sciences start-ups on commercial and public law matters, and James Lawford Davies, a 'top specialist' in healthtech and life sciences, specifically in reproductive and genetic technologies and cell and gene therapies. Key areas of expertise include commercial and procurement, commissioning, regulatory, governance, inquests and Court of Protection work. Kiran Bhogal and Emma Galland co-head the London healthcare group. Other recommended partners include Joanna Trewin in Manchester, Robert McGough in Leeds and Sharon Thomas in Liverpool.

Clinical negligence: defendant Tier 2

Hill Dickinson LLP acts for a range of healthcare providers within the public and private sectors, with NHS Resolution standing out as its most prominent client. National head of Health Litigation Andrew Craggs splits his time between Liverpool and the capital, and is backed up by cerebral palsy and spinal injury specialist Janet McWhinney , who oversees the London department. Multi-million pound cerebral palsy cases as well as indemnity issues arising from a claim are common instructions for the team. The practice's expertise and increasing consideration of Alternative Dispute Resolution methods has also enabled a more cost-effective settlement of high-value and contentious matters.

Shipping Tier 2

Hill Dickinson LLP is 'highly recommended' for shipping work; the 'growing' team welcomed Beth Bradley from Clyde & Co LLP and has also made several hires internationally. The London team, which is supported by its international network of experts, handles a raft of wet and dry work and has recently been instructed on several high-profile casualty claims and dry shipping disputes. Its clients include ship owners, P&I Clubs, traders, salvors and insurers. It also has a strong cruise sector following. Global head of shipping Julian Clark led advice for The Lion Group on a dispute brought by Classic Maritime Inc, which examines issues regarding force majeure and exception clauses. Head of yachts Tony Allen focuses on yacht insurance disputes and transactions, while David Pitlarge is noted for his experience in dry shipping work and Adrian Marsh, who is based in Manchester, is head of cargo and logistics. Consultant Robert Wallis specialises in admiralty law.

Trade finance Tier 2

Hill Dickinson LLP joins the ranking having hired a respected commodities and trade finance group from Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP in 2019. The team, which is built around respected partners Mark Aspinall and Paul Sinnott, brings extensive experience in trade finance transactions and disputes to a firm with a strong position in the commodities markets. The firm acts for banks and trading houses in high-value and complex structured transactions. Sinnott's work from 2018 included advising banks and traders on multiple trade finance deals up to $250m in value, and the production of bespoke commodity trade finance documentation for a leading Geneva bank. In 2018, Aspinall, while at his previous firm, won a $22m gasoline financing case against the owner of an oil trader, which resulted in the lifting of a High court freezing order.

M&A: smaller deals, up to £50m Tier 3

Hill Dickinson LLP advises public and private companies, both overseas or UK-domiciled, on a full range of corporate matters. The past few years have seen significant growth in the team, with the most recent hire being Jonathan Morris from Thrings LLP, who has experience acting for entrepreneurs and entrepreneur-backed businesses in the lower mid-market. Sector specialisms include transport, energy and natural resources, and healthcare. The firm also has experience in emerging markets, with practice head Michael Bennett a  key name to note for this.

Personal injury: defendant Tier 4

Hill Dickinson LLP fields a team of specialist personal injury lawyers that handle claims within the marine sector, involving crew and passenger accidents, fatalities, sexual assault and group actions. The practice is instructed on the majority of disease claims in the ports and marine sectors, and predominantly deals with multi-jurisdictional cases where questions on choice of law are raised. The team is led by John Caddies, whose expertise spans catastrophic injury cases, stress and asbestos claims. Tony McDonach is the key point of contact for industrial disease cases concerning noise-induced hearing loss, while Laura Wilson's caseload includes brain injury cases, amputations, abuse and suicide claims.

Administrative and public law Tier 6

The public law offering at Hill Dickinson LLP has a particular focus on the healthcare and social care sectors, with a healthy list of NHS bodies and clinical commissioning groups comprising the bulk of the client roster. Advisory work regularly involves the implementation of policy initiatives and reorganisations, particularly NHS England’s flagship integrated care system legislative framework. Emma Stockwell advises on the commissioning of pharmaceutical services. Common contentious mandates include defending judicial review challenges, procurement challenges and advising on inquiries into breaches of duty.

Sport Tier 6

Hill Dickinson LLP's sports group are particularly well known for their commercial and regulatory disputes work for clients including football clubs, sportspeople and media agencies. The team's growing commercial sports arm spans sponsorship deals, supply agreements, hospitality agreements, IP and brand licensing. Consultant Louise Millington-Roberts specialises in advising governing bodies, clubs, event hosts, sponsors and athletes on global rights and brand management issues and has specific expertise in the area of ticketing. Partner Geraldine Ryan focuses predominantly on dispute resolution and reputation management for clients such as footballers.

Transport finance & leasing Tier 6

The 'small and close-knit team' at Hill Dickinson LLP has a 'wealth of shipping finance experience' and is thereby well placed to advise both lenders and borrowers across the gamut of shipping/offshore transactions, including the financing of newbuild vessels and sale and leaseback transactions. Panos Pourgourides has niche expertise for borrowers and lenders on the financing of superyachts.

Travel

Hill Dickinson LLP's cross-practice travel and leisure team handles a range of work in the sector including defendant personal injury work as well as crisis management, employment, commercial, corporate, brand protection, data protection, EU, regulatory, tax, asset management and finance mandates. With a broad base of clients, the team acts for industry bodies, cruise and ferry operators, tour operators, hotels, ports and terminals, destination management companies; it is instructed by an array of clients operating in the rail, aviation, port, terminals, road and shipping sectors. John Caddies, who is a personal injury and disease specialist, heads the travel and leisure team. Caddies led advice for Silverseas Cruises on the implementation of GDPR. Lucy Schofield has joined Miles Fanning Legal Services Limited.