Law firm Squire Patton Boggs has expanded its London-based financial services practice with the hire of trade finance specialists Philip Prowse (left) and Jameel Tarmohamed (right) as partners.

Both join from Stephenson Harwood, where they were previously partners. They will be based in Squire Patton Boggs’ London office and work alongside existing partners Jessica Kenworthy and Robert Parson.

The pair are joined by associate Andrew Green, also from Stephenson Harwood.

“We are delighted to welcome Philip, Jameel and Andrew,” Parson tells GTR. “They are well-known in the trade and commodity finance space and will provide extra strength to our growing global commodities practice, making us one of the biggest teams in this sector.

“Philip and Jameel bring with them not only considerable expertise in the commodity finance sector but also complementary skills in digital trade, which we see as a major growth area.”

The firm highlights that Prowse is specialised in the financing of energy as well as hard and soft commodities, “with an emphasis on finance, security and other transactional documents such as sale and purchase, logistics, storage and insurance contracts”. His clients include traders, banks and other financial institutions.

Prowse also has expertise in digital trade finance and technologies, including blockchain systems, and digital trade sale and purchase platforms.

Tarmohamed advises clients, including corporates, traders and investors, on structured trade and commodity financing, as well as supporting clients to expand their digital trade provisions. He is also experienced in advising commodities clients in the carbon credit market, a growing interest of traders.

Squire Patton Boggs says that the pair recently advised a Singaporean government agency in connection with electronic bills of lading (eBLs) and other digital transferable trade documents. The Singaporean government has had an interest in trade digitalisation for years, becoming the second country to give eBLs the same legal standing as paper-based bills of lading in 2021.

Last year, Squire Patton Boggs expanded its European operations with the opening of an office in Geneva, headed by the firm’s commodities and shipping group co-head Kate Sherrard.