Our firm advises on all aspects of international trade and commodities. We have particular expertise of soft and hard commodities including crude oil, petroleum, chemicals, metals, grain, vegetable oils and palm oils, coffee, sugar, rice, and cotton.  Our firm also has strong links with traders throughout Europe, North and South America, the Indian sub-continent, and the Asia Pacific region.

We represent a wide range of clients, including international trading houses, commodity and derivatives traders and brokers, oil and power companies, food manufacturers, banks and financiers, crushers, refiners, mills, warehousemen, ship-owners, charterers, and marine insurers on all trade-related matters in the UK and/or abroad. 

In addition, we regularly represent clients in arbitrations before various trade associations and other arbitral bodies in the UK and in Europe. Our Singapore, Hong Kong, and Shanghai offices also advise on disputes before PORAM in Malaysia, CIETAC in China, SIA in Singapore, HKIA in Hong Kong, ICC and other arbitral bodies in the region.

Our non-contentious work includes advising on international contracts for the carriage of goods by sea, road and rail, contracts for the sale and purchase of goods, joint ventures, futures contracts and trade-financing agreements. We also provide regulatory advice and handle legal issues associated with procurement, logistics and documentary credits.

Major cases we have worked on include Deutsche Schachtbau v Raknoc & Shell International, Kloeckner v Gatoil, the m.v. 'P', the 'Taria', Comdel v Siporex, and the Sumitomo Copper Scandal.