Our banking and finance team acts for banks and financial institutions in the UK and overseas, as well as for shipping companies, exporters and importers on a variety of trade finance matters.

We are highly experienced in helping our lender and borrower clients complete new deals, routinely advising on existing transactional or documentary issues. Our team also assists corporates in improving the funding of their businesses, sometimes by introducing them to new lenders or products. In addition, we work closely with banks and other lenders to develop new finance products for their customers.

In trade finance, our banking and finance team can draw on the skills and resources of the firm's renowned shipping and international trade practice and our insurance practice. By combining our expertise and experience in each practice area, our lawyers are well-equipped to advise banks and companies on issues as diverse as:

• ship finance, the funding of ship sales, purchases, construction and refits, including structuring security and financing packages, and connected flagging, charterparty, and registration issues;
• letters of credit, bills of exchange and similar documentary credits, including their use in alternative financing arrangements and in import/export;
• funding the development of value-added products by shipping and logistics companies, including collateral transaction financing and the extension of new receivables and inventory funding techniques to trade finance; and
• using political risk and other insurance products in structured transactions.

Our team has a wealth of expertise in structuring, documenting and advising on trade finance transactions. We are also able to rely on the unparalleled skills, experience and knowledge of our market leading litigation practice to resolve any disputes that occur, effectively and efficiently.