Full Profile
Will is a Partner in the Energy, Marine and Natural Resources department at Clyde & Co in London. He joined the firm in 2009, and advises clients on all aspects of commodities trading and shipping matters, both contentious and non-contentious. He is experienced in handling live and developing issues, including ship arrests and detentions, and has spent time on secondment to one of the world's leading commodities traders. Will is a supporting member of the London Maritime Arbitrators Association.
Will has significant experience of domestic as well as international (and multi-jurisdictional) dispute resolution, and has handled disputes in the English High Court as well as international arbitrations under the ICC, LCIA, LMAA, SIAC, HKIAC, SCMA, GAFTA and FOSFA Rules. He is experienced in working closely with foreign lawyers in other jurisdictions and overseeing proceedings for clients. Will also provides assistance and advice to clients with non-contentious and transactional issues, advising on the drafting of charterparties, sale contracts, bills of lading, guarantees and various forms of security.
Will has been recognised in the directories every year since 2020 and is currently ranked in Chambers and Partners 2024 and in Legal 500 2025 as a ‘Next Generation Partner’ and a ‘Key Lawyer’ in both the Commodities Disputes and Shipping practice areas. He was also named a ‘Rising Star’ by International Financial Law Review and Euromoney in their 2021 and 2022 Expert Guides publication.
Clients comment that Will:
- "is a 'rising star'; he is commercially astute, technically spot-on and always available" – Legal 500 2021
- "is very calm, measured and is a sound lawyer" – Legal 500 2021
- "goes out of his way to provide an extremely helpful service and gives clear, to the point and commercially insightful advice" – Legal 500 2021
- "has the rare ability to see issues from a client's perspective" – Legal 500 2021
- "is both hands-on and strategically astute" – Legal 500 2022
- "is thoughtful, analytical and constantly striving to advance his clients’ interests" – Legal 500 2022
- "is very astute and thorough. He will leave no stone unturned to try to get the best results for his client” – Legal 500 2023
- "is very diligent and efficient” – Legal 500 2024
- "is well-versed in both shipping and commodities work" – Legal 500 2024
- "is hard-working, cares about his cases and offers a great service to his clients" – Chambers & Partners 2024
- "is very good at the strategy. He's really analytical and I can't speak highly enough of him” – Chambers & Partners 2024
- "has very deep sector specific knowledge” – Legal 500 2025
- “has a reassuring presence, while his approach is a combination of legal sophistication and commercial know-how. He responds promptly, is proactive, and has the client's best interests at heart.” – Chambers & Partners 2025
- “is always on top of his game, with an excellent grasp of the heart of the case.” – Chambers & Partners 2025
- “is very business-oriented and capable of explaining complex matters of English law simply. He is a proactive lawyer trying to anticipate the arguments that the other party may raise.” – Chambers & Partners 2025
Experience
- Glencore Energy UK Ltd v OMV Supply & Trading Ltd (The Seagrace) [2018] EWHC 895 (Comm): Representing the successful claimant in a dispute as to whether a period spent waiting during a cargo voyage was subject to a contractual demurrage regime.
- Advising owners, operators and charterers in relation to ship arrests and detentions across the world.
- Advising in relation to the availability of ancillary relief under a standard form arbitration agreement used in certain forms of commodities trading contracts (B v. S [2011] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 18).
- Advising one of the world's largest trading companies in relation to exposures arising out of the provision of letters of indemnity for the discharge of cargo without original bills of lading.
- Advising one of the world's largest fuel oil traders in English High Court proceedings relating to claims arising out of the collapse of OW Bunkers.
- Advising one of the world's largest trading companies in an ICC arbitration for non-performance of an alleged contract for the sale of 300,000MT of coal.
