Stephenson Harwood

Adam Crossley

Adam is a corporate lawyer specialising in private equity and growth capital. Adam advises on a range of private equity transactions, acting for companies, institutions, founders and management. Recent experience includes: advising Bowmark Capital on its investments in Littlefish, WSD and Kubrick group and on the sale of Leaders Romans Group; advising Bestport Private Equity on its investment in Energy Saving Lighting(ESL); and advising the founders of Chartway Group on the sale of a majority stake to Cabot Square Capital portfolio company, Public Sector Plc.

Adam Culy

Adam is an accountancy professional liability / regulatory specialist (in particular defending FRC cases and all forms of accounting litigation). Previously General Counsel at BDO and a criminal prosecutor, Adam brings a wealth of sector experience and a sharp focus to resolving complex accounting issues. At Stephenson Harwood, Adam handles a range of commercial litigation and professional liability matters with a particular focus on insurance related issues, the accountancy regulators (ICAEW/FRC), and the defence of claims involving tax and audit. Adam offers a client-focussed insight into the full range of accounting services and the pressures they face from regulators and claimants. This allows him to quickly grasp the key issues in accounting disputes and resolve them. His success at BDO helped it remain the only larger accounting firm at the time to avoid sanction by the FRC. Adam is referred to as joining the firm in 2020 within the Legal 500 UK Professional Negligence area, where the team is well regarded for providing "an excellent, all-round legal service with good client management, very able lawyers, with sound judgement." His references from BDO include: "Combines first-class legal knowledge and judgement with a calm and reassuring manner. A pleasure to work with" ( Mark Shaw, Head of Business Restructuring, BDO). His and his team's notable successes in litigation include BDO's win in the recent £250 million One Blackfriars case [2021] EWHC 684, Supreme Court appeal win in regulatory proceedings (Barnes v Eastenders [2014] UKSC 26), the leading recent decisions on administrator's duties: Bernsten & Anor v Tait [2015] EWCA Civ 1001 and Davey v Money [2019] EWHC 997 (which included the recent COA judgment ending the "Arkin Cap" when enforcing costs against the litigation funder), and Green v BDO [2005] All ER on the use of the Insolvency Act against accountants.

Alan Bercow

Co-head of our market-leading fraud and asset recovery team, Alan Bercow is “technically adept” and  is “all over the detail - clients trust him because they know that he knows everything about their case” (Chambers UK 2021). He advises clients, including major corporates and high net worth individuals, in relation to litigating disputes as well as tracing and recovering assets across multiple jurisdictions. Alan's practice is international and The Legal 500 praises Alan, saying he “is particularly experienced in cases involving Russia and the CIS”. Alan acts on a broad range of corporate and commercial disputes, which have included some of the largest cases before the English courts. His clients include companies, directors, high net worth individuals and insolvency practitioners. Alan has extensive experience of parallel, multi-jurisdictional cases involving Russia and the CIS, and also offshore jurisdictions such as BVI, the Cayman Islands, Cyprus and the Isle of Man. Alan co-heads our market-leading fraud team, which is ranked in tier 1 by The Legal 500. He has significant experience of high value, complex fraud and asset recovery claims, often involving freezing orders, disclosure orders, anti-suit injunctions and gagging orders. He is listed as a leading individual by both The Legal 500 and Chambers UK. Alan has significant experience of cases involving insolvency. He has acted for and against insolvency practitioners, both in the UK and abroad. He also advises regularly on directors' duties

Alan Ward

Alan has acted in relation to some of the most high-profile and complex multi-jurisdictional investigations commenced by regulatory and criminal enforcement agencies in the UK, USA, Europe, and Asia. He regularly advises financial institutions and corporates on regulatory and criminal-law compliance, internal investigations and interactions with regulators. Alan is a partner in the regulatory litigation practice group. He advises corporate entities and individuals in the context of regulatory and criminal investigations, commenced by agencies such as the Serious Fraud Office ("SFO") and Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA").  He also assists corporates and individuals in relation to the conduct of, and responses to, internal investigations. Alan's work regularly involves allegations of misconduct on financial markets. Recently, he has advised a number of individuals in the context of investigations into suspected market abuse on a diverse array of international markets, including equity, debt and commodities markets. He has also advised firms and exchanges on detecting and preventing market misconduct. Alan represented a number of individuals in relation to the global LIBOR and foreign exchange (FX / forex) investigations, including both individuals who were the subject of regulatory and criminal allegations of market misconduct and senior managers investigated by regulators for alleged oversight failures. Alan is one of a very small number of lawyers who has successfully represented a senior trader at a major investment bank at trial. He has also been instructed to advise corporates and individuals in providing assistance to agencies including the SFO, FCA, Prudential Regulation Authority ("PRA"), Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC") and other US authorities. Much of Alan's work has a significant international dimension. He regularly advises corporate clients and financial institutions, including banks and asset managers, on matters that may have an impact, regulatory or otherwise, in more than one jurisdiction. Alan writes regularly in the legal and mainstream press and speaks at a number of industry conferences, both in the UK and internationally.

Alex Davis

Alex is the marine and international trade practice group leader and also heads the marine insurance sub-group. Alex has acted for major London Lloyd’s and company market insurers as well as Continental insurers on a wide range of marine insurance based matters. He regularly advises his clients on complex coverage issues on hull, cargo, war, port risk, shipyard liability, general liability and mortgagee interest policies. He has significant experience of acting primarily for International Insurance markets handling major casualties, collisions, salvage, and wreck removals. He regularly contributes to major publications such as Lloyd’s List on relevant issues and has recently co-presented a paper on marine cyber risk at the IMCC with Rod Johnson. He has particular expertise in relation to NOAs, CTLs and issues arising thereafter having led one of the main cases resulting in the development of the law in this area. He is also a recognised as leading practitioner on mortgagee interest coverage issues. He has advised geo-seismic operators and their insurers on risk management issues and advises the London market on pre-inception risk issues. He is listed as a leading individual in marine insurance in the major legal directories.

Alexa Whitehead

A corporate finance expert specialising in investment funds. Alexa is a corporate lawyer specialising in closed-ended listed investment funds across several jurisdictions and sectors. She has acted on a wide range of corporate transactions, including advising issuers and investment banks on IPOs and secondary issues, reconstructions and other corporate actions, as well as providing ongoing regulatory advice to funds and asset managers. Alexa also acts for clients, particularly within the asset management industry, on a range of general corporate matters.

