Hill Dickinson boosts commodities team

(Posted on 27/06/19)

Hill Dickinson has announce the strategic acquisition of two partners for its growing commodities team.

Experienced energy sector lawyers Mark Aspinall and Paul Sinnott have joined Hill Dickinson from Eversheds and will operate from the firm’s London office.

Welcoming them, team leader Jeff Isaacs said: ‘We are excited to have brought in two very significant lateral hires in Mark and Paul. Their individual and combined experience in transactional, derivative-based work and dispute resolution is closely aligned with our strategy to broaden the capability and expertise of our existing group.

‘Mark and Paul have built up strong followings in the energy sector, which will reinforce the growth of our offering in this important area and complement our existing client base.

‘This is a very exciting time for Hill Dickinson’s rapidly expanding commodities team’.

Mark Aspinall is renowned for his expertise in the midstream (processing) / downstream (trading) oil sector and associated tanker markets (crude, products and chemicals). His practice is tightly focused on dispute resolution and transactional matters covering trade finance, physical sales and storage, contracts of carriage by sea, processing / throughput agreements, related joint ventures, SPAs and SHAs. He acts for trade finance banks, independents and producers, as well as ship owners and P&I clubs. Mark is also experienced in the physical trading of steel and non-ferrous metals, shipping fraud, asset tracing and seizure actions.

Paul Sinnott is consistently recognised as a leading commodities lawyer in both the physical and derivatives markets. He focuses on transactional and regulatory matters, as well as all forms and stages of dispute resolution. He acts largely for energy and metals industry clients which trade, finance, hedge or transport commodities – including leading banks, dealers, traders, producers, shipowners and P&I clubs.

Marine, trade and energy work represents one third of Hill Dickinson’s turnover, with expansion focused on its London and international offices. The firm has a significant presence in the shipping and commodities sectors which stretches back 200 years and remains a core strength of the business. The acquisition of two high profile energy sector lawyers is part of an ongoing strategy to build on these foundations by expanding its expertise and depth in transactional and commercial work.

Hill Dickinson’s commodities team continues to go from strength to strength, with newly promoted Claire Messer joining Mark Aspinall and Paul Sinnott in bringing the total number of partners up to nine. The team works closely with Hill Dickinson’s other marine departments including a substantial full-service shipping group spread across its UK and international offices that has had a hugely successful last 12 months, and its highly respected yacht team.

Mark Aspinall and Paul Sinnott follow the recent arrivals of litigation partner Beth Bradley from Clyde & Co, master mariner Kevin Austin, transactional lawyer SD Choi from Norton Rose, corporate partner (marine) Jasel Chauhan from HFW and senior associate John McNeilly from Stephenson Harwood.