Frances is a partner in the market-leading Energy and Natural Resources Group. Frances is described by Legal 500 UK 2022 as, “Very prompt in understanding the issues at stake and adapting sharply to the client’s interests” for Commodities Disputes, ranked Tier 1.
Uniquely, Frances’ practice is split between non-contentious transactional work and dispute resolution, meaning she is able to advise and assist her clients at every stage of a transaction’s lifecycle. Her day-to-day work includes drafting, negotiating and advising on commercial agreements in relation to energy and commodities (for instance, sale and purchase documentation, and agreements in relation to transportation, storage, tolling, marketing and sales, lifting, and insurance) and acting in disputes arising out of the same. This includes more than 10 years’ experience assisting clients in relation to the sale and purchase of LNG and associated legal issues.
As a result of the day-to-day activities described above, Frances has developed a particular expertise in relation to inventory and storage monetisation transactions, and associated collateral management agreements. Frances is often also called upon to assist clients with complex insurance recovery disputes arising out of the international trading, financing and storage of physical commodities, often against a background of complex cross-border issues such as counterparty insolvency and alleged fraud.
Frances has a unique insight into the operations of clients in the energy and commodities industry, having worked as in-house counsel at a privately owned exploration and production group between 2014 and 2016.