Alexandra Pygall

An intellectual property expert with significant experience of advising on both transactions and disputes. Alexandra believes in providing straightforward and practical advice in context. With degrees in both law and chemistry, many of her clients are in the life sciences sector but she also works with luxury brand clients and clients in other sectors. Alexandra advises on the complete spectrum of intellectual property issues. Her clients range from life sciences companies, such as BTG plc and Vernalis plc, to luxury brand companies such as Moët Hennessy and Richemont. Alexandra's transaction experience includes advising clients on licensing, partnering, collaboration and R&D agreements as well as on the IP aspects of mergers, acquisitions, investments (including the taking of security over IP) and commercial contracts such as manufacturing and distribution arrangements. Her dispute experience includes advising clients in relation to claims regarding IP ownership, infringement and validity and in relation to licensing and other contractual matters. She also advises in relation to anti-counterfeiting strategies and enforcement policies. She has experience of both civil and criminal IP litigation. Alexandra has been named in The Lawyer's Hot 100 – Dealmaker list 2019 which acknowledges her as "representative of emerging talent in the venerable City player". Described as "bright, charming, witty and solution-driven" by Chambers and Partners, she has also been described as "extremely knowledgeable and an excellent communicator who has a unique ability to demystify complex areas of law. She juggles legal business risk with opportunity and then provides robust but pragmatic advice. On top of that, she’s a huge pleasure to work with" (IAM Patent 1000, 2018). According to WTR 1000, 2019 “her enthusiasm is infectious and she has a rare ability to explain difficult issues plainly and simply for the benefit of clients and to their great advantage”. Alexandra is highly recommended for patent transactions (IAM Patent 1000), for trade mark transactions, enforcement and litigation (WTR 100 2019) and for commercial agreements and litigation concerning copyright, trade marks and life sciences patents (Chambers and Partners). She has also been awarded the Lexology Client Choice Award for healthcare and life sciences UK 2018.

Andrew Myers

Andrew is well known as a tenacious litigator who "knows when to turn on the pressure" and get results. His “no nonsense” approach cuts to the chase and gets his clients results. His clients have described him as a rottweiler. Andrew frequently takes on cases where other lawyers have floundered and turns them around. The directories have described Andrew as a "red hot litigator" and someone who "fights hard but fair". Andrew has particular expertise in property-related disputes. Andrew has 30 years' experience specialising in property disputes, contract disputes and professional negligence claims. His property litigation experience spans the full range and includes, forfeiture, dilapidations claims, enforcing covenants, tenant insolvency, restrictive covenants, lease renewals and suing other solicitors who have drafted property documents negligently. Andrew has also deals with contracts which have gone wrong, and joint ventures which fall apart. Andrew is an experienced tactician, and a solicitor advocate. He recently won a Court of Appeal case, as sole advocate, successfully arguing against the QC on the other side. Andrew regularly takes on cases on a “no win no fee” basis. Andrew is acted on one of the first rent arbitrations under the Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Act 2022 addressing a 7-figure level of arrears on a trophy asset. He has already got the arbitrator to order the tenant to produce a lot of additional accounting documentation to ensure that the tenant does not falsely claim impecuniosity. Andrew acted for the successful tenants in the largest ever enfranchisement claim -Westbrook Dolphin Square Limited v Friends Life Ltd. He acted for the successful defendants in a dispute concerning a failed joint venture to build a shopping centre in Wolverhampton. Andrew’s clients were sued for £56 million. The judge ordered them to pay just £2 (and made their opponents reimburse Andrew’s clients' legal costs).

Anne Pritam

Anne helps clients with the practical implications of employment, immigration and partnership law. With many years’ experience acting for both organisations and individuals, she gives tailored advice that focuses on the key issues and achieves positive outcomes for her clients. Anne assists her clients with challenging and high risk employment, immigration and partnership issues, as well as “business as usual” concerns.  Her advice is analytical and carefully crafted and reflects the specific priorities, commercial concerns and workplace culture of her clients.   She is a seasoned, robust litigator and co-heads the firm’s UK-inbound Immigration business advisory team. With extensive experience of a variety of employers in a wide range of sectors including financial services and professional services, pharmaceutical, manufacturing and energy; Anne has acted for clients with a handful of employees through to those with several thousand. She advises listed boards, private companies, family businesses, domestic households and individuals; she has been the trusted adviser to many of her clients for over 10 years. She is sought out (by firms and partners) as a leading partnership and LLP practitioner with a track record for providing strong legal support in controversial areas such as expulsion, de-equitisation, discrimination, remuneration, and business protection/restrictions. A sought-after speaker/trainer, she is a regular presenter for White Paper Conferences (the leading HR/legal training provider), and the national Employment Lawyers’ Association, giving insightful and entertaining in-house training sessions. Anne qualified in England and Wales in 1996.

Anthony Clare

Anthony is a corporate partner specialising in M&A and corporate finance. He covers a range of sectors, with particular market recognition in life sciences and biotechnology. Anthony advises on a wide range of corporate matters including M&A (public and private), joint ventures and equity capital markets. He has acted on over 20 IPOs in the London market, with a particular bias towards issuer-side mandates. He is well known in the biotech industry and has served for over nine years on the board, and as Vice Chairman, of The Babraham Institute, Cambridge – one of Europe’s leading bioscience research institutes. Anthony is named as a 'star' in the corporate section of the 2015 edition of LMG Life Sciences and listed in the Top 50 European M&A lawyers 2014 by Global M&A Network (EMEA).

Archie Campbell

Archie is a property lawyer with extensive experience acting on commercial transactions for banks, alternative lenders and borrowers, and on high-value residential matters for both lenders and individuals. Clients appreciate Archie's calm and efficient approach and dedication to finding practical and commercially sensible solutions to enable a transaction to proceed as smoothly as possible. Archie is part of the firm's decarbonisation focus group and has particular specialism in advising lenders and borrowers on green and sustainability-linked loans. Archie has broad experience across the real estate sector, particularly real estate finance and high-end residential. In the residential space, he advises high net worth individuals on all aspects of high-value residential matters including acquisitions, sales, financings and lettings. Archie leads the firm's residential property team. In the finance spectrum he has advised a large number of domestic and international lenders on financings and re-financings (both investment and development) where property is the principle secured asset.

