Contact details

Jonathan Spearing

T: +44 20 7809 2228 M: +44 7785 463 216 Email Jonathan | vCard Office: London

Awards

Commodities: Physicals

Commodities: Physicals

Commodities disputes

Commodities disputes

Commodities disputes

Commodities disputes

Jonathan Spearing Partner

Contact details

Jonathan Spearing

T: +44 20 7809 2228 M: +44 7785 463 216 Email Jonathan | vCard Office: London

Jonathan is an energy and natural resources lawyer, specialising in all aspects of the supply, carriage, storage and financing of commodities.

He advises mining groups, oil companies, trading houses, banks, energy utilities, industrial consumers and shipping clients on their international contracts and disputes.
  • Profile
  • Services
  • Sectors

Jonathan handles a wide range of commercial disputes but has particular expertise in matters relating to the sale of goods, trade and asset finance, storage and warehousing contracts, contracts of affreightment, charterparties and bills of lading.  

He was the lead associate on the team that acted for Mercuria in their successful defence of a headline-making US$270 million claim, relating to “repo” deals affected by a major metals warehousing fraud in China.

He also has extensive experience of contentious ship finance matters, having worked on some of the most significant cases of recent years including the Omega Navigation Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

On the non-contentious side, Jonathan’s practice includes advising on and drafting off-take, supply and master trading agreements, inventory financing agreements, pre-payment financing structures, warehousing and storage agreements, contracts of affreightment and charterparties.

"Very adept at advising on commodity-related contract drafting"

The Legal 500 UK 2019
  • Shipping
  • Commercial litigation
  • Marine and international trade
  • Commodities
  • International arbitration

Joint venture dispute – LCIA arbitration

Advising a major shipping company in a dispute with its joint venture partner concerning the provision of guarantees in respect of the joint venture company’s charterparty obligations.

Contentious ship finance 

Advising lenders in relation to claims against defauliting borrowers under various financing facilities, including the Omega Navigation Chapter 11 bankruptcy case.

Voyage charters and COAs

Advising on and drafting numerous contracts of affreightment and voyage charters for the carriage of LPG, coal, iron ore, biomass, aggregates and other commodities.

LMAA arbitrations

Representing clients in various arbitrations arising out of contracts of affreightment, charterparties and bills of lading.
 
More: Shipping

Mercuria Energy Trading

Acting for Mercuria in their successful defence of a headline-making US$270 million claim by Citibank, relating to “repo” deals affected by a major metals warehousing fraud in China.

OFGEM investigation

Advising a power utility on statutory investigations by OFGEM alleging infringement of the Community Energy Savings Programme, and associated High Court litigation against third party contractors.

Ship finance enforcement

Acting for major ship finance bank in connection with the arrest in England and Wales, and subsequent sale, of four vessels owned by a borrower in administration.

LNG cargo

Advising a major trading house in relation to claims arising under two charterparties following an explosion on board an LNG vessel.

Anti-suit injunctions

Acting for various clients in relation applications for anti-suit injunctions and other interim relief in support of arbitral proceedings.
 
More: Commercial litigation

Mercuria Energy Trading

Acting for Mercuria in their successful defence of a headline-making US$270 million claim by Citibank, relating to “repo” deals affected by a major metals warehousing fraud in China.

Voyage charters and COAs

Advising on and drafting numerous contracts of affreightment and voyage charters for the carriage of LPG, coal, iron ore, biomass, aggregates and other commodities.

Commodity arbitrations

Representing clients in various ICC, LCIA, LME, UNCITRAL and ad hoc arbitrations relating to the supply of ores and concentrates, base and ferrous metals, oil and petroleum products and soft commodities.

LMAA arbitrations

Representing clients in various arbitrations arising out of contracts of affreightment, charterparties and bills of lading.

Contentious ship finance 

Advising lenders in relation to claims against defaulting borrowers under various financing facilities, including the Omega Navigation Chapter 11 bankruptcy case.
 
More: Marine and international trade

Mercuria Energy Trading

Acting for Mercuria in their successful defence of a headline-making US$270 million claim by Citibank, relating to “repo” deals affected by a major metals warehousing fraud in China.

