London

London Office Overview

Our London office opened in November 2013 with a group focusing on trade and export finance. For more than 25 years, Sullivan partners have provided legal representation to the world’s leading trade finance practitioners in all aspects of their businesses, from asset acquisition to distribution to securitizations. As London is the undisputed center of trade and commodities finance, a large share of our trade finance work is done there. 

We advise clients concerning their activities throughout the world, with a special emphasis on the emerging markets of Africa, Asia, the CIS countries and Latin America. 

Our practice is multi-disciplinary, involving attorneys and solicitors expert in trade, banking, securitization, securities law, project finance, insurance, tax, compliance issues and dispute resolution.

In addition to trade and commodities finance, the firm works closely with our U.S. practice and the needs of our clients worldwide. 

Sullivan & Worcester is an international legal practice providing client services worldwide through its member firms Sullivan & Worcester LLP and Sullivan & Worcester UK LLP. Sullivan & Worcester UK LLP is affiliated with Sullivan & Worcester LLP which operates Sullivan & Worcester offices outside of England and Wales.

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Trade & Export Finance

Our market-leading, London- and New York-based Trade & Export Finance Group advises clients on transactions in a wide range of jurisdictions, with a special emphasis on emerging markets, including Africa, Asia, CIS, Middle East and Latin America. 

The Group advises well over 35 major trade finance banks and financial institutions as well as funds, corporate borrowers, agents and trustees, national and international organizations and the insurance market.

Sullivan has been recognized with numerous awards and consistent recognition, including:

• Chambers UK 2023 named Geoffrey Wynne and Simon Cook as Ranked individuals in Band 1, making Sullivan the only firm to have two such ranked lawyers in the Commodities: Trade Finance (UK-wide) category. In addition, Mark Norris was recognised as a Ranked Individual in Band 3, and Sam Fowler-Holmes was again included as an "Up and Coming" Lawyer.
• Trade Finance Global (TFG) named Sullivan "Best Trade Finance Law Firm" at the 2022 TFG International Trade Awards in cooperation with the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade (BAFT). TFG also named Sullivan "Best Trade Finance Law Firm" in its International Trade Finance Awards 2019.
• Global Trade Review (GTR) named Sullivan "Best Trade or Supply Chain Finance Law Firm" at the GTR Leaders in Trade Awards in 2022, and "Law Firm of the Year" in the category "Leaders in Trade for Innovation" in the GTR Leaders in Trade Awards 2021. The firm was also recognized in 2015 and 2016 and shortlisted for the 2018 and 2020 award. In addition, the firm also won two GTR Deals of the Year 2016 awards.
• Trade & Forfaiting Review (TFR) named Sullivan "Best Law Firm in Trade Finance" in its 2016 TFR Excellence in Trade Awards and 2015 and 2014 TFR Excellence in Trade Awards.
• The Legal 500 UK 2023 ranked the firm in Tier 1 for Trade Finance. In addition, Geoffrey Wynne was recognized in the "Hall of Fame" for "Leading Individuals" with Simon Cook and Mark Norris recognized as "Leading Individuals," partner Sam Fowler-Holmes included as a "Next Generation Partner" and managing associate Hannah Fearn named a "Rising Star" for trade finance.
• IFLR1000 Banking and Finance Guide 2023 (32nd edition) recognized Sullivan for Banking Lending - Lender Side, United Kingdom. 

Our practice is multi-disciplinary, involving lawyers who are experts in trade and export finance, project finance, asset finance, securitization, securities law, insurance, tax, compliance issues and dispute resolution. We have advised on deals involving all types of commodities including softs, metals, oil and gas.

The Group is able to advise on transactions involving English law and New York law as its main law.  With its extensive network of law firms across the globe, it can cover all cross-border issues and provide advice on local law issues.

We have experience in a wide range of matters including:

• Commodity financing: large syndicated pre-export financings, prepayment transactions, borrowing base, reserve base lending and inventory financings and commodity repos
• Receivables financing: multi-jurisdictional supply chain finance programs, invoice discounting, factoring and forfaiting transactions
• Structured financing: asset acquisitions, distribution, securitizations, hedges, credit derivatives and synthetic securitizations
• Trade services: advising on trade finance instruments and the application of uniform rules of practice
  Export credit agency (ECA) finance: short, medium and long-term export credit agency and multi-source finance
• Insurance: advising insurance brokers, investment funds, government agencies and corporates on commercial insurance arrangements including those which support structured trade, commodity and pre-export financing
• Trade disputes: representing clients in disputes in fora through the world, including the International Chamber of Commerce, the London Court of International Arbitration, American Arbitration Association, and ad hoc arbitrations, as well as traditional courtroom proceedings
• Regulation: our partners regularly advise on regulatory (Basel III), bribery and corruption issues and sanctions issues particularly in connection with trade and export finance.

Directions

Tower 42 is located on Old Broad Street, just a short walk from both Bank and Liverpool Street underground stations. Sullivan's offices are on floor 36 of Tower 42. Staff at the main reception desk will provide you with a security pass and direct you to the lifts to access floor 36. You may need to present identification at the main reception desk.