Clients of Clyde & Co remark that the firm ‘knows the industry, which is unique and brings with it traps for the uninitiated‘. The firm has a specialist trade global practice group focused entirely on the trade and commodities market, and it acts for many of the world’s largest trading houses in both contentious matters and commodity trading activities. Practice head Marko Kraljevic leads an ‘experienced, dynamic and responsive‘ group of talent at all levels. Hatty Sumption, who focuses predominantly on oil, coal and metals trading disputes; shipping and commodities specialist Eurof Lloyd-Lewis; and John Whittaker, who ‘gives a client confidence because he has seen it all before‘, are among the standout partners. The ‘tough and commercial‘ Tara Smith and up-and coming talent Will Trustram, who has ‘very deep sector specific knowledge‘, are highly regarded by clients.

HFW has ‘a very deep and impressive team with experience in wide range of physical and financial commodities‘, and clients praise the firm’s ‘expertise and skill in handling complex disputes, responsiveness and value for money‘. The firm counts many of the world’s largest energy and commodity trading companies among its clients, as well as major global banks. Practice head Alistair Feeney ‘can distil complex legal concepts into succinct and practical advice‘ and is a go-to authority on commodities trading disputes. Brian Perrott is an established commercial litigator with a particular speciality in commodities, derivatives and shipping matters, while international commodity trading specialists Judith Prior and Damian Honey are frequently called upon by traders, producers, financiers and insurers to advise on matters concerning physical and financial sale and purchase, finance and transportation. Michael Buffham and Rosie Harrison are proof that the firm is organically developing a new generation of standout lawyers who will inherit the mantle from the senior practitioners.

The team at Hill Dickinson LLP is ‘second to none and gives an extremely high quality of advice and service with fabulous attention to detail‘. The firm is highly active in matters concerning grains, seeds, pulses, edible oils, fertilisers and cocoa, as well as disputes arising in the sugar and energy markets. The diversity of the practice’s work across all commodities sectors, from softs to oil and gas, see it work in all of the major trade association arbitral fora – GAFTA, FOSFA and FCC – as well as in LME arbitration and High Court litigation. Jeff Isaacs, who is ‘top of the table when it comes to ability, knowledge and results‘, and trading specialist Paul Taylor, who is spearheading the firm’s work on contentious oil and gas matters, lead the practice. Claire Messer and ‘consummate professional‘ Darren Wall are heavily involved in matters arising from the war in Ukraine. Energy specialist Mark Aspinall, Amy Walmsley, Lucy Wickham, and the ‘very approachable, very knowledgeable‘ John McNeilly are also key practitioners.

Reed Smith LLP is known for its ‘personable, commercial, high-quality service delivered under budget and ahead of projected deadlines‘, and is a key adviser to the world’s leading trading houses, as well as major banks and natural resources producers. Kyri Evagora, who recently returned to London having served as managing partner in the firm’s Singapore office, is now co-chair of the firm’s global energy and natural resources group, in which the commodities disputes practice sits. The team has a stellar bench, with Vassia Payiataki well versed in arbitrations under GAFTA rules and other fora, and Andrew Meads a major player in cross-border litigation and arbitrations. Richard Swinburn is another prominent figure who acts for trading houses in complex contentious matters. Paul Skeet, who is a key adviser to numerous energy majors, physical commodities specialist Elizabeth Farrell and recently promoted partner Nick Moon, who is ‘bright, hands-on and will clearly go far‘, are also among the firm’s many standout practitioners.

At Stephenson Harwood, ‘the team consists of excellent lawyers who are thoroughly versed in and dedicated to the commodities sector‘. Historically, the firm has been a leading player in the energy, metals and minerals sectors, acting for trading houses, oil majors and refiners, and mining companies. Over the last four years, the firm has expanded its presence in disputes concerning soft commodities, having built up a strong client base among traders, producers and food companies. ‘Wily‘ practice head Haris Zografakis oversees a strong bench of talent that handles contentious matters arising from physical commodities trades, commodity financings, and sanctions. Emma Skakle, who is ‘particularly skilled at dealing with commodities tribunals that often have their own idiosyncrasies‘, and the ‘unflappable‘ Jonathan Spearing are considered experts in GAFTA arbitrations, though Skakle also handles disputes in many other fora, including High Court litigation. Peter Bennett, who is ‘good at the coalface‘, is another standout practitioner in energy and trading disputes.

Newcastle-based Mills & Co focuses exclusively on shipping, commodities and international trade. All members of the team, including lead partners Neville Hopper (who is ‘an excellent lawyer with deep knowledge of his practice area and excellent commercial instincts‘), Jonathan Green and Alastair Moir, are equally well versed in all three disciplines, so are able to provide seamless advice across the entire trade cycle. Much of the firm’s work is in arbitration, usually in LCIA, Sugar, GAFTA or FOSFA matters, in which the firm frequently acts for some of the world’s largest commodity trading houses, as well as for smaller player in the commodities markets. Many clients are based in Switzerland, London, Germany and Brazil, and seek the firm’s advice on shipping matters such as charterparty and bill of lading claims, as well as disputes concerning sale contracts. As well as the senior practitioners, the firm also has a strong bench of up-and-coming lawyers, among them the ‘intelligent and insightful‘ Christopher Hellstrom-Bartram.

