Commodities disputes

HFW

Client Satisfaction

HFW has ‘a very deep and impressive team with experience in wide range of physical and financial commodities’, and clients praise the firm’s ‘expertise and skill in handling complex disputes, responsiveness and value for money’. The firm counts many of the world’s largest energy and commodity trading companies among its clients, as well as major global banks. Practice head Alistair Feeney ‘can distil complex legal concepts into succinct and practical advice’ and is a go-to authority on commodities trading disputes. Brian Perrott is an established commercial litigator with a particular speciality in commodities, derivatives and shipping matters, while international commodity trading specialists Judith Prior and Damian Honey are frequently called upon by traders, producers, financiers and insurers to advise on matters concerning physical and financial sale and purchase, finance and transportation. Michael Buffham and Rosie Harrison are proof that the firm is organically developing a new generation of standout lawyers who will inherit the mantle from the senior practitioners.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Very deep and impressive team with experience in a wide range of physical and financial commodities.'
‘Brian Perrott is a creative thought leader. He thinks about cases from every angle and is exceptional in coming up with strategies to maximise chances of success. One of the standout features of Brian's creativity is the way he uses his immersion in case law to think about parallels or precedents, often in ways that are outside the box. His penetrating analysis enables him to break down complex problems into clear and convincing propositions that build up to a compelling answer.'
‘Alistair Feeney is my 'go-to-guy' for physical seaborne energy commodities disputes. He is pragmatic and very clever, and can quickly gain the confidence of sophisticated internal stakeholders on how to manage disputes. Sarah Taylor is also outstanding, and has a long track record of assisting with some of the most complex disputes in commodities.’
‘Judith Prior knows the arbitration rules of the Sugar Association of London and the Refined Sugar Association inside out. A well-trusted advisor and I would say colleague as opposed to counsel.’
‘The team's key strengths lie in deep sector knowledge, expertise and skill in handling complex disputes, responsiveness and value for money.'
‘Alistair Feeney is our go-to authority on commodities trading disputes. His advice is always extremely clear. He can distil complex legal concepts into succinct and practical advice that can easily be passed onto the business. His knowing how our business operates means he can give us advice quickly, thereby ensuring the company has relevant legal protection in place early on in any dispute. Alistair has a great strategic eye when it comes to handling disputes.'
'Rosie Harrison is a rising star in my opinion. She works closely with Alistair. Her advice is always clear and well thought through, and reflects both her growing commodities trading knowledge and her now extensive disputes experience (including in handling pieces of litigation for our company). Her recent promotion was well-deserved and (in my view) reflects her status as a valuable and competent member of the practice. As well as handling disputes for us, Rosie is always on hand to provide quick and pertinent advice on day-to-day trading issues that arise. She is knowledgeable, well-organised and responsive.'
'Damian Honey is an expert in his field, particularly on the transactional side, and his advice is always relevant and clear.’

Key clients

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
ICE Benchmark Administration
ICE Digital Trade
Air BP Italia SPA
OMV Supply & Trading Ltd

Work highlights

Acting for Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation in a case in connection with the collapse of high-profile bunker trading house Hin Leong and associated companies, which involved dealing with numerous trade credit issues and operational disputes and issues.
Advising ICE Benchmark Administration (IBA) in relation to issues arising out of the anticipated launch of ICE Commodity Traceability (ICE CoT), a technology platform designed to maintain frictionless trade of physical cocoa and coffee by allowing traceability data to be shared on a confidential basis across the supply chain.
Advising Air BP Italia on a matter concerning a term contract under which Saras was to supply jet fuel to Air BP Italia for into-wing deliveries at Venice Marco Polo Airport during 2022, but experienced difficulties which led to deliveries being delayed, with the result that BP was obliged to make emergency purchases of replacement jet fuel to avoid disruption to into-wing deliveries.

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