Home · Practice areas · Trade & Commodity Disputes
Practice area
Trade and commodity disputes, resolved across borders.
Non-delivery, quality and quantity claims, price disputes and terminations between buyers, sellers, traders and distributors, wherever the goods and the counterparty are.
Overview
Trade & Commodity Disputes
International trade disputes combine commercial, logistical and documentary questions: who bore the risk, what the inspection certificate shows, whether the letter of credit terms were met, which law governs the contract.
We bring these strands together into one clear claim, value it properly, and lead the negotiation with the counterparty, their bank or their insurers, engaging local counsel or surveyors only where the matter calls for it.
What we handle
Matters we take on.
Business-to-business matters only, resolved by negotiation and settlement before court wherever possible.
Non-delivery & late delivery
Claims where goods did not arrive, or arrived too late to be useful.
Quality & quantity
Shortage, contamination and specification disputes, supported by survey evidence.
Price & payment disputes
Unpaid shipments, price adjustments and disputed deductions.
Termination claims
Wrongful termination of supply and distribution agreements.
Documentary issues
Bills of lading, inspection certificates and letter of credit discrepancies.
Insurance-related recoveries
Supporting the commercial claim alongside your broker or insurer.
Counterparty due diligence
Checks on overseas buyers and sellers before and during disputes.
Settlement & security
Negotiated outcomes backed by payment security.
Arbitration support
Preparation for GAFTA, FOSFA, LCIA and ICC-style proceedings, with counsel.
Our approach
Prepared properly. Negotiated firmly.
- 01
Review
Free assessment of merits, quantum, time limits and recoverability.
- 02
Strategy
A written engagement letter with the plan and the fee.
- 03
Preparation
Evidence, calculations and a clear claim or response.
- 04
Negotiation
Direct talks aimed at a documented commercial settlement.
Typical clients: Importers and exporters · Physical commodity traders · Manufacturers with international supply chains · Distributors and agents · Buyers facing supplier non-performance
FAQ
Questions about this practice.
General information only; every matter turns on its own facts and documents.
Can you act if the contract is governed by foreign law?
Yes. Many of our matters involve contracts governed by English law, but where another law applies we engage independent local counsel for advice on that law, while we lead the commercial claim and negotiation.
Do you take on disputes where goods are stuck at a port?
Yes, and these are often urgent because storage and demurrage costs accumulate daily. Contact us on WhatsApp at any hour.
What evidence matters most in a quality claim?
Contract specifications, independent survey or inspection reports, sampling procedures and the chain of custody of the samples. Early, well-documented evidence is decisive.
Can you help if our buyer has rejected the goods?
Yes. We review whether the rejection was valid under the contract and the applicable law, preserve the evidence, and negotiate either payment, a price allowance or a commercial resolution.
Do you work with surveyors and inspection companies?
Yes. Independent survey and inspection evidence is often decisive in quality and quantity disputes, and we coordinate it with your approval.
Can you deal with demurrage passed through a sale contract?
Yes. Demurrage claims are frequently passed down a chain of sale contracts, and the terms of each contract (including time bars) need to be aligned. This is one of our specialisms.
Related guides
Further reading.
Practical guides from our insights library. See also our glossary and FAQ.
- Bunker quantity disputes: how to check what was really delivered8 min read
- Letter of credit discrepancies: why payments are refused and what to do5 min read
- Cargo shortage and damage claims: a practical guide6 min read
- Recovering a debt from a business in another country5 min read
- Demurrage vs detention: what is the difference?5 min read
- "Without prejudice" explained: negotiating safely in a dispute4 min read
Other practice areas
Also handled by Atlas Claims.
Free case review
Have a claim, or a claim against you?
Send us the key documents for a free, confidential review. For anything urgent, message us on WhatsApp at any hour.