Norton Rose Fulbright
Norton Rose Fulbright has a broad practice that covers a range of financing transactions, including big-ticket borrowing base facilities, though it also works in innovative areas such as the development of electronic trade platforms, carbon credit financing deals, and ESG-related matters. Global head of trade finance Nicholas Grandage and senior associate Richard Wilkes recently acted for Standard Chartered Bank in a €350m green trade finance syndicated uncommitted invoice-based facility to support Polestar Group’s import of electric vehicles into Europe and North America. 'Astute negotiator' Andrew Wood advises financiers (including banks, alternative financiers, DFIs, ECAs, corporate borrowers, fintechs, trading companies and suppliers/producers on cross-border structured trade finance transactions. With counsels Mark Brighouse and Tudor Plapcianu, Wood advised ED&F Man Group on the $629m structuring and refinancing its world-wide borrowing base, reference borrowing base, margin line, trade instruments and revolving credit facility across 29 jurisdictions. The arrival of highly regarded structured finance partner Yusuf Battiwala from Dentons boosts the firm's capacity to handle large structured note and receivables programmes.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Andrew Wood is an exceptional partner, bringing a wealth of expertise in trade finance structures, particularly within emerging markets. With extensive knowledge and experience, he provides invaluable insights to clients navigating complex financial landscapes.'
'Richard Wilkes is an exceptional lawyer known for his unwavering dedication to clients. Diligent and hard-working, he consistently goes above and beyond, delivering top-notch, tailored legal advice. His commitment to client satisfaction and meticulous approach establish him as a trusted advisor in the field of trade finance.’
‘Tudor Plapcianu - organized, knowledgeable, highly proactive and very responsive to queries and concerns. Excellent at anticipating what a client may require and checking before actioning. Deep trade knowledge.
'Nick Grandage - a real pleasure to work with. Incredible trade expertise, both from a legal and commercial perspective.’
‘It is a great team, great diversity, great service provided in close collaboration with the client. Always on the ball and with very good service all around. It is a great trade finance team.’
‘Andy Wood is great, always there when needed. Richard Wilkes is a great sidekick to Andy and managing the more tricky issues with others assisting.’
‘Loads of market experience, very pragmatic and subject knowledge experts.’
'Andy Wood is very knowledgeable, a very astute negotiator and good fun to work with too.'
Key clients
- Africa Finance Corporation
- AIG
- BP
- BNP Paribas
- MUFG
- Citibank
- Coal India Limited (CIL)
- Commodities Markets Council
- Demica
- Erste Group Bank AG
- European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
- Eurasian Resources Group
- Cobra Group
- ED&F Man Group
- HSBC
- Jefferies
- JP Morgan
- Louis Dreyfus
- Lloyds Bank
- Shell
- Macquarie
- Mercuria
- Natixis
- NEXIM
- RWE
- Santander
- Societe Generale
- Standard Chartered Bank
- Trafigura
- TD Securities
- ICBC Standard Bank
- Raiffeisen Bank International AG
- Mizuho Bank, Ltd
- Baffinland
- UK Export Finance
- Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank
- Brightfield Trading
- IFC
- Rabobank
- Commerzbank
Work highlights
- Advised ED&F Man Group ED&F Man group on the refinancing of their commodity finance facilities - including a US$300m injection of new money – across 30 jurisdictions, in connection with the US$1.5bn restructuring.
- Advised SCB as agent on a EUR350m green trade finance syndicated uncommitted invoice-based facility (together with an accordion facility of up to EUR250m) with Polestar Performance AB (Polestar), Swedish premium electric performance car maker and an affiliate to Volvo Cars and Geely Holding Group.
- Advised EBRD in relation to its award-winning Trade Facilitation Programme, which involves documentation with numerous banks in EBRD’s countries of operation.
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Leading individuals
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Nick Grandage