Norton Rose Fulbright ‘provides first-class legal advice and the disputes team is excellent‘. Handling disputes across the commodities supply chain, the firm acts for financial institutions, commodity trading houses, and national and international mining and energy companies in matters concerning production, shipping, transportation, warehousing, physical supply contracts, collateral management and insurance, trade and commodity financing, as well as the hedging of commodity trades. Head of litigation and disputes for EMEA Patrick Bourke oversees a group that ‘knows the industry extremely well and has strength at all levels of seniority‘. Holly Stebbing, who has a particular focus on energy disputes in Africa, is ‘commercially minded, calm in a crisis and tough when necessary‘. Cross-border banking and finance litigation and arbitration specialist Harriet Jones-Fenleigh, commercial litigator Antony Corsi, and corporate disputes and investigations lawyer Ruth Cowley are among the firm’s many talented practitioners.

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.

Global litigation boutique Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP has steadily built up its commodities disputes capability in London over the years, focusing predominantly on the energy, mining and construction sectors. Its expertise in competition law and corporate investigations has helped it to develop strong relationships with major trading houses and energy companies, which opens up key roles in commodities trading disputes. Practice head Ted Greeno continues to spearhead the development of the practice, building on his long track record in oil and gas disputes. He frequently advises on cases concerning the price of oil, gas and LNG, production sharing contracts, long-term gas sales and transportation agreements, and electricity trading. Global chair of international arbitration Stephen Jagusch is involved in international commercial and investment treaty arbitrations, often acting for or against sovereign states or multinational businesses.

Schjodt LLP‘s London office is part of the international network of Scandinavia’s largest Magic Circle firm and its specialist commodities team is frequently involved in large and complex disputes in the Commercial Court and in London arbitration. ‘The London team is resourceful and responsive, switched on to clients’ needs‘, note clients, further highlighting the firm’s ‘excellent knowledge of the energy and commodities sector, and industry-leading and sector-specific knowledge‘. Clients praise the ‘invaluable experience and commercial nous‘ of Jeremy Biggs, who leads the trade and commodities practice and handles both shipping and commodities matters. ‘Experienced, smart and pragmatic litigator‘ Carl Walker is a key adviser to some of the world’s largest trading houses, as well as numerous other commodities traders.

Squire Patton Boggs has ‘a tight unit of excellent practitioners‘ led by ‘seasoned litigator and battle-hardened fighter‘ Chris Swart in London and two partners in Singapore. London is a key hub in the international network of offices handling commodities disputes, and the firm also continues to build its teams in Hong Kong, Milan and elsewhere. The firm, which only launched its London commodities group in 2019, has established a strong multi-disciplinary team that covers all aspects of international commodities and trade, including in-depth knowledge of specific commodity sectors, notably oil, LNG, agriculture, minerals, metals and mining, and other energy markets, both in terms of physical trading and financial hedging. Among its standout practitioners are Katie Pritchard, who frequently acts for commodity producers, trading companies, vessel charterers and owners, banks and insurers; John Rollason, who continues to build his global reputation in the grain industry; and international arbitration and commercial litigation-focused Michael Davar.

Litigation boutique Cooke, Young & Keidan LLP has a broad focus on international arbitration, enforcement and asset recovery, and it is increasingly involved in commodities arbitration. ‘Excellent sector knowledge and vast experience of disputes make the firm a brilliant choice‘, remarks one commenter. Mikhail Vishnyakov is the standout practitioner, though clients also recommend ‘highly cerebral litigator‘ Jon Felce and Natalie Todd, who ‘combine rigorous legal analysis with strong tactical ability‘. Sinead O’Callaghan is frequently involved in commercial disputes emanating from Africa, South and Central America, Russia and former CIS countries.

Floyd Zadkovich joins the ranking this year having continued its stellar trajectory of growth from a small start-up five years ago to a five-partner London team that is involved in increasingly high-value disputes. ‘The team is lean, collegiate and smart, which makes it highly effective in delivering results‘, notes one client. Practice heads Joe Gosden, who joined from Stephenson Harwood in 2022, and Damon Thompson, who has in-house experience at Gazprom and is sought after for his knowledge of the LNG market, are both skilled in arbitration and litigation.

Wikborg Rein has ‘a fantastic team of talented lawyers who are practical, down-to-earth and very responsive‘. The firm has developed a strong commodities practice around LNG, agricultural commodities, and alternative fuels. London managing partner Chris Grieveson, who has in-depth knowledge of commodities trading law, and experienced litigator Baptiste Weijburg, who has a strong focus on the Greek shipping market, are among the firm’s ‘clever, hardworking and enthusiastic individuals, who are always focused on the client’s interests‘. Jack Wray is a notable practitioner in oil and gas disputes, in which he acts for both commodity traders and energy giants.