Jonathan Spearing
Partner - Head of Trade & Commodities
Jonathan is a leading expert in trade and commodities, guiding clients through complex disputes and transactions with strategic insight.
Partner - Head of Trade & Commodities
Jonathan is a leading expert in trade and commodities, guiding clients through complex disputes and transactions with strategic insight.
Languages - English
Jurisdiction - England & Wales
Jonathan Spearing is a specialist in the energy, natural resources, and commodities sectors, serving a diverse clientele including mining groups, oil and gas companies, refiners, trading houses, charterers, banks, energy utilities, and industrial consumers. His expertise spans both litigation and advisory roles, making him a versatile asset for clients facing commercial disputes or seeking transactional guidance.
Jonathan's practice covers High Court litigation and international arbitration, with a particular focus on the supply, carriage, storage, distribution, and financing of commodities. He is renowned for his market-leading practice in commodities fraud cases, offering clients a sharp intellect and committed approach to resolving complex legal challenges. He also advises client on complex physical commodity and structured commodity finance transactions.
Clients appreciate Jonathan's hands-on and practical approach, often seeking his strategic legal advice at board level for commercially or politically sensitive issues. His ability to navigate stressful situations with a calm and steady hand makes him a valued partner in achieving successful outcomes.
Commodities fraud
Acting for various clients in high-profile disputes arising out of commodity financing frauds, including applications for freezing injunctions and other interim relief and the coordination of legal proceedings in multiple jurisdictions.
Physical commodity disputes
Acting for producers, traders and other clients in disputes with counterparties relating to the supply, storage, distribution and financing of energy, metal, and soft commodities (Commercial Court, LCIA, ICC, SIAC, UNCITRAL, RSA, SAL, GAFTA and FOSFA).
Physical commodity contracts
Advising financiers, producers, refiners and trading clients on standard form contracts and the negotiation of bespoke contracts for the supply and distribution of a wide range of energy, metal and soft commodities.
Trade & commodity finance
Advising financiers and trading clients on structured finance transactions including prepayments, inventory financing, tolling arrangements and receivable financings, as well as on other products including letters of credit, guarantees and documentary collections.
Storage, warehousing and logistics
Advising clients on the warehousing of goods, including the negotiation of collateral management agreements, and on various associated logistics arrangements.
Shipping disputes
Acting for trading clients in various contamination, misdelivery and other disputes arising under charterparties and bills of lading (LMAA).
Day-to-day advisory
Providing real-time support on to day-to-day trading issues, including late/non-delivery, quality/contamination, force majeure, insolvency, termination and hedging.
