Trade Finance

International trade depends on the reliable movement of goods, capital, and documentation across borders, jurisdictions, and time zones. At every stage of the supply chain, legal risk must be identified, allocated, and managed with precision. Our trade finance practice advises banks, financial institutions, corporates, traders, and multilateral agencies on the full spectrum of trade finance instruments, structures, and disputes, helping clients transact with confidence in an increasingly complex global market.

What We Do

– Letters of Credit, Guarantees, and Documentary Collections

We advise on the issuance, confirmation, negotiation, and enforcement of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and demand guarantees.

Our work extends to performance bonds, advance payment guarantees, bid bonds, and retention guarantees, where we assist clients in drafting, reviewing, and enforcing instruments that underpin transactions worldwide.

– Supply Chain Finance and Receivables Finance

We advise originators, funders, and programme managers on the structuring and documentation of supply chain finance programmes, receivables purchase facilities, forfaiting arrangements, and asset backed lending. Our focus is on ensuring that the legal framework supporting these programmes is robust and commercially workable across multiple jurisdictions.

We recognise that supply chain finance sits at the intersection of banking, trade, and technology. As platforms and fintech solutions reshape how receivables are originated, validated, and funded, we help clients navigate the legal implications of digitisation while protecting their commercial position.

– Trade Finance Regulation and Compliance

The regulatory environment governing trade finance continues to evolve at pace, driven by sanctions regimes, anti-money laundering requirements, anti-bribery legislation, and export control frameworks.

Our expertise in this area includes advising on the screening and due diligence obligations that arise in connection with letters of credit and guarantee transactions, the management of sanctions risk in documentary credit chains, and the development of internal policies and procedures designed to meet regulatory expectations while preserving operational efficiency.

– Digitisation and Innovation in Trade Finance

Traditional trade finance processes have long relied on physical documentation: bills of lading, inspection certificates, invoices, and insurance policies, exchanged and verified by multiple intermediaries across different jurisdictions. We advise on the legal and regulatory challenges arising from the digitisation of trade documents and the application of new technologies, including distributed ledger technology and smart contracts, to trade finance workflows.

Why Work With Us

Our trade finance practice is built on a thorough understanding of the instruments, market practice, and regulatory frameworks that define this sector. We combine technical legal expertise with genuine commercial insight, enabling us to advise on both the structuring of complex transactions and the resolution of disputes when they arise.

Clients value our ability to deliver clear, commercially focused advice under pressure, whether that means turning around documentation on an accelerated timetable or managing a multi party dispute across several jurisdictions.

Get in Touch

If you would like to discuss how we can support your trade finance requirements, please contact a member of our team. We would be pleased to hear from you.