Dentons announced to welcome experienced trade and commodities finance specialist Ellis Lawson as a partner to its Banking and Finance – Asset, Trade and Export Finance team in London.
Ellis joins the firm (16 June) from Sullivan & Worcester, where he was a partner. Ellis was previously at Allen & Overy for 12 years in its London, Dubai and Abu Dhabi offices.
Ellis’ focus is on international trade and commodity finance transactions, including syndicated and bilateral borrowing base, inventory, pre-export and prepayment finance transactions, receivables finance, invoice discounting and supply chain finance.
He regularly acts for banks, private credit providers, borrowers and DFIs, often on major syndicated financings and complex and multi-sourced financing structures.
As well as practicing in the UK, Ellis has spent a significant portion of his career based in the Middle East and advises on transactions across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
In addition to his trade and commodities finance practice, Ellis has extensive experience in general bilateral and syndicated emerging markets finance, development finance and sustainability-linked and green finance transactions.
He also has significant experience advising on the restructuring of non-performing financings (particularly in the trade and commodities finance sector) and of Sharia-compliant finance structures.
Paul Jarvis, CEO of Dentons’ UK, Ireland and Middle East (UKIME) region said, “Ellis’ appointment supports the growth of our Trade Finance practice at a time of rising demand for this experience. His Middle East experience and connections also support our strategy to expand our presence among clients with interests in this region.”
Nick Hayday, Head of Banking and Financial Services Division UK and Global Co-Chair for the Banking & Finance Group, added: “Ellis’ appointment will add further regional diversity to our Trade Finance practice, building on the excellent work of Ian Clements in London and Stephen Knight in the Middle East, and provide more support for our work with UK, European and Middle Eastern banks and international commodities traders in this field.”
