Commodities: Trade Finance
UK Guide 2025 : UK-wide
Band 1
Contact number
+44 (0)20 7448 1000About
Provided by Sullivan & Worcester
Sullivan’s London office is focused on all aspects of trade and export finance and includes insurance and dispute resolution. It also advises clients in relation to banking, digitalisation of banking and trade, receivables financing including securitisation, securities law, project finance, tax and compliance issues, and works closely with the firm’s US practice and the needs of clients worldwide.
The firm’s Trade & Export Finance Group advises on transactions across a wide range of emerging markets, with particular emphasis on Africa, Asia, the CIS and Latin America, as well as developed markets including Europe.
The group regularly advises over 50 financial institutions as well as funds, corporate borrowers, agents and trustees, international organisations, industry bodies including BAFT and ITFA, and the insurance market.
The group advises on transactions involving English law and New York law and provides access to advice on local law issues. The practice covers all cross-border trade and export finance issues, together with project and receivables finance and all forms of emerging market finance, as well as insurance and disputes advice, including:
· Commodity financing
· Receivables financing
· Structured financing
· Trade services
· Export Credit Agency (ECA) finance
· Digitalisation of trade finance, fintech and electronic banking
· Project Finance
· Insurance.
· Trade disputes
· Regulation
Chambers Review
Sullivan & Worcester has a strong trade finance practice with considerable industry experience. The firm advises global clients on receivables and on commodity and export financing structures in emerging markets, in particular in Africa and the Middle East. Its clients include both lenders and borrowers, including major banks and corporates. The firm is able to provide expert regulatory guidance.
Work Highlights
- Sullivan & Worcester advised the London branch of Mizrahi Tefahot Bank in relation to the funding of Essar Oil UK’s USD150 million receivables portfolio.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The team works well on unpredictable and often tight timelines in transactions, ensuring a successful closing."
"The team are real subject matter experts in the field of global trade, export and supply chain finance."
"Sullivan & Worcester are always available, extremely knowledgeable and easy to work with."
"The team has excellent knowledge of trade finance; it is always at the forefront of recent developments."
"The team has extensive trade finance knowledge, making it easy to discuss complex matters."
"The team works well on unpredictable and often tight timelines in transactions, ensuring a successful closing."
"The team are real subject matter experts in the field of global trade, export and supply chain finance."
"Sullivan & Worcester are always available, extremely knowledgeable and easy to work with."
"The team has excellent knowledge of trade finance; it is always at the forefront of recent developments."
"The team has extensive trade finance knowledge, making it easy to discuss complex matters."
Notable Practitioners
Geoffrey Wynne is head of the trade and export finance group in the firm's London office. He is regarded as a leading expert in trade finance and regularly advises on domestic and international structured transactions.
"Geoffrey is a hugely respected industry expert."
"Geoffrey Wynne is by far the best lawyer in trade finance."
"Geoffrey is an excellent professional, very client-oriented and simply a wonderful person to work with. He is extremely knowledgeable."
"Geoff has an excellent approach to trade finance and any industry-level attempts at creating standardisation."
Simon Cook has extensive expertise in commodity and trade finance. He advises clients on a broad range of finance issues, with notable experience in soft commodities matters. His clients include lenders and borrowers, whom he advises on cross-border transactions spanning Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
"Simon is an industry expert and first-class legal counsel. He's very commercially minded."
Mark Norris has extensive experience in infrastructure financing, particularly across the healthcare and construction sectors. He is highly adept at handling projects arising out of Africa.
"Mark is a details man."
Sam Fowler-Holmes is noted for his expertise in trade finance matters. He is well positioned to advise on cross-border mandates with experience acting for both lenders and corporates.
"Sam's dedication, energy and market knowledge are invaluable."
"He just thinks about everything in such a calculated, methodical way, and his attention to detail is amazing."
"Sam is very helpful and insightful."
Ranked Lawyers at
Sullivan & Worcester
UK-wide