Avoiding Costly Mistakes:
A Case Study on Commodity
Contract Disputes

Avoiding Costly Mistakes:
A Case Study on Commodity
Contract Disputes
Presented by AGA Partners

Date: 13 November 2025
Time: 14:00 – 17:00
Fee: £100

Presented by AGA Partners, this workshop is designed exclusively for
participants attending Global Grain Geneva 2025.

In just three hours,
you’ll gain practical tools to navigate the most frequent and disruptive disputes in the grain trade — from straightforward defaults
to vessel arrests and sanctions.

Built around real cases and led by seasoned trade lawyers with 20+ years of experience advising top-tier commodities companies, the
workshop breaks down the legal and commercial pitfalls traders face
in commodities trade.

The session will take the form of an interactive discussion, not a lecture — grounded in real-life scenarios and commercial realities.

You’ll walk away with a sharper understanding of your rights, obligations, and the early warning signs of disputes — plus how to
resolve them before they escalate.

Agenda

14:00 – 14:30
Ivan Kasynyuk, Partner at AGA Partners

Business Agreed on WhatsApp — But the Long-Form Contract Sparks a Dispute?

14:30 – 15:00
Pavlo Lebediev, Counsel at AGA Partners

Trade Interrupted: What If Delivery Is Blocked by Quotas, Tariffs or Export Bans?

15:00 – 15:30
Swithun Still, GAFTA Arbitrator

Drafting Grain Contracts: Getting the Terms Right Before the Dispute Starts

15:30 – 15:45
Coffee break

15:45 – 16:15
Ivan Kasynyuk, Partner at AGA Partners
Sanctions, Compliance and Payments: How to React When Funds Are Frozen or Blocked

16:15 – 16:45
Pavlo Lebediev, Counsel at AGA Partners
Vessel Arrested with Cargo Onboard: Legal and
Commercial Options for Traders

16:45 – 17:00
Q&A

Ivan specialises in international arbitration, international trade and shipping. He regularly represents clients in GAFTA, FOSFA and LMAA arbitrations and advises clients on shipping, trade and commercial matters. 

Due to his extensive knowledge of English law and the peculiarities of commodities trade, Ivan is regularly involved in English court proceedings as an expert. He also acts as an arbitrator in trade disputes. 

Ivan developed the GAFTA 78UA contract tailored to the realities of Black Sea region commodities trading. He is also a founding member of the GAFTA Black Sea Trade Committee. 

Pavlo specialises in international commercial arbitration, international trade and cross-border disputes. His experience includes representing clients in GAFTA, FOSFA, LCIA, LMAA, RSA and ICAC at UCCI arbitrations.

Pavlo is also responsible for developing model contracts for the prominent trading houses and advising them on various commercial matters.  

Qualified in England and Wales, Pavlo brings invaluable insights into trade issues governed by English law. This qualification enhances his ability to advise on the legal complexities of international trade transactions, helping clients navigate regulatory requirements and optimize contract performance. 

Swithun Still started his career in the grain in 1999 in London, his hometown. He moved to Paris in 2001 and to Switzerland in 2003.

In 2009, after a 20 years career with Agromarket/ Agrico Trade & Finance SA he set up & traded for Alegrow S.A. in Morges, near Lausanne.

In 2011 he was appointed as the CEO of Solaris Commodities S.A. until 2020 when it was bought out by new investors.

Swithun set up his own consulting company in 2023 and has a number of mandates from clients. He is GAFTA Arbitrator & Appeal Board Member, resolving trade disputes.

Swithun was the President of GAFTA in 2019 and is speaking at Global Grain Geneva in a strictly personal capacity.