Simon Cook today re-joined Geoff Wynne, head of Sullivan & Worcester’s new London office, as a partner in the London-based team of seven lawyers focusing on structured trade and commodities finance in emerging markets. He joins the firm from Dentons.
Recognised by both the UK Legal 500 and Chambers UK, Simon Cook is well known for his expertise in structured finance, trade and commodities finance, project finance, receivables finance and borrowing-base facilities in Africa, the Middle East and the CIS. The UK Legal 500, 2013 describes him as a “great project manager” who “gets the job done.” The recently published Chambers UK, 2014 recognises Simon as a leading lawyer and quotes clients who comment that he is known for his “huge attention to detail” and that “he is very commercial, which gives us the flexibility to structure the transaction in different ways.”
Simon’s work in the structured trade area covers a range of pre-export, prepayment and receivables financings acting both for lenders and borrowers notably in the oil, telecoms, soft commodities and metals sectors. He has particular experience in Africa and the Middle East, where he spent a number of years based in Dubai.
Simon and Geoff augment Sullivan & Worcester’s New York-based trade finance practice led by Jay Jenkins and Mike Sullivan. “We’ve worked with Geoff, Simon and their team over the years, and their addition is a tremendous boost to the scope of services we are able to provide,” observed Jay, “This is a great addition to the firm and a wonderful start for our London office.”
“The response we have had to date from clients and the wider market about our opening in London has been universally positive. By bringing Simon and Geoff together again we ensure they continue to play to each other’s strengths,” commented Sullivan & Worcester Co-Managing Partner Joel R. Carpenter. “We plan to build the office in London with practices linked closely to those of the wider firm.”
Simon added, “Joining Sullivan & Worcester’s new office as it launches and being involved in its development is an opportunity I am looking forward to enormously. I am pleased to be back working alongside Geoff, as we build the firm’s international trade and emerging market finance platform in London.”