Ben Mercer

Ben is a corporate partner focusing on public and private M&A, joint ventures, capital raising, restructurings and general corporate advice, often with cross border elements. He advises in a wide range of industries, particularly consumer, energy, financial services, industrials and transportation.  Ben's broad transportation sector experience covers shipping, aviation, rail and logistics. Ben has been ranked for mid-market M&A in Chambers UK and is a recommended lawyer for mid-market private equity deals in Legal 500, and much of his work involves acquisitions, disposals and mergers of companies and businesses with an international presence. Ben acts for a variety of clients which include corporates, HNWIs, financial institutions, private equity houses and management teams. High profile mandates on which he has recently advised include acting for 3 Step IT on its strategic partnership with BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions to create a leading integrated IT leasing business across various European jurisdictions; advising on the sale of leading industrial exhibitions business, Mack Brooks Exhibitions, to FTSE 100 publishing and exhibitions company, RELX Plc; and advising Lloyds Bank and RBS on the sale of the Voyager passenger trains fleet to Beacon Rail, a division of JP Morgan. Ben spent six months in the New York office of a leading US law firm and is a core member of Stephenson Harwood’s US group. He works closely with US based clients and assists them with their international strategic activities.

Ben Sigler

Ben is a partner in our commercial litigation team and heads the firm's sports and contentious data protection practices. Ben has extensive experience in all aspects of dispute resolution including arbitration, litigation, and regulatory investigations, and he has a particular focus on the financial and technology sectors. Ben's experience also encompasses dealing with issues arising from allegations of fraud, insolvency claims, and a wide variety of applications for interim relief. Ben has acted for, and against, sovereign states and other governmental entities, banks, and corporates, including high profile entities across a range of sectors (finance, commodities, property and so forth), as well as high-net worth individuals, and the majority of his instructions include a significant cross-border element. Whilst Ben's practice spans the full gamut of corporate and commercial disputes, he has particularly notable experience of, and expertise and interest in, advising majority and minority shareholders, directors, interested third parties, and companies in the context of shareholder disputes (both in relation to private and public companies) and co-venturers and other interested parties in the context of partnership disputes (in relation to limited liability partnerships, limited partnerships, and partnerships at will). This aspect of his practice is complemented by his wealth of experience in advising on disputes relating to reputation management and information law issues, which are often engaged in this context.

Catriona Berman

A real estate lawyer with interests in investment, development and asset management, Catriona acts for a range of domestic and international clients including private equity investors and large developers, and has an appetite for complex transactions. Clients say that they enjoy working with Catriona for her straightforward advice and commercial approach. Profile Services Sectors Catriona has acted on a broad variety of matters, from the development and forward funding of a luxury hotel to the acquisition, development, pre-let and financing of major Central London office property. She enjoys handling transactions through the use of corporate structures (domestic and offshore), including joint ventures and corporate acquisitions & disposals. She has dealt with a number of interesting and high-profile properties, including the BBC’s Television Centre, the More London Estate and the Grangemouth refinery. Catriona also regularly advises on the real estate aspects of private equity investments, and assists overseas companies in respect of their occupational needs in the United Kingdom. Catriona also has experience advising both borrowers and lenders on the property elements of finance transactions, including development loans, mezzanine and stretch senior finance.

Charlotte Heywood

Charlotte is a partner within the commercial litigation team specialising in construction, engineering, PFI and rail disputes. She has extensive experience in adjudication claims as well as litigation, arbitration and ADR. Charlotte advises contractors, employers and subcontractors in resolving disputes arising both internationally and domestically in relation to payment, defects and delay and disruption and has experience in a wide range of sectors including luxury residential, commercial, hotels, health and education, retail, energy and power. She regularly deals with disputes arising out of the JCT, NEC and FIDIC forms of contract, as well as numerous bespoke forms. Charlotte also advises clients in relation to real time project management dispute avoidance over the active construction phase including in relation to dealing with payment applications, contractual notices and extension of time and loss and expense assessments. Charlotte is an active member of the National Association of Women in Construction.

Cristan Evans

Cristan specialises in the resolution of shipping and trade disputes. He provides practical, commercial advice with the aim of resolving the most complex disputes in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Cristan acts for shipowners, charterers, cargo interests and their insurers in disputes arising under charterparties, bills of lading and contracts of affreightment. He has acted in Court proceedings and in arbitrations conducted under the LMAA, UNCITRAL, LCIA, FOSFA and GAFTA rules. An experienced commodities lawyer, Cristan also acts in sale contract disputes for buyers and sellers involving commodities such as petroleum products, coal, vegetable oils/oil seeds and biofuels.

Dan Holland

A commercial lawyer with a focus on outsourcing, manufacturing and supply chain issues. Dan has 20 years' experience in advising on a wide variety of commercial relationships, from day-to-day trading activities to one-off projects and strategic alliances. Dan's practice is broadly split between services and supply chain issues, including procurement and supply at all stages of production, and outsourcing of both IT and BPO services. His practice is particularly focussed on the life sciences, manufacturing, transport and financial services sectors. His recent outsourcing experience includes the provision of hosted software and managed services to provide core banking function in a regulated environment to banks in the UK, as well as provision of other payment technology. On the BPO side, he has advised on the provision of crew, catering and lounge services on Eurostar trains. In life sciences, Dan regularly advises on the manufacturing and distribution of both API and finished products in the UK and Europe. He has particular knowledge of centralised procurement structures, consignment manufacturing arrangements and all routes to market for goods. Dan’s practice covers clients in the UK as well as those based throughout Europe, the Middle East and the US. He worked in Paris for a number of years and speaks fluent French.

Daniel Margolis

Daniel is a partner in the banking team, based in the firm's London office. Daniel has a broad practice advising lenders and borrowers across a range of finance transactions, with particular expertise in general corporate, acquisition, leveraged and real estate finance transactions. Daniel has worked in the finance teams of US and international City firms, in addition to a period as in-house counsel for a boutique alternative asset investment firm. Daniel's recent experience includes advising an AIM-listed company on its first debt financing transaction, advising a US-based care home fund as lender in relation to the development and forward-purchase of a UK care home portfolio, advising the UK real estate asset manager of a US state fund in relation to the financing aspects of its shopping centre acquisition and advising various debt funds on their participations in existing leveraged and real estate finance transactions.

