Our commodities team advise on issues relating to the full range of physical and financial commodities classes - particularly coal, metal ores and minerals, oil and gas (including LNG), renewable energy and soft commodities.
Our clients include mining groups, international oil and gas companies, trading houses, banks, power and utility companies, industrial groups and manufacturers, insurance companies, funds and private equity houses.
We have extensive experience in complex cross-jurisdictional disputes and our lawyers have represented clients in arbitrations under all the major international rules (ICC, LMAA, LCIA, UNCITRAL, SIAC, CIETAC and HIAC), as well as before commodity trade tribunals (including LME, GAFTA and FOSFA).
We can help you with:
- long term supply and off-take agreements
- spot and master trading agreements
- standard form contracts (including SCoTA and EFET annexes)
- futures and derivatives (including ISDA and FFAs)
- bills of lading, charterparties and COAs
- cargo loss and damage
- storage and warehousing
- ports and logistics contracts
- inventory and “repo” financing
- documentary credits and standby letters of credit
- regulation and compliance
- corporate and tax
- fraud and asset recovery
- sanctions advice.
"An excellent understanding of, and wealth of experience in, the coal and metals trading markets."
The Legal 500 UK 2022
Mercuria vs Citibank – commodity “repo” dispute
Acting 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.
Mining – LCIA arbitrations
Acting for one of the world's largest copper mines in a dispute with a contractor.
Off-shore oil and gas
Acting for one of the world's largest oil companies in disputes with drilling and other offshore contractors.
London Metal Exchange (LME)
Advising Traderight on investments by joint venture signatories, in order to secure membership of the London Metal Exchange (LME).
Metal Concentrates – LCIA arbitrations
Advising mining group in a series of quality and other disputes with a major trading company relating to the supply of copper, lead and zinc concentrates.
Coal - price review 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.
Oil and gas terminal/storage related advice
Advising on establishing a shipping fuel storage facility. This was an on and offshore port facility in East Africa, in partnership with the host government on behalf of a significant player in the commodities industry.
LNG supply agreement
Advising a major power and utility group on 20-year LNG supply contract.
Biomass – precedent supply and freight contracts
Drafting suite of precedent supply contracts, charterparties and contracts of affreightment for a major UK energy company.
Dairy Products - “repo” agreement
Advising a major Australian bank on a “repo” transaction for powdered milk stored in European warehouses.
Sulphuric acid – quality dispute
Advising a major zinc producer in a quality dispute with one of the world’s largest fertiliser traders over a series of contracts for the sale of sulphuric acid.
Cocoa beans – "repo" Agreement
Advising a major Australian bank on a “repo” transaction for cocoa beans stored in European warehouses and Ghanaian warehouses.
Oil and gas – Sale contract chain dispute
Advising and managing complex multi-party High Court disputes relating to the delivery of off-spec product.
Soybean dispute
Advising a major Swiss soft commodities trading company in a GAFTA dispute with a German soybean trader related to unpaid fees.
FOSFA arbitration
Advised a Mozambique-based food production company in a FOSFA arbitration in Durban, South Africa, against a leading Indian flour trading company. The claim was for US$5 million.