Commodities disputes

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP

The ‘practical, trade-oriented group’ at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is ‘very experienced, with good knowledge and a willingness to be available’. The firm is best known for handling transactional and contentious matters in both soft and hard commodities on behalf of producers, traders, end users, trade arbitration tribunals, banks and other financial institutions. The work of practice heads George Mingay (who is ‘calm, personable and commercially very astute’) and Mark Sachs encompasses disputes in the oil and gas, chemicals, metals and mining, sugar, grain and coffee sectors. Both are also heavily involved in high-value civil fraud cases connected to the commodities sector, which is an increasingly important part of the market, as well as soft commodities cases in the Turkish market concerning issues with the Black Sea grain agreement on exports from Ukraine.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘The firm is very experienced in commodities export trade law and in commodities arbitrations. The commercial input is also excellent. The firm's solicitors, when called after business hours due to the urgency, always kindly assist.’
‘George Mingay has a thorough knowledge of the commodity standard form contracts and their day-to-day practice, as well as the London trade associations issuing these contracts and their arbitration practice. Julia Goroszeniuk has a complete mastery of the files.’
‘The team is willing to work with outside experts to enhance their perspective of the matters involved in the case. The ability to understand the commercial perspective while considering the strict legal aspects of the case are rare attributes.’
‘George Mingay and his team have shown their ability to work within a commercial perspective and provide relevant and timely information in complex matters related to commodities and arbitration, fast responses and turnaround across time zones and the ability to work with diverse views on matters, and knowledge of conflict of laws.'
‘George Mingay stands out and is very user-friendly.’
‘George Mingay is calm, personable and commercially very astute. Gives excellent practical legal advice.’
‘Very experienced team. Good knowledge, and a willingness to be available.’
‘George Mingay knows the Arbitration Act 1996 inside and out.’

Key clients

The Refined Sugar Association
The Sugar Association of London
British Coffee Association
Agricultural Bank of China
National Bank of Greece
Bank ABC
RJH Trading Limited
Ayhan Sezer Yag Ve Gida Endustrisi Ticaret Ltd. Sti.

Work highlights

Successfully appealing an award by the Appeal Board of the Grain and Feed Trade Association under s.69 of the Arbitration Act 1996 in the High Court for Ayhan Sezer Yag Ve Gida Endustrisi Ticaret Ltd. Sti.