Darren Fodey

Darren is an expert in rail regulation, regulated contracts and railway operations, with broad expertise in all areas affecting railway businesses: bidders, infrastructure managers and train operators. He has been named as a Leading Individual by the Legal 500 directory. He works with both the public and private sectors, offering insights on how the railway works in the real world. Darren is known for his deep knowledge of the rail sector, rail regulation and regulated contracts, as well as the rail franchise/concession cycle, offering pragmatic advice on the day-to-day operation of a rail business and its supply chain arrangements. Acting for train operators, infrastructure managers, funders and procurers of railway services, both in the public and private sectors, he offers broad perspectives of how the railway operates in the real world. Deploying his detailed knowledge of industry laws, regulation and practice, working alongside industry stakeholders such as the Office of Rail and Road and the Department for Transport, he has delivered a regulatory regime and suite of contractual documentation for the operation of the new Elizabeth line railway and regularly advises on the operation of Elizabeth line services. Darren's experience extends to the private sector too. He has vast experience acting for private bidders and train operators. Experienced in all aspects of franchises/concessions, he acts from the bid stage, through mobilisation and associated supply agreements and then into the operational phase. He has advised on the impacts of Brexit, Covid-19, the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail and the cost challenges faced by the rail industry. Recognised by clients for his attention to detail and ease to work with, his knowledge of how the railway works in the real world means he can "talk trains" and offer down-to-earth, practical advice to railway businesses. Darren continues to write for various industry publications on some of the latest rail issues – having featured in RAIL magazine, Rail Review magazine and Rail Professional.

David Sinclair

David Dowding

Specialising in corporate acquisitions and disposals and corporate finance, David has broad experience advising both corporate clients and investment banks on equity capital markets transactions (Official List and AIM). David has particular experience in the healthcare and energy and resources sectors. Clients value his responsiveness and his measured approach to complex issues. David advises on a broad range of corporate finance and M&A (public and private) matters. As well as regularly advising private companies, he is a trusted adviser to both listed corporates and investment banks. David has a wealth of experience on flotations and secondary offerings, both issuer and bank-side. David has spent time on secondments in Paris and with the RBS Hoare Govett M&A/Equity Originations teams.

Don Brown

Don has broad experience of secured lending, including asset-based lending, receivables finance, leveraged finance, asset finance, project finance and general corporate lending.  He acts for both lenders and borrowers on a wide variety of bilateral and syndicated financings, re-financings and restructurings. Don acts for banks, debt funds, specialist lenders, private equity houses and corporate borrowers in relation to a wide range of domestic and cross-border financing transactions.  He advises on bilateral and syndicated lending transactions (both domestic and cross-border), asset-based lending transactions, receivables finance (both debt purchase and secured lending), speciality finance transactions (including borrowing base facilities, forward flow arrangements and warehousing / SPV structures), supply chain finance, asset finance and leasing transactions

Donna Newman

Partner

Dora Mace-Kokota

Dora is a finance partner specialising in advising major international financial institutions, owners and other players in relation to general finance, ship finance, restructuring, secondary trade and leasing matters. Her specialism is ship and offshore finance, including ECA-backed finance transactions, sale and purchase, leasing, joint ventures, shipbuilding contracts, ship registration matters, secondary trade transactions, restructuring and enforcement. Dora has experience in these fields and regularly advises on high profile international financing and restructuring matters. She acts for a broad range of international banks and other financial institutions, including export credit agencies as well as major ship owners and shipyards in relation to all types of vessels (LNGs, cargo vessels, containers, chemical tankers, VLCCs, yachts and cruise ships). She boasts particular experience in Europe, parts of Asia and the USA. Dora is instructed regularly if not exclusively by several leading international financial institutions in the context of major syndicated, club and other deals concerning financings made available to one of the largest operators of vessels in the world, one of the largest shipowners in the world and one of the largest providers of critical infrastructure assets to the offshore energy industry. More recently, Dora has become an industry expert and leader in relation to LIBOR substitution and DAC6 regulations. She has also contributed to the fourth edition of the leading ship finance industry handbook, Shipping Finance. Dora's direct, commercial, pro-active and pragmatic approach is highlighted and appreciated by clients.

Duncan Stiles

Duncan is a senior corporate partner at Stephenson Harwood LLP. He advises a sophisticated, internationally diverse client base in Europe and the US across a range of sectors (including manufacturing, technology and real estate) on complex transactions which often have a cross-border element. Over the last 30 years, Duncan has advised a wide range of listed and unlisted UK and international companies, private equity sponsors and financial institutions on transactional matters including public and private M&A, joint ventures, fundraisings and corporate reorganisations. The United States is a particular focus for Duncan's practice and over the last 15 years he has advised in relation to strategic European investments by numerous US corporates and financial sponsors; most recently Intercontinental Exchange, Inc; Kroll Inc, Elemica Inc and Corporation Service Company. He advised Covanta Holding Corporation on its strategic partnership with Green Investment Group (part of the Macquarie Group) to develop, fund and own energy-from-waste projects in the UK and Ireland and now advises the UK business directly following the acquisition of GIG's interests. He has recently advised on a number of deals in the technology sector, including Kroll's acquisition of cyber-security services provider Redscan; Elemica's purchase of OmPrompt, a company focussed on the automation and optimisation of supply chain processes and document management; and Intercontinental Exchange's acquisition of Urgentem, a provider of emissions data and climate risk analytics to the finance industry.

Edward Davis

Ed is a commercial litigator, helping to resolve a wide range of domestic and cross-border disputes. He is well-known for his expertise in fraud cases, company disputes and complex banking and fund-related matters. He advises clients in High Court litigation and arbitration. Ed has a broad commercial litigation experience, acting for a variety of clients, including banks and other financial institutions, funds, corporates, commodities traders, accountants, trustees and individuals. He advises on the full range of commercial disputes, including fraud and injunctions, commercial contract disputes, and joint-venture and shareholder disputes. He also advises on international and cross-border litigation strategies and manages and co-ordinates litigation in different jurisdictions. Clients value his pragmatic and commercial approach. He is particularly well-known for acting in complex and high value financial disputes and investigations covering a wide range of markets and products, including derivatives, asset backed securities, swaps and bond issues. He has advised clients in connection with various commodities and trade finance matters (letters of credit, letters of indemnity), and advises on regulatory issues. As well as acting in High Court disputes, Ed has acted in a wide range of insolvency matters (advising liquidators, creditors and companies in winding-up proceedings) and has acted for clients in a number of arbitrations.

