Partner
Languages spoken
English | Mandarin
Gabriella Martin is a partner specialising in disputes and advisory work relating to the commodities, mining, shipping and energy sectors.
Gabriella regularly acts for and advises mining companies, commodity trading companies, ship owners, charterers, ship management companies, governments, energy companies, banks and insurers in relation to international disputes and commercial contract drafting.
She represents clients in the English High Court and in commercial arbitration proceedings, in particular before London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), London Maritime Arbitrators’ Association (LMAA), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Grain and Feed Trade Association (GAFTA), Federation of the Grain and Feed Industries (FOSFA) tribunals.
Gabriella regularly speaks at international conferences and has delivered training courses on commodity trading and recent legal issues.
Gabriella has an M.A. in Chinese (Mandarin) from the University of Edinburgh with distinction in spoken Chinese.
Gabriella has been named a "Next Generation Partner" in Legal 500 2026 and 2027 rankings for Commercial Litigation - Mid Market and she has been recommended as a key lawyer for Commodities Disputes, Mining and Commercial Litigation Mid Market.
Legal 500 2027 highlights Gabriella as “exceptionally hard-working”.
Legal 500 2026 highlights Gabriella as “making her mark already: ambitious, hardworking, diligent and a delight to work with” and a “terrific new partner with huge energy and determination and excellent drafting skills".
Legal 500 2025 highlights Gabriella as “an optimist and a fighter: she is determined to find a solution even in the most difficult of cases – and will not take no for an answer”.
Gabriella is qualified in England and Wales.
Acting for a global base metals and trading company in relation to Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) cobalt export quotas.
Acting for a Swiss commodity trading and mining company in LCIA arbitration proceedings relating to breaches of coal sale and purchase agreements with East African suppliers and People’s Republic of China (PRC) buyers.
Acting for a Singapore commodity trading company in multiple SIAC arbitrations arising from defaults of coal sale and purchase agreements with Indonesian suppliers and PRC buyers.
Representing a sovereign state in relation to the negotiation and drafting of a long-term sale and purchase agreement for crude oil.
Representing an Asian energy company in relation to multimillion-dollar LPG defaults by Hong Kong (HK) and PRC entities.
Representing a Singapore-based international energy trading company and US-based international trading company in the release of substantial oil cargo following detention of the carrying vessel in Indonesian Waters.
Representing Swiss- and London-based mining interests in litigation in London, Switzerland, Sierra Leone and the BVI in multijurisdictional disputes arising out of joint ventures with a Swiss-based trading company concerning mines, minerals and gas in West Africa and a series of worldwide freezing orders.
Acting for a Singapore- and Indonesia-based soft commodities company in a series of disputes with counterparts in Vietnam.
Acting for Hannam & Partners, a leading metals and mining specialist investment bank, in its successful High Court claim against Barrick Gold arising out of its work facilitating the US$18 billion merger between Randgold and Barrick Gold to create the world’s largest gold mining company.
Acting for Greek shipowning family in relation to proceedings in a Chinese Maritime Court relating to the judicial sale and auction of a vessel.
Acting for Dubai trading company in English High Court proceedings relating to multi million default of an oil sale and purchase agreement
Acting for Swiss trading company in LCIA arbitration proceedings relating to breach of a framework agreement for the sale and purchase of steel scrap
Acting for a Swiss trading company in relation to multiple defaults under copper concentrate contracts and investigation of the supply chain from Zambia to China.
Advising US soft commodity company on sanctions issues relating to several charterparties
Drafting long-term coal consignment contract for Swiss trading company
Drafting long-term vanadium contract for Swiss trading company
Acting for Dubai trading company in LMAA proceedings relating to repudiation of a voyage charterparty.
Acting for Swiss steel company in relation to multimillion dollar trade receivable agreement dispute.
Named a "Next Generation Partner" in Legal 500 2026 and 2027 for Commercial Litigation - Mid Market
Recommended in Legal 500 UK 2027 for commodities disputes, mining and commercial litigation: mid-market
Legal 500 UK 2026 interviewees describe Gabriella and the commodities and shipping team as:
"Gabriella Martin: terrific new partner with huge energy and determination and excellent drafting skills".
"Gabriella Martin is making her mark already: ambitious, hardworking, diligent and a delight to work with".
"They have a very good understanding of the business we are in so this enables them to not only provide good advice purely based on contract and shipping law but also in tandem with commercial practices".
"Excellent indefatigable team of litigators; utterly dedicated to their clients' cause; with a can-do attitude; and a determination to leave absolutely no stone unturned. Scored a huge win in the recent gold cases".
“Probably the best understanding of commodities disputes in London, which means that they can turn their hand not only to the usual oil, gas, grain, etc., but to any international commodities. Indeed, I have worked with them on disputes concerning anything from grain to gold concentrate to alcohol".
Legal 500 UK 2025 highlights include “Gabriella Martin is an optimist and a fighter: she is determined to find a solution even in the most difficult of cases – and will not take no for an answer”.