Political risk and trade credit insurance


We advise the world’s leading political risk and credit insurers on claims, underwriting, product development, regulation and subrogated recoveries worldwide.

We're leaders in this specialist class of business, drawing not only on legal knowledge but also upon our deep understanding of the practices, history, and relationships in the London Market.

At the underwriting phase we work closely with underwriters to negotiate policy wordings, and to advise on the regulatory issues worldwide.

When claims arise our philosophy is always to provide clear and thorough advice at an early stage.

Should disputes arise we robustly defend our clients in arbitration or litigation wherever in the world as required.

Our experience

Our team's experience includes:

  • Successfully defending a confiscation, expropriation, nationalisation deprivation (“CEND”) claim; solar farm, India.

  • Successfully acting for political violence reinsurers in Hamilton v Afghan Global and others [2024] EWHC 1426, which discussed key differences between political risk and political violence insurance.

  • Successfully defending a CEND claim; grain silos, Central Asia

  • Successfully defending a trade credit insurance claim; heavy plant delivery to Central America

  • Protected clients facing multiple banking default claims arising from global financial crisis of 2008 etc

  • Successfully avoided pre-export finance policy for non-disclosure of material facts (soya)

  • Successfully defending travel industry bond insurers

  • Helping underwriters negotiate critical wordings and endorsements

  • Pursuing subrogation against state for non-honouring guarantee

  • Defending political violence claims worldwide, including the Thailand Riots of 2008, Arab Spring, Mexico Petrol Riots of 2017, Chile riots 2019, Civil War in Yemen, Evacuation of Afghanistan 2019

  • We also act for multiple Lloyd’s Syndicates

Did you know?

Central Asia Grain Claim (2021)

We settled a $26m confiscation, nationalisation and expropriation claim for $1.5m.

Lat Am Trade Finance Claim (2020)

We successfully disposed of a $60m+ non-payment claim, settling it for return of premium only.

Global reach

In 2023 we advised political risk insurers on matters in over 15 countries.

What our clients say about us

 

“Andrew Tobin is an authority on political risk, trade credit and political violence matter.”

Legal 500 (2023-2024)

“Andrew is very personable and easy to work with...He is very responsive and makes himself available at short notice, and I'm confident of obtaining the best possible outcome on anything he's involved with.”

Legal 500 (2022-2023)

Get in touch

Our team of legal experts are here to support you.
Contact one of our lawyers today.

Our lawyers

The team is led by Andrew Tobin, a leading specialist in credit and political risk insurance, with the assistance of a team of very experienced principal associates and associates. 

Meet our political risk and trade credit insurance team