Eifion Morris

Eifion is the chief executive of Stephenson Harwood LLP. He is responsible for the management and strategic direction of the firm globally, and has held the role since October 2019. Eifion joined Stephenson Harwood as a partner in 2008 to help build the firm’s intellectual property practice. An English qualified lawyer, he has spent most of his career advising well-known multinational clients on their global IP strategies. As well as co-heading the IP practice, before becoming chief executive, Eifion was the firm's Compliance Officer for Legal Practice.

Emily Osborne

An experienced private wealth advisor, Emily provides international tax and private wealth advice to families and trustees of family trusts on a variety of issues, including moving to the UK; the use of wealth preservation structures such as offshore trusts, foundations and companies; the ownership of UK residential property and tax disclosures and the reporting of beneficial ownership under the various global initiatives. She advises clients on the law of domicile and residency, including ensuring the availability of tax efficient sources of funds to draw on after becoming UK residents. Emily is an expert on international pension schemes and other remuneration structures and advises on IPPs, EFRBS, QROPS and QNUPS, acting for both scheme trustees and their members.

Emma Skakle

Emma is an experienced litigator and specialises in resolving complex disputes for clients across the international trade, shipping and natural resources sectors. She advises trading houses, oil companies, producers, shipowners, charterers, and insurers on the full range of their contractual and often multi-jurisdictional disputes, in both arbitration and High Court litigation. Emma is an international disputes and arbitration specialist with a particular focus on commodities and shipping issues. She regularly acts for the major players in the soft commodities industries (including grains, oilseeds, sugar and cocoa) and has extensive experience representing clients in London arbitrations (including GAFTA, FOSFA, SAL, LMAA, ICC, LCIA), the English High Court, and mediation. Her practice also includes hard commodities and oil & gas disputes, where she has acted for state-owned companies in complex, multi-jurisdictional arbitrations. In the shipping sector, Emma advises charterers, shipowners, insurers, and cargo interests on all types of charterparty issues including ship arrests, security, freight, and hire, and has acted on a number of reported shipping cases, including representing the successful charterers in the Commercial Court decision "The Eleni P" (2019) relating to a dispute over hire during a period of detention by Somali pirates in the Arabian Sea. Emma presents globally on legal topics relating to the international sale of goods. She also has in-house experience, both at a global shipping company and a large steel producer, which has given her a deep insight into the needs of her clients and their industries.

Gabriel Boghossian

Gabriel is the head of Stephenson Harwood's market leading secondaries practice. Gabriel has particular market recognition for his work in complex private equity secondaries transactions and has extensive experience advising sponsors and buyers on secondaries transactions designed to provide liquidity to GPs and investors. Gabriel advises on the full range of transactions, including traditional and synthetic portfolio secondaries, preferred equity and GP-led continuation vehicles; his practice includes minority stakes sales, direct co-investments and other transactional matters. Gabriel has been recognised in in Legal Week’s most recent “40 under 40” private equity list and is recommended by The Legal 500 UK 2022 as well as Chambers UK 2022 specifically for his expertise in Secondaries deals.

Genevieve Quierin

Genevieve acts for corporate and individual clients in a broad range of commercial disputes. She frequently represents companies in the banking and finance, private equity, hospitality and leisure, retail, media and telecoms sectors. Her expertise spans pre-action strategic advice to directors, shareholders and company founders through to high value, multi-jurisdictional High Court litigation. Genevieve has a leading banking and finance litigation practice as well as a specialism in competition private enforcement actions, and is currently representing over 1,000 companies in group claims against Visa and MasterCard. She is equally at ease acting for claimants and defendants, and frequently works with third party litigation funders. Recent work includes: strategic advice to founder of high profile media business involving breach of directors’ duties and unfair prejudice to minority shareholders; defending a £50m+ breach of warranty claim; breach of contract and rectification action acting for PE fund; advising US hedge fund in relation to material adverse effect clause; acting for a major global trust company in several multi-jurisdictional actions involving allegations of fraud; advising corporate director in relation to round tripping allegations; providing advice on potential liabilities arising from the Grenfell Tower Fire to global bank. Genevieve is co-chair of the Cambridge Forum on European Collective Redress, a member of the International Bar Association and a frequent conference speaker.

George Vaughton

George has a wealth of experience advising lenders and borrowers across a broad spectrum of debt transactions, specialising in real estate finance, corporate lending and acquisition finance. He frequently works on transactions involving cross-border and other complex, innovative elements. George previously worked in the corporate and finance teams of a magic circle firm and has spent a number of years working in London, Hong Kong and Beijing, handling extremely high profile matters for international clients. His clients have included financial institutions, corporates, governments and state-owned entities from the UK, Europe, Asia and South America. Coming from a particularly broad legal background, George has advised on transactions as diverse as joint ventures, public and private cross-border mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings and public debt issuances. Complementing his debt finance work, he also focuses on derivatives and advises clients on the interest rate hedging aspects of loan transactions.

Graeme Barton

Graeme uses his experience across a wide range of sectors within the construction industry to develop innovative bespoke solutions to client needs. His clients enjoy commercial practical advice and whole life support throughout their projects. Graeme has a client base which covers developers, sponsors, contractors, funders and public sector bodies. He advises on domestic and international engineering, construction and infrastructure projects across all sectors including energy and renewables, education, waste, transport and accommodation. His energy practice includes energy from waste, solar, district energy schemes and advising on the incorporation of new clean technologies into existing projects. Graeme provides clients with whole life support from the initial bid strategy and procurement stage through to the construction and operational phases of a project. Graeme regularly works with clients on real estate development and investment projects to create innovative bespoke contractual solutions tailored to the complexities of the project and its funding structure. He also works with JCT, NEC, FIDIC, MF/1, IChemE, RIBA, ACE and RICS standard forms of construction contract and appointment. He has a particular interest in the hotels and leisure sector and in advising inward investors into the UK on structuring development and forward funding arrangements. He also advises public and private sector bodies on procurement of public sector contracts.

Guy Harper

Guy is a litigator specialising in corporate and finance disputes. He is recognised for his expertise in a broad range of contentious matters, with a particular emphasis on claims arising from the private equity, professional services and fine art sectors.  Clients value Guy's tenacity, attention to detail and focus on results. The subject matter of the claims that Guy handles is diverse and includes contractual and shareholder disputes, fraud and professional negligence claims against lawyers.  He has a track-record of formulating effective strategies to win multifaceted cases in a cost-effective manner.

