Hill Dickinson strengthens London marine team with new commodities partner

Leading international law firm Hill Dickinson has announced the hire of Andrew Meads, who joins as a partner in the firm’s London City office Commodities team. 

With almost 30 years of experience, Andrew brings extensive expertise advising clients on a wide range of commodities, including agricultural products, edible oils and crude oil, petroleum products and metals. Andrew has acted for a broad range of clients, from the largest multinational producers, trading houses, banks, miners and oil majors to smaller traders. 

Joining from Reed Smith, Andrew was previously a partner at Hill Dickinson for over five years from 2009. He possesses significant experience in transactional matters as well as arbitration before major trade associations and international arbitral bodies such as the LCIA and the ICC. Andrew adds to the industry-leading talent Hill Dickinson continues to attract, having previously been commended by the UK Best Lawyers List for commodities, The Legal 500 and Chambers UK. 

Andrew’s appointment follows the recent arrival in the Commodities team of Veronika Koroleva as head of trade finance, bolstering its finance offering and bringing with her a wealth of experience in a wide range of trade, commodity and receivables finance transactions and in other cross border debt finance work. 

These latest appointments come at a time of sustained growth for Hill Dickinson’s commodities team and for the firm overall, having made 12 lateral partner hires in 2024 and another seven to date in 2025, along with the internal promotion of four legal directors to partner in June. 

Tony Goldsmith (pictured, left), head of Marine and Trade at Hill Dickinson, commented: “Our maritime practice is one of the largest and most well established in the world, with over 120 specialist marine lawyers across the globe. Andrew brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in international trade and commodities. His appointment reflects the quality and merit of the services the marine team provides to its clients and highlights the strides we continue to make in London’s competitive legal market. 

“I am delighted that Andrew is returning and am looking forward to working with him again. I am also excited at the prospect of Andrew once again being an integral part of our commodities practice, this being one of our pivotal teams within the Group.  

Paul Taylor (centre), commodities partner at Hill Dickinson, added: “Andrew’s appointment is a great addition to the  team. He’s a fantastic lawyer and we’re delighted to have him back. He’s built a formidable reputation in the City and the wider legal industry and his extensive knowledge in international trade, particularly energy and natural resources, further strengthens our offering to clients.” 

Andrew Meads (right), partner at Hill Dickinson, said: “Having worked at Hill Dickinson previously, I’m delighted to be returning. The opportunity to work with new and former colleagues who are industry-leading in their fields is really exciting and I’m looking forward to providing the highest levels of service to our clients both in London and internationally. Hill Dickinson’s international maritime presence provides an exciting opportunity to work with the global commodities team in making the future more certain for clients at a time of heightened geopolitical turbulence.”