He represents and advises financial institutions, corporates and traders on all forms of structured trade and commodity and infrastructure financings including pre-export, pre-payment, inventory, limited recourse, warehouse and counter trade as well as rights purchase, repo and true sale transactions. Jonathan also advises on all types of emerging market receivables financings including project, acquisition and mining facilities.
He has a global practice which he has built up over 18 years of exclusively working in the trade finance market. His work covers Europe, Africa, the CIS (including Russia and Ukraine), SE Asia, and North and Latin America.
- Advised on over 1000 trade finance transactions in career to date
- Lead advisor in the past 5 years on more than 17 award-winning deals
- Has led the Reed Smith EMEA and SE Asia trade finance practice since moving to Reed Smith in October 2013. The Reed Smith team received the following awards in 2016:
- 2016 Commodity Law Firm of the Year (Trade Finance magazine)
- 2016 Trade Finance Law Firm of the Year (TXF magazine)
- One of the senior partners who led the trade finance group at Dentons until 2013, which won the following awards:
- Best Law Firm for Trade Finance (Trade and Forfaiting Review Magazine - 7 consecutive years)
- Best Trade Law Firm EMEA (Trade Finance magazine - Best law firm for 10 years)
- Best Trade Finance Law Firm (Global Trade Review Magazine - 7 consecutive years)
- As a lawyer, Jonathan has received commendations from clients and other industry participants including by the independent legal directories as follows (only most recent references listed):
- Chambers UK 2022 notes that Jonathan “is outstanding: quick, reliable and very knowledgeable"
- Ranked in the ‘Hall of Fame’ in the latest edition of Legal 500 UK 2022 for Trade Finance
- Both Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners rank Jonathan as a ‘Leading Individual’ in Trade Finance
- Legal 500 UK 2020 notes that Jonathan is 'an exceptional partner and an expert in this field' and "is top of class in trade finance work - particularly when it comes to Southeast Asia and Africa. He is extremely responsive and quick to spot and resolve issues that others may not catch."
- Recognised in the 2020 UK Best Lawyers list for Banking: Finance
- Named Star Lawyer in 2019 in the Acritas Star Lawyer database of stand-out lawyers nominated by clients’ senior in-house counsel for their exceptional client service
- Chambers UK 2019 notes that Jonathan has ‘a well-known international trade and finance practice’ and comments that he is “very hard-working” and highlights his “hunger and drive, which makes him a strong lawyer”
- Legal 500 UK 2019 notes that Jonathan is “recommended for his ‘knowledge, experience and skill that have proven critical in complex structuring circumstances to move transactions across the finishing line”
- Chambers UK 2018 notes that Jonathan has “a great reputation and clients speak very highly of him”
- Chambers UK 2017 commented that Jonathan “is (client’s) absolute first choice in these (trade finance) matters”
- Legal 500 UK 2016 states that “Jonathan Solomon is ‘one of the leading trade finance specialists in the market’.
- Legal 500 UK 2014 states that “New arrival [at Reed Smith] from Dentons Jonathan Solomon is ‘very bright and works ridiculously hard',
- Chambers UK 2014 states that “Trade finance expert Jonathan Solomon has joined Reed Smith and is noted for his international mindset and ability to adapt to any circumstances” and notes the comments of “an impressed” client that "he is an absolute work horse; you can call him at 3 in the morning and he'll give you an hour's worth of work"
- Chambers UK 2015 comments that “Jonathan Solomon's arrival has significantly strengthened the trade finance capabilities at the firm. Sources are quick to describe him as "very effective," noting that he "focused very much on the key points and didn't get distracted." "He makes my life so much easier," said one satisfied client.
- Legal 500 UK 2015 says that the ‘outstanding’ Jonathan Solomon is ‘the best for syndicated, club and bilateral trade finance transactions, and his dedication to clients is legendary”. “Clients praise his team’s ‘tenacity, compassion and flexibility’”
- Both Legal 500 and Chambers rank Jonathan as a leading individual in Trade Finance