Haris Zografakis

Haris heads the firm's commodities practice and over a period of 30 years has dealt with all aspects of shipping and international maritime trade. He has acted for clients ranging from mining companies and oil majors to shipowners and their insurers, state-owned oil companies, independent trading houses, chemical companies, banks and refineries from around the world. He is also a leading expert in the contractual aspects of maritime decarbonisation, acting for NGOs, organisations and companies from across the spectrum of the maritime supply chain. Haris started his career in the City of London in 1994. Dispute resolution represents a large part of his practice and he has acted in hundreds of arbitrations, High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and multi-jurisdictional cases ranging from modest demurrage claims to mine off-take and oil and gas disputes worth hundreds of millions. His reported Court cases include the Johnny K, Trafigura v Kookmin Bank, the Sabrewing, the Northgate, the Port Russel, U&M v Konkola Copper Mines, CH Offshore v PDVSA Petroleo and Petrosaudi Oil Services v Novo Banco et al. While he has been described as a "solid and tenacious litigator" (Chambers UK 2007) and “a supreme tactician” (Chambers UK 2020), he is also involved in non-contentious work, structuring transactions, drafting terms and advising clients on decarbonisation strategy. He is member of the editorial board of Shipping and Transport Law Journal, member of the Institute of maritime law of the University of Southampton and has served on the Council of the London Shipping Law Centre. He is chair of the International Working Group on maritime decarbonisation of Comite Maritime International. He has published and lectured extensively worldwide, including at COP, for BIMCO and the IMO. Haris heads the firm's commodities practice, which has repeatedly been recognised as a First Tier team by The Legal 500. The same directory described him as "leading a true team, perfectly organised, providing excellent legal and commercial advice". He has also been inducted to the 2018 Legal 500 Hall of fame as a result of his continued recognition by the directory.

Helena Berman

Helena is the head of our pensions dispute resolution team. With over 20 years’ experience in complex high value pensions and contentious trust disputes, Helena is recognised as a leading industry figure. She is regularly called upon by clients and peers for opinion on some of the most complex contentious issues. Helena acts for corporates, trustees, financial services firms, financial institutions, insurers and private individuals. Helena has acted on a number of high profile reported cases and has successfully challenged orthodox thinking on important issues such as the law of limitation and construction of trust documents. Helena is particularly adept at defending trustee advisers in professional negligence claims and she continues to surpass client expectations, reflected in the fact that she was shortlisted for “Client Partner of the Year” at the Lawyer Awards 2015. Helena is considered an expert on construction and rectification of trust documents. She is also experienced in acting where trustees have fraudulently misappropriated trust assets and advising trustees who find themselves drawn into UK matrimonial proceedings. Helena is ranked as a leading individual in Pensions Litigation in Legal 500 and a Notable Practitioner in Chambers & Partners (UK). She sits on the Pensions Litigation Committee of the Association of Pensions Lawyers and is regularly asked to speak at industry leading conferences and to contribute to industry publications.

Ian Mace

Ian is a partner and head of our ship finance group. He is an expert in the asset finance sector, specialising in ship, offshore and superyacht finance. Ian has broad experience of various financing transactions, from conventional debt, private equity and Islamic finance to leasing and restructuring. He provides quality advice in a commercial context with exceptional levels of service. Ian is recognised in The Legal 500 UK 2023 guide as a leading individual and in Chambers UK 2023 guide as a notable practitioner. Ian has a wealth of experience in complex financing structures, including export credit backed new building financings, financing of receivables pursuant to pool agreement, seller's credit transactions, Islamic financings and sale and lease back transactions. He has also led teams involved in the disposal and acquisition of loan portfolios for a number of high profile financial institutions. Ian acts for a mixture of financial institutions, ship-owners and operators, joint ventures, funds, private equity groups and shipbuilders in a broad variety of transaction types, which allows him to anticipate the issues that his counterparts will raise and enable him to offer commercial solutions. Ian has been involved in the restructuring of a number of high profile financings in varying stages of distress, and has also advised in respect of a number of transactions that have involved enforcement action including the arrest and auction of vessels in a number of jurisdictions. Highly regarded by his clients, Ian is commended for being sharp, quick on his feet, well prepared and able to argue any case clearly and convincingly. He has also contributed to the fourth edition of the leading ship finance industry handbook, Shipping Finance. Ian is a core member of the Stephenson Harwood yacht and superyacht team and regularly advises on non-contentious matters in the sector.

Ian Benjamin

Ian advises domestic and international clients on all aspects of restructuring and insolvency matters. He is known for his cross-sector experience advising a variety of stakeholders. Ian has significant multi-sector experience (including real estate, hospitality, leisure & retail, financial services, automotive and healthcare). He has worked extensively on business turnarounds and both creditor and debtor led restructurings. He regularly acts for lenders, distressed investment funds, insolvency practitioners, trade creditors, landlords, directors, sponsors and foreign lawyers. Ian is listed as a 'Next Generation Partner' in The Legal 500 UK 2023.

James Linforth

James heads up the firm's general banking and finance team. He is a leading real estate finance lawyer, but James also has broad expertise in corporate lending and acquisition finance transactions. James has over 25 years' of Real Estate Finance experience, acting for lenders and borrowers in relation to all kinds of real estate development and investment financings. James has been ranked as a Leading Individual in both Chambers and Legal 500 for many years and he has led on some of the highest profile central London real estate financings in recent years. These include acting for the borrowers in relation to the development financing of the Paddington Cube and the financing of the giant mixed use scheme, Bankside Yards, as well as the acquisition financing of Goldman Sachs' EMEA HQ. On the lender side, James regularly acts as a trusted advisor to Wells Fargo, OCBC, Bayern LB, HSBC and Mass Mutual/Barings in relation to significant acquisition, development and refinancing transactions. Clients say "James is a fantastic lawyer for wide-ranging and practical advice on commercial real estate transactions" with a “friendly, calm and reasoned approach” that is “very proactive and goes above and beyond expectations”.

