Underpinned by its global reach, Dentons is regularly involved in multijurisdictional, international trade matters. The team is jointly chaired by Roger Matthews, whose expertise spans export control investigations, sanctions, WTO laws, as well as customs, supply chain and regulatory issues; Daniel Lund, who is extremely knowledgeable of UK and EU regulatory frameworks; Katharine Harle, who handles the regulatory and investigations matters and Louisa Caswell who oversees the team’s disputes work.  

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Roger Matthews is a very knowledgeable and pragmatic sanctions expert who will think of the detail and nuance but also see the bigger picture, adding value at every step of the process and ensuring optimal results. Sarah Partridge-Smith offers invaluable insights and expertise in regard to the SAR regime and AML controls. ’

  • 'One of the go-to firms. Unlike many trade practices, they have depth of expertise across the whole range of international trade work – sanctions, export controls, national security, customs, WTO advice and trade remedies – and are able to draw on their experiences across an impressive range of issues and industries – reflective of the geographical range and substantive range of Dentons globally.’

  • ‘We have principally worked with Roger Matthews, who is in every sense a leader in this field. He gives analytically robust, confident and pragmatic advice, and looks at scenarios from all angles. Unlike many in this area he has been involved in trade and sanctions for many years, and his past experiences in the European Commission and HM Treasury sanctions units gives him a real advantage in anticipating and advising on the likely view of sanctions and export control authorities. Senior associate Rupert Ekblom is also a name to watch. ’

  • ‘Pragmatic, practical, and accurate. Additionally, this team not only has a great handle on EU/UK trade/customs/anti-dumping matters, but they can (1) provide how that will interact with non-EU and non-UK laws/regulations, (2) forecast potential issues, and (3) provide reasonable resolutions.’

  • ‘Dan Lund not only is fluent in the applicable laws and regulations, but he has the insight to flag issues that either we have not thought of yet or that may present themselves in other jurisdictions. He also has the legal and business expertise to efficiently and pragmatically to provide resolution to issues. Lastly, Dan has the ability to navigate many different personalities and preferences while providing the utmost value to the business.’

  • ‘You are very well looked after when you hire Denton's international trade practice. They excel at advising on very technical areas of international trade law. Advice is always timely and tailored to our business needs. Legal advice is sound and always takes into account the realities of our industry sector. Rates are incredibly reasonable given the top-notch support. Also great resource for supplementing our workforce, especially in legal markets with fewer trade controls legal specialists (e.g. Asia). ’

  • ‘Dan Lund has been my go-to for international trade legal support for almost a decade. He's responsive, understands the nuances of the law, and great at tailoring advice for my industry sector. He's a well-rounded international trade and national security specialist that is able to advise across legal practice areas where others cannot. I'm personally impressed with the great work he has done in the DE&I space, particularly in relation to supporting new parents in their return to the workforce following parental leave. ’

Key clients

  • BP
  • Avis
  • Burberry
  • Capita
  • DHL/Deutsche Post
  • Honeywell
  • Edrington
  • Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority
  • Howden
  • BASF
  • National Grid

Work highlights

  • Acting as sanctions adviser to BP, particularly in relation to the ongoing expansion of Russia sanctions.
  • Acting as the primary trade compliance adviser to DHL, covering sanctions, export controls, ransomware, and supply chain issues concerning global operations.
  • Advising National Grid on sanctions and trade matters, including situations arising out of the receipt and distribution of LNG and oil in the UK as well as on FDI risks and compliance.

Lawyers

Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Roger Matthews, Dan Lund, Katharine Harle, Louisa Caswell  

Other key lawyers

Rupert Ekblom, Alexander McGregor