Fieldfisher
Fieldfisher‘s financial markets and products group, in which the trade finance team sits, 'combines a wide range of expertise across different disciplines, which helps clients to reach agreements that will stand the test of time'. The firm handles trade finance arrangements not only in relation to commodities, but also other sectors and asset classes, and its work spans prepayment finance, documentary and standby letters of credit, export and pre-export facilities, reserve base lending, borrowing base, inventory finance and receivables finance. Practice head Oliver Abel Smith focuses on trade and commodity finance and asset finance, particularly in the energy and natural resources sector. Structured finance partner Dougall Molson, who assisted Invesco with the update of its precious metals-backed exchange traded certificates programme. and debt finance specialist Stephen Moller are closely involved with the practice.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The team is very easy to deal with and have excellent standards for communication in a timely fashion. Their strengths are most definitely quick turnaround of highly complex documentation. No request is too much. They very much have an open-door approach which is very useful when you need to sound out a legal query with them.'
'What I also have found stands out is their ability to think around an issue and come up with suitable alternatives particularly when counter legal firms are trying to overcomplicate a legal document. Collaboration within their department is well carried out and at all times you get first class communication.’
‘They are very approachable, and always respond in a timely fashion whereas some law firms you may be waiting several hours for a response. Over the years I have built strong relationships with all the partners in the team and once they know how a particular lender likes to operate, they adapt.'
'I would always recommend their services. Cool, calm and collected and highly knowledgeable, particularly when dealing with a banking product that is not the norm. Easy to deal with, timely communication and clear and concise in their work.’
'The Fieldfisher team combines a wide range of expertise across different disciplines. This helps give us a broad service that highlights issues to consider wider than the immediate task in hand. This has helped us reach agreements that will stand the test of time as we go, and not just solve today's problem.'
Key clients
- Banque Misr
- Banco do Brasil
- Europe Arab Bank plc
- European Bank of Reconstruction and Development
- Habib Bank AG
- ICBC Standard Bank
- Invesco
- Silicon Valley Bank
- Shawbrook Bank
- Trafigura Pte Limited
- Traxys Europe SA
Work highlights
- Advised Invesco in relation to its Invesco Physical Markets precious metals-backed exchange traded certificates programme, one of the largest gold-backed products in Europe.
- Advised an alternative lender focussed on trade finance on a borrowing base facility secured against Renewable Transport Fuel Certificates and UK Emissions Allowances.
- Advised a North African commercial bank on a $130 million facility with African Development Bank for the purpose of funding SMEs, technology based businesses and agribusinesses in country, specifically targeted at businesses run by or benefitting women.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Oliver Abel Smith