James Quarmby

Recently recognised as "tax & trusts lawyer of the year" (Spears' Wealth Management Awards 2022), James is the head of our private wealth team. James is widely regarded  as one of the leading practitioners in the UK and is described in the Chambers HNW Guide (2019) as “very much a figurehead of the industry…… he carries a lot of experience”. James has a wide ranging practice, advising on UK and international taxation, residency and domicile, offshore pensions and trusts, asset protection, succession planning and HMRC disputes. James is one of the most prominent private client lawyers in the UK and frequently appears in the press and broadcast media (Sky News, BBC TV News, BBC Radios 2 / 3 / 4 / 5, Bloomberg TV and the BBC World Service). He writes and lectures widely on tax policy. The private client publication "e-private client" names James, for the last 8 years running, as a "Top 50 Most Influential' in the private client industry. As well as being a solicitor, regulated by the SRA, he is a Registered Tax Technician, regulated by the Association of Tax Technicians (ATT). He is an active member of STEP and a contributing editor for Lexis/Nexis.

James Collins

Partner

Jayesh Patel

An experienced banking and restructuring lawyer specialising in real estate finance, corporate trusts and bond and loan restructurings. Jayesh has over 30 years’ experience in a broad range of banking, capital markets and restructuring transactions gained in the City. His current specialist expertise is in real estate finance, debt restructuring and corporate trusts.

Jenny McKeown

Head of the employment, pensions and private wealth practice group, Jenny is a leading contentious trusts specialist. She is widely recognised for her experience in complex, high value, trust disputes in the private wealth, pensions, banking and financial services sectors (both onshore and offshore). She acts for trustees, beneficiaries, corporates, financial services firms, financial institutions, insurers and private individuals. Jenny has acted on a number of high profile claims and trust disputes both onshore and offshore.  Her experience ranges from advising on technical areas of rectification and construction of trust documentation to applications for disclosure of information and seeking to hold trustees to account. Jenny has particular expertise in professional negligence claims against trustee advisors and representing trustees in fraud proceedings. Jenny is valued by clients for bringing a commercial and pragmatic approach to complex legal issues.  She also has extensive experience of third-party litigation funding and insurance arrangements and recovering assets obtained in breach of trust. Jenny is ranked as a leading individual in Contentious Trust and Probate and Pensions Litigation in Legal 500 UK and as a Notable Practitioner in both in Chambers & Partners UK. She is included in the Private Client Global Elite directory and has recently been ranked in two separate Citywealth lists: the ‘Top 10 Power Women Trust Litigators’ and ‘Top 100 Trust Litigators and Polymaths’ where clients and peers described her as “discerning with great acumen, innovation and shrewdness. Quick witted, ingenious and clever”.  Whilst heading the contentious trust team Jenny won the Trust and Estates Litigation Team of the Year at Legal Week’s Commercial Litigation and Arbitration Awards for her victory last year in the Privy Council in Sachak Khan & Ors v Gany Holdings & Ors (regarding a £100 million cross border trust dispute). She is regularly asked to speak at conferences on topical issues and has written a number of published articles.

Joe O'Keeffe

Joe is a recognised leading lawyer operating at the legal interface between marine and energy insurance and international trade. He has acted for many years for insurers, brokers, traders, banks and end-users and energy companies, many of whom are household names. His marine insurance practice spans the full range of sub-classes, including hull and machinery and increased value, war, builders’ risks, loss of hire, yachts, MII, aquaculture, cargo and specie, P&I and other marfine liabilities. He has been instructed on many of the largest and most complex losses and claims that have impacted the marine and energy insurance market over the past 15 years, including the Buncefield Explosion (the largest peacetime explosion in Europe), the Costa Concordia (the largest ever navigational loss to hit the market), the Qingdao metals frauds, the Tianjin explosion and the collapse of Hanjin. He has particular experience of fraudulent claims, total loss work and war detainment claims arising in challenging jurisdictions. He also has very extensive experience of advising P&I insurers in relation to both coverage matters and claims issues. He advised underwriters in the seminal Supreme Court fraudulent devices case of Versloot Dredging and acted for the successful underwriters in The Galatea, superyacht avoidance case based on undisclosed over-valuation. His work in the international trade sector involves advising traders, banks, end-users and their insurers across the full spectrum of losses, claims and disputes that arise under sale contracts, contracts of carriage, COAs and insurance policies. Legal 500 UK 2021 described Joe and the marine insurance team as ‘a very strong professional group who know their subject matter and the applicable law’.

John Meehan

John advises on a broad range of UK tax matters, including corporate and financing transactions, real estate and funds. He is highly valued by his clients for his technical expertise, attention to detail and pragmatic approach. John's practice covers all direct taxes, stamp duties and VAT. He has extensive experience of corporate transactions, including M&A (public, private, domestic and cross-border), group reorganisations, real estate transactions and corporate and asset finance. He also advises on the tax structuring and other aspects of investment funds including REITS and property funds, investment trusts and other onshore and offshore funds investing in a wide range of asset classes.

John Simpson

John is a Director of the Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration and a Committee Member of the Maritime Law Association of Singapore. John has also served on the Advisory Board to the National University of Singapore Centre for Maritime Law. As a recognised expert in charterparty law, John was appointed to the Singapore Maritime Foundation drafting committee for the Singapore Time Charter Form, which eventually evolved into the new NYPE 2015 charterparty form. John has also advised GlobalORE on revisions to the Standard Iron Ore Trading Agreement (SIOTA). John advises on drafting and negotiation of shipbuilding contracts, charterparties, bills of lading, MOAs and associated disputes. John also has particular expertise in the drafting and negotiation of transhipment project contracts. John acts mainly for contractors in the offshore oil and gas sector and has advised on charterparties and construction contracts for FPSOs, FSRUs, drilling rigs, production platforms and offshore support vessels as well as advising on subsea construction disputes. John has assisted clients with tender processes, bids and negotiation of final contracts as well as disputes occurring during the running of the project. John advises traders on potential disputes arising out of letters of credit, bills of lading, charterparties and contracts for the international sale of goods, particularly coal, iron ore, oil, LPG, LNG and LME metals. John has also advised on the drafting of long term contracts for the sale of LNG and on sale and repurchase transactions.

Jonathan Spearing

Jonathan is an energy and natural resources lawyer, specialising in all aspects of the supply, carriage, storage and financing of commodities. He advises mining groups, oil companies, trading houses, banks, energy utilities, industrial consumers and shipping clients on their international contracts and disputes. Jonathan handles a wide range of commercial disputes but has particular expertise in matters relating to the sale of goods, trade and asset finance, storage and warehousing contracts, contracts of affreightment, charterparties and bills of lading. He was the lead associate on the team that acted for Mercuria in their successful defence of a headline-making US$270 million claim, relating to “repo” deals affected by a major metals warehousing fraud in China. He also has extensive experience of contentious ship finance matters, having worked on some of the most significant cases of recent years including the Omega Navigation Chapter 11 bankruptcy. On the non-contentious side, Jonathan’s practice includes advising on and drafting off-take, supply and master trading agreements, inventory financing agreements, pre-payment financing structures, warehousing and storage agreements, contracts of affreightment and charterparties.

