International trade

Advising a Mozambique-based food production company in a FOSFA arbitration in Durban, South Africa, against a leading Indian flour trading company. 

Representing an international energy and infrastructure company in connection with a debt recovery claim under a settlement agreement under which the respondents were jointly and severally liable to repay the monies owed in respect of the purchase of gas oil delivered to Nigeria.

Acting for Mercuria in their successful defence of a headline-making US$270 million claim, relating to “repo” deals affected by a major metals warehousing fraud in China.

Representing a commodity trader in defence of claims in SIAC arbitration arising out of the sale of a cargo of Indonesian steam coal. The case involved disputes over delay in payment, quality of the cargo at load port, and delays at the discharge port due to exercise of lien over cargo.

Advising a trading house on litigation and arbitration arising out of a dispute over steel consignments supplied to a customer in Sri Lanka.

Advising 3 major trading houses in around 100 GAFTA/FOSFA arbitrations (both first tier and Board of Appeal) arising out of detention / demurrage and time-bar disputes in Paranagua.

Advising a Russian oil trading group on issues arising under a complex series of interlinked and back-to-back oil trading contracts of Russian oil origin to the value of US$200 million and on related LCIA proceedings.

Defending claims for price adjustments to the API2 price under split shipments of Russian coal in a long term supply agreement.  

Advising and representing an energy trading company in the Balkans in an ICC arbitration under Swiss law against a large Greek energy company in relation to issues of force majeure events.

Representing a Middle Eastern commodity trader in a US$66 million Geneva-seated SCIA arbitration in relation to the sale of LPG.

Acting for a Geneva-based oil trader in LCIA arbitration proceedings in successfully defending claims by an oil major in relation to the alleged non-delivery of a shipment of base oils on grounds of force majeure.

Acting for a Geneva-based trader in successfully defending claims in arbitration proceedings for non-delivery on the basis that the buyer was controlled by an individual who was subject to US and EU sanctions imposed on supporters of the Assad regime in Syria.

Advising a UAE commodities trader in a series of GAFTA/FOSA arbitrations worth US$3 million for failure to deliver and wrongful termination of a number of contracts for the sale of soy beans by the seller.

Advising a UAE oil trader in a US$4.5 million LCIA Arbitration regarding a dispute under a contract for the sale of MSFO and LSFO from refineries in Turkmenistan. Successfully procured the discharge of an emergency injunction obtained by the buyers, preventing our clients from dealing with cargo the subject of the dispute.

Representing an international energy and infrastructure company in two LCIA arbitrations and two ad hoc arbitrations (to be consolidated under one arbitration) worth approximately US$8,900,000. Each arbitration has been commenced under four separate contracts for the sale of Jet A1/Gasoil and the dispute concerns monies owed under the contracts.

Acting for a Middle Eastern trading house in 3GAFTA/FOSFA arbitrations totalling c.US$40 million and in related High Court proceedings in London.