Matthew Cox has joined law firm Sullivan & Worcester as trade finance partner in its London office.

He joins the team from Holman Fenwick Willan, where he was a partner. He has more than 20 years’ experience in commodities and trade finance, and previously spent more than 16 years at Dentons and five years at Simmons & Simmons.

At Sullivan, Cox will be responsible for advising banks, funds, traders and producers on structured trade and commodity finance.

He brings expertise in pre-export and advance payment structures, borrowing bases, receivables, warehouse financing, commodity repos and export credit agency-backed financings, the law firm says.

Sullivan says the hire will bolster its trade and export finance practice, as well as enhance “its capabilities in relation to the digitalisation of trade and trade finance”.

Cox has “considerable experience acting for fintechs, platform providers and non-bank capital providers”, the law firm says, in jurisdictions such as London, Dubai, Tokyo and Singapore.

Geoffrey Wynne, head of Sullivan’s trade and export finance group and managing partner of its London office, says Cox is “highly respected in the trade and commodity finance sector and brings significant expertise that complements our existing strengths”.

“His arrival enhances our ability to support clients across the full range of traditional and digital trade finance solutions, particularly as the market continues to evolve with new technologies and funding models,” Wynne says.

Cox adds: “The market continues to evolve rapidly, with new sources of capital, an increasing role of non-bank lenders and the digitalisation of trade instruments all reshaping how transactions are structured. I am pleased to have joined the London team and look forward to helping clients navigate these changes, drawing on my experience across multiple jurisdictions and sectors.”

Cox’s hire follows several changes to Sullivan’s trade and export finance team in recent months.

In June 2025, Sullivan promoted Daniela Barrdear to partner in its trade and export finance practice, while Sam Fowler-Holmes left to join law firm Fieldfisher as a partner in its financial markets and products group the same month.

Also in June, Ellis Lawson left Sullivan to join Dentons as partner.