Stuart Shepherd has 42 years experience of dealing with and advising on various legal issues arising out of physical commodity trading. He has acted for various independent oil traders of all sizes as well as clients trading coal, soft commodities and metals.

 

Most physical trades, whilst infrequently free of a few bumps along the way, are completed satisfactorily. Occasionally, however, they do get derailed by circumstances either internal to or external to the parties. Stuart has seen and advised on many such derailments and has the experience to help you “navigate the noise” that such problems create. We understand that the last thing traders generally want is for their disputes to escalate into legal proceedings of any kind and we can assist you in finding different solutions when they do. However, Stuart’s first-hand experience of what happens when things do escalate into legal proceedings, whether arbitration or litigation, is invaluable. Apart from handling numerous arbitrations, Stuart has handled various high profile pieces of litigation in the commodities, shipping and insurance arena during the course of his career including those referred to below:

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Aswan Engineering Establishment Co v Lupdine & Ors [1986] 2 Lloyd's Rep 347 (Court of Appeal), Euro-Diam Ltd v Bathhurst [1988] 1 Lloyd's Rep 228 (Court of Appeal), Naviera Amazonica Peruana  S.A. v Compania International de Seguros de Peru [1988] 1 Lloyd's Rep 116 (Commercial Court), Vitol S.A v Phibro Energy A.G. (“The Mathraki”) [1990] 2 Lloyd's Rep 84 (Commercial Court), Voest Alpine Intertrading A.G. v Ellis Shipping Corporation ("The Lefthero”) [1992] 2 Lloyd's Rep 109 (Court of Appeal), Yamashita-Shinnon Steamship Co Ltd  v L’Office Cherifien de Phosphates ("The Boucraa”) [1994] 1 AC 486 (House of Lords), Cobelfret N.V. v Cyclades Shipping Co. Ltd (“The Linardos”) [1994] 1 Lloyd's Rep. 28 (Commercial Court), Fyffes Group Ltd v Reefer Express Lines Pty Ltd ("The Kriti Rex”) [1996] 2 Lloyd's Rep 171 (Commercial Court), Fiona Trust & Holding Corporation & Ors v Yuri Privalov & Ors [2008] 1 Lloyd's Rep 254 (House of Lords), Antonio Gramsci Shipping Corporation & Ors v Recoletos Limited & Ors [2010] EWHC 1134 (Comm) (Commercial Court),  Fiona Trust & Holding Corporation & Ors v Yuri Privalov & Ors [2011] EWHC 664 (Comm) (Commercial Court), Standard Chartered Bank v Dorchester LNG (2) Ltd ("The Erin Schulte”) [2015] 1 Lloyd's Rep 97 (Court of Appeal) and Gard Shipping AS v Clearlake Shipping Pte Limited [2017] 2 Lloyd's Rep 38 (Commercial Court).

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Stuart has written numerous articles on shipping and trading matters and contributed chapters to the Global Law and Business publication “Oil and Gas Trading” and the Informa publication “International Trade and Carriage of Goods by Sea”.

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If you do have a dispute we can help you try to stay one step, or at least a head, in front of the opposition.

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