Coal - price review arbitration

Advising a major energy company in a dispute with an international mining group regarding the pricing and price review mechanism under a long term supply agreement.

Copper concentrates – LCIA arbitration

Acting for a mining company in a dispute with a major trading house regarding the quality of copper concentrates delivered under a supply contract.

Biomass – supply, freight, warehousing and logistics contracts

Advising on the supply and freight contracts for several biomass conversion and power station projects, as well as advising on various related warehousing and logistics contracts.

LNG – long term supply contract

Advising a major energy company on the terms of a long term LNG supply agreement.
 
More: Commodities

Coal - UNCITRAL arbitration

Advising a major power company in a dispute with an international mining group regarding the pricing and price review mechanism under a long term supply agreement.

Copper concentrates – LCIA arbitration

Acting for a mining company in a dispute with a major trading house regarding the quality of copper concentrates delivered under a supply contract.

Joint venture dispute – LCIA arbitration

Advising a major shipping company in a dispute with its joint venture partner concerning the provision of guarantees in respect of the joint venture company’s charterparty obligations.

Commodity arbitrations

Representing clients in various ICC, LCIA, LME, UNCITRAL and ad hoc arbitrations relating to the supply of ores and concentrates, base and ferrous metals, oil and petroleum products and soft commodities.

LMAA arbitrations

Representing clients in various arbitrations arising out of contracts of affreightment, charterparties and bills of lading.
 
More: International arbitration
  • International trade
  • Mining and minerals
  • Energy and natural resources

Mercuria Energy Trading

Acting for Mercuria in their successful defence of a headline-making US$270 million claim by Citibank, relating to “repo” deals affected by a major metals warehousing fraud in China.

Copper concentrates – LCIA arbitration

Acting for mining company in a dispute with a major trading house regarding the quality of copper concentrates delivered under a supply contract.

Coal - price review arbitration

Advising a major energy company in a dispute with an international mining group regarding the pricing and price review mechanism under a long term supply agreement.

Biomass – supply, freight, warehousing and logistics contracts

Advising on the supply and freight contracts for four biomass conversion and power station projects, as well as advising on various related warehousing and logistics contracts.

LNG – long term supply contract

Advising major energy company on the terms of a long term LNG supply agreement.
 
More: International trade

Copper concentrates – LCIA arbitration

Acting for mining company in a dispute with a major trading house regarding the quality of copper concentrates delivered under a supply contract.

Coal - price review arbitration

Advising a major energy company in a dispute with an international mining group regarding the pricing and price review mechanism under a long term supply agreement.

Off-take agreements

Advising on and drafting various off-take agreements (including as part of pre-payment financing deals) for coal, ores and concentrates.

Voyage charters and COAs

Advising on and drafting various contracts of affreightment and voyage charters for the carriage of coal, ores and concentrates.

Commodity arbitrations

Representing clients in various ICC, LCIA, UNCITRAL and ad hoc arbitrations relating to the supply of coal, ores and concentrates, as well as base and ferrous metals.
 
More: Mining and minerals

Copper concentrates – LCIA arbitration

Acting for mining company in a dispute with a major trading house regarding the quality of copper concentrates delivered under a supply contract.

Coal - price review arbitration

Advising a major energy company in a dispute with an international mining group regarding the pricing and price review mechanism under a long term supply agreement.

Biomass – supply, freight, warehousing and logistics contracts

Advising on the supply and freight contracts for four biomass conversion and power station projects, as well as advising on various related warehousing and logistics contracts.

LNG – long term supply contract

Advising major energy company on the terms of a long term LNG supply agreement.

Commodity arbitrations

Representing clients in various ICC, LCIA, LME, UNCITRAL and ad hoc arbitrations relating to the supply of ores and concentrates, base and ferrous metals, oil and petroleum products and soft commodities.
 
More: Energy and natural resources

Awards

Commodities: Physicals

Commodities: Physicals

Commodities disputes

Commodities disputes

Commodities disputes

Commodities disputes

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