Hill Dickinson Expands London Commodities Practice with Return of Partner Andrew Meads

International law firm Hill Dickinson has strengthened its City of London marine and commodities practice with the appointment of Andrew Meads as a partner.

Bringing nearly three decades of legal experience, Andrew offers deep expertise across a broad spectrum of commodities, including agricultural products, edible oils, crude oil, petroleum derivatives, and metals. He has advised an impressive client portfolio ranging from major multinational producers, trading houses, financial institutions, and mining giants to boutique traders and oil majors.

Andrew rejoins Hill Dickinson from Reed Smith, though he previously served as a partner at Hill Dickinson for over five years from 2009. With strong credentials in both transactional work and international arbitration, he has represented clients before prominent trade bodies and arbitral institutions such as the LCIA and ICC. His reputation for excellence is reflected in recognition from the UK Best Lawyers List for commodities, as well as commendations in The Legal 500 and Chambers UK.

His appointment comes on the heels of another key hire: Veronika Koroleva, who recently joined the Commodities team as head of trade finance. Veronika brings significant expertise in trade, commodity and receivables finance, as well as broader cross-border debt finance transactions, further enhancing the team’s financial capabilities.

These additions arrive amid a period of ongoing expansion for Hill Dickinson’s commodities group and the wider firm. In 2024, the firm welcomed 12 lateral partner hires, with a further seven joining so far in 2025. Additionally, four legal directors were promoted to partner in June, underscoring the firm’s commitment to growth and internal talent development.

Tony Goldsmith, 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, 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, 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.”