Ranking tables

Commodities: Trade Finance | UK

UK-wide

This section covers the regulation and trade of commodities, and any related litigation. It does not typically include investing in a company that will eventually produce a commodity (eg investing in a coal mine) unless a clear link to commodities trading can be demonstrated. It is split into three tables:  Derivatives & Energy Trading: This covers advice on commodities derivatives transactions and regulations, including trading relating to energy units such as electricity, gas, coal and oil.   Trade Finance: This covers prepayment financing, receivables, structured commodity finance and export credit financing.   Physicals: This covers disputes concerning the direct trade in commodities and related matters. Practitioners advise on a range of both 'soft' and 'hard' commodities, from cash crops to coal, metals, oil and gas. Typical clients include commodities trading houses, export credit agencies, financial institutions, freighters and insurers. 

All Departments profiles

1

Band 1

  1. Hogan Lovells
    1
    Hogan Lovells
    Commodities: Trade Finance
    2025 | Band 1 | 15 Years Ranked
    Hogan Lovells has a highly regarded trade finance practice with significant experience in a range of international markets, including Sub-Saharan Africa, Russia and the CIS. It regularly acts for development banks, commodities traders and export credit agencies on complex structured financings. The firm also demonstrates strong cross-border capabilities.
  2. Norton Rose Fulbright
    1
    Norton Rose Fulbright
    Commodities: Trade Finance
    2025 | Band 1 | 15 Years Ranked
    Norton Rose Fulbright has an eminent commodities practice advising on sophisticated trade finance structures, derivatives and energy trading, with expertise across all commodity types. The firm is active globally on behalf of international clients, with notable strength in emerging markets. It is also noteworthy for its regulatory counsel. The firm's clients include well-known banks and trading companies. It provides guidance on innovative trade finance platforms.
2

Band 2

  1. A&O Shearman
    2
    A&O Shearman
    Commodities: Trade Finance
    2025 | Band 2 | 15 Years Ranked
    A&O Shearman marshals international reach to act for a wide range of clients, includingfinancial institutions, traders, producers and development banks. The firm has particular acumen in sophisticated financing work such as bilateral trade and receivables financings and structuring complex commodities arbitrage transactions. It also provides expert advice on the regulatory aspects of matters.
  2. Dentons
    2
    Dentons
    Commodities: Trade Finance
    2025 | Band 2 | 15 Years Ranked
    Dentons offers advice on trade finance structures and notable structured prepayment expertise. The firm regularly handles multi-jurisdictional work in developing markets and worldwide, supported by the firm's international offices. It is adept at representing financial institutions and oil traders.
  3. Linklaters
    2
    Linklaters
    Commodities: Trade Finance
    2025 | Band 2 | 15 Years Ranked
    Linklaters is respected for work in trade finance, as well as derivatives and energy trading. The firm regularly works with large clients, including investment banks, trading houses and commodity corporates. It possesses extensive expertise in diverse areas such as structured financing, inventory monetisations and commodity joint ventures. The team offers expert international and cross-border services.
  4. Reed Smith LLP
    2
    Reed Smith LLP
    Commodities: Trade Finance
    2025 | Band 2 | 15 Years Ranked
    Reed Smith has a market-leading commodities practice with extensive capability across physicals, derivatives, energy trading and trade finance. The firm deals with all kinds of hard and soft commodities, from sugar to metals. It marshals a deep bench of practitioners to represent global clients, which include trade associations, banks and producers. Reed Smith maintains a strong international practice.
  5. White & Case LLP
    2
    White & Case LLP
    Commodities: Trade Finance
    2025 | Band 2 | 15 Years Ranked
    White & Case represents trading companies, banks and financial institutions in sophisticated trade finance deals. The firm is particularly recognised for reserve-based lending, regularly working in Africa, the CIS and other emerging markets. It demonstrates expertise in the LNG sector, handling complex financings.
  6. Sullivan & Worcester
    Commodities: Trade Finance
    2025 | Band 2
3

Band 3

  1. gunnercooke
    3
    gunnercooke
    Commodities: Trade Finance
    2025 | Band 3 | 3 Years Ranked
    gunnercooke has a broad trade finance practice. The firm represents a wide range of clients, including biofuel suppliers, commodity traders and investment banks, among others. The team advises on pre-export financing and revolving facilities.
  2. HFW
    3
    HFW
    Commodities: Trade Finance
    2025 | Band 3 | 1 Years Ranked
    HFW has a widely lauded physicals practice, also offering capability in derivatives and energy trading, among other areas. The firm routinely handles complex and high-profile commodities disputes and contractual matters for international clients on a global scale. HFW is notable for its handling of matters before GAFTA, FOSFA and other trade bodies. The team possesses significant expertise across the full spectrum of commodities, including metals, grain, sugar, oil and biofuels. Its clients include oil and gas companies, traders and banks.
  3. Squire Patton Boggs
    3
    Squire Patton Boggs
    Commodities: Trade Finance
    2025 | Band 3 | 1 Years Ranked
    Squire Patton Boggs has a well-regarded commodities practice with international capabilities. It has an expanding team with notable strength in the physical commodities space. The firm acts for a range of clients including energy, mining and oil companies in addition to traders.
  4. Watson Farley & Williams
    3
    Watson Farley & Williams
    Commodities: Trade Finance
    2025 | Band 3 | 15 Years Ranked
    Watson Farley & Williams has an established trade finance practice, advising banks and financial institutions on a range of transactions and structures. The firm provides a global reach through its network of international offices. It exhibits particular knowledge of African markets and represents clients in significant upstream financing.