Mining and minerals

Stephenson Harwood is perfectly placed to advise you on a full range of mining related matters, with significant experience of advising international clients on mining projects, project finance, and international arbitration and disputes. With experienced lawyers across a network of offices globally, we deliver practical, commercial advice for every aspect of your transaction.
  • Profile
  • Experience
  • Key contacts

Through acting on both transactional as well as dispute resolution matters, Stephenson Harwood has developed an in-depth understanding of the market and the challenges that our clients face in order to stay competitive. This experience enables us to provide innovative and commercial solutions to the legal problems encountered by our clients.

Our international team has in-depth experience in:

  • capital markets
  • carriage by sea and international trade
  • disputes between mines and contractors
  • exploration and development work
  • intellectual property matters
  • M&A and joint ventures
  • mining codes and concessions
  • off take agreements and disputes
  • project finance
  • regulatory, environment and sustainability
  • tax structuring.

Our network of offices and partners overseas enable us to team these deals seamlessly across a number of jurisdictions.

Through our regional presence and strength in Asian markets, we have played an integral part in the increase in demand for power in the region, advising our clients on investments in exploration and mining operations (predominantly iron ore and coal mines). For instance, we are honorary legal advisers to the Myanmar Federation of Mining and assisting in the drafting of the new mining law. We also benefit from close working relationships across Africa with a network of "best friends".

"They are a top-notch commodities firm." 
Chambers UK 2022

Long term off-take and supply and shipping agreements

Drafting and advising on the terms of long term off-take and supply and shipping agreements for iron ore shipments from mines in Mexico, Brazil, and Africa and for coal from Colombia, South Africa, the United States, Indonesia and Russia.

Patagonia Gold Plc

Advised this gold production and exploration company on its AIM IPO and subsequent secondary fundraisings and on its acquisition of mining assets in Argentina and associated royalty exchange.

Konkola Copper Mines

Advised in relation to disputes with contractors.

Major South African mine

Advised in relation to off take disputes.

Major Indian mine

Advised in relation to quality dispute with a buyer.

Major trading house

Advised in relation to fraudulent activities in a South American mine.

Africa Finance Corporation

Advised on its strategic investment into AIM listed Mozambican coal mining and coal-fired power station project company, Ncondezi Energy.

Structured gold financing

Acting for a Swiss commodity trading house in relation to an Indonesian gold financing with an underlying physical off-take agreement and a cash-settled commodity derivative.

Coal trading company

Advising the Singapore office of a major European coal trading company on contracts for marketing, sale and shipping of Indonesian coal.

Mining consortium

Advising a consortium of international mining companies and a development agency on social, health and housing arrangements in connection with its bid for Zambian mining interests.

Mining groups dispute resolution

Advising and representing mining groups sellers and off-takers of coal and iron ore in litigation and arbitration under ICC and LCIA with respect to; issues under concessions agreements, regulatory, force majeure, illegality, quality, price review determination, shipments, termination, non and late delivery.

US mining group

Representing a US mining group in obtaining an arbitration award against Indian parties, subsequent enforcement and recovery (LCIA London).

Lawyer

Jonathan Spearing Partner

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

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© Stephenson Harwood LLP 2016. Any reference to Stephenson Harwood in this document means Stephenson Harwood LLP and/or its affiliated undertakings. Any reference to a partner is used to refer to a member of Stephenson Harwood LLP.