Jonathan Cripps

Jonathan is the head of our firmwide decarbonisation area of focus.  He also leads our projects, energy and infrastructure team in London. Jonathan leads the delivery of our strategy to provide a full range of decarbonisation services across the energy, transportation and trade, and the built and natural environment sectors to support our clients achieve their decarbonisation, net zero and sustainability goals. He leads an international team of decarbonisation lawyers from across all the jurisdictions we operate in. He has over 30 years of advising on major energy and infrastructure projects, including within the renewables sector in both the UK and internationally. In renewables and energy transition, Jonathan acts for sponsors, lenders, operators and construction and engineering contractors across the full range of technologies from solar, wind, energy from waste, electric vehicles, geothermal, direct air capture, through to hydrogen and nuclear. Within the broader infrastructure market, Jonathan has advised on every UK government infrastructure programme since the 1990s, including PFI and all its derivative forms. Internationally, Jonathan is active on major projects in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Jonathan Pittal

Jonathan is a corporate partner specialising in private equity. He advises private equity houses and other leading financial institutions on a wide range of corporate finance matters covering the structuring of fund managers (including conversion to limited liability partnership), the establishment of investment funds in many asset classes and advising on corporate transactions.

Jonathan Proctor

Jonathan is a partner in the firm's finance team. He has a strong reputation across a range of debt finance transactions with a focus on real estate finance, debt restructuring and corporate trusts. Jonathan is popular with clients who appreciate his strong transactional experience and commercial approach. Jonathan advises lenders, borrowers and other stakeholders on a wide variety of finance transactions across Europe, the United States, Asia and the Middle East.  Jonathan has also worked on a number of high profile restructurings involving bonds and bank debt and his clients include funds, joint venture vehicles, corporates, banks and corporate trustees. He is popular with clients for his commercial awareness and forms a key part of the firm's banking team and restructuring, which is characterised by its high quality advice and commercial approach. Jonathan's recent high-profile instructions include acting for a syndicate of lenders on the £750 million financing of The Langham Estate, acting for a lender syndicate in relation to distressed shopping centre assets and acting for a borrower-side listed investment fund on financing around a UK brewery. Jonathan has recently acted across a number of market leading and innovative bond restructuring transactions and has advised corporate trustees on a range of enforcement scenarios and distressed situations. Jonathan has also played a key role in developing the firm's real estate fund clients over recent years (acting on many real estate financings for funds managed by Schroders) and in expanding the firm’s client base generally. Jonathan also leads the firm's relationships with The NatWest Group, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Bank Leumi (UK) plc, BACB plc and Ocorian.

Jonathan Ward

Jonathan is a ship finance expert with a focus on complex, cross-border transactions and restructurings in shipping. Clients value his commercial and pragmatic approach coupled with his broad experience. Jonathan heads our Chinese ship finance practice. He has extensive experience of ship finance and commercial shipping matters including complex loan financings, operating and finance leasing, sale and purchase, sale and leaseback, shipbuilding and construction contracts and corporate acquisitions. Jonathan advises on "big ticket" asset finance transactions worldwide. He represents a broad range of financial institutions (including export credit agencies), major international ship owners and shipyards. He has particular experience in Europe and the Far East. Jonathan has considerable restructuring experience and has advised lenders on the Omega Navigation Chapter 11 bankruptcy case, and major restructurings for Torm, Genco, Maritime Equity Partners and Bourbon Offshore.

Jonathan Bridcut

Jonathan is a corporate partner who specialises in private M&A, joint ventures and corporate reorganisations within a wide range of sectors, including real estate investment, financial services and healthcare. Jonathan advises a variety of clients, which include corporates, HNWIs, financial institutions and family offices, each of whom appreciates his responsive, commercial and pragmatic approach. Jonathan is listed as a key lawyer in the 2023 Legal 500 legal directory where they describe him as “a prolific advisor in the real estate investment and healthcare arenas, regularly handling high-value sales and purchases for a mix of domestic and foreign clients”. Jonathan's recent transactional experience includes acting for: Tristan Capital Partners on both the acquisition of a high profile office building in central London and the sale of Precision Park business park to abrdn; CLS Group on the sale of Future Climate Info to Dye & Durham Corporation and the sale of CLS Risk Solutions to Specialist Risk Group; the individual selling shareholders of Sutton Winson on the sale of Sutton Winson to Acrisure for approximately £88 million; 3 Step IT on its strategic partnership with BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions to create a leading integrated IT leasing business across various European jurisdictions; and Trafalgar Entertainment Group on many transactions, including the recent acquisition of a portfolio of regional theatres across the UK. Jonathan joined Stephenson Harwood in 2015 having previously spent a number of years at a magic circle law firm.

Julian Cahn

Julian is an insolvency and dispute resolution specialist, with extensive experience of proceedings across a broad range of industries and sectors. Julian’s insolvency practice covers both corporate and personal insolvency. He acts for insolvency practitioners, creditors, debtors, directors, and all other stakeholders in the insolvency process, with a focus on court driven and contentious insolvency matters. He is part of Stephenson Harwood’s Chambers-ranked Tier 1 personal insolvency practice (he is also individually ranked by Chambers), which revolves around advising in relation to insolvent individuals with multi-million pound debts and global assets. Julian sits on the technical committee of R3, the trade association for the insolvency and restructuring profession in the UK. Recent instructions include acting for the Liquidators of Rangers Football Club; for Receivers appointed by the Court following an application made by Deutsche Bank, as judgment creditor for US$235 million plus interest, in light of the decision of Mr Justice Cooke in Deutsche Bank AG v Sebastian Holdings Inc; and for the Trustees in Bankruptcy of Boris Becker. Julian also advises in relation to commercial disputes across a broad range of industries and sectors. This includes both domestic proceedings, as well as international and cross-border litigation strategies.

Julie Clegg

Julie specialises in ship financing. She has extensive experience of advising lenders and borrowers on a variety of transactions and in a variety of sectors. She produces and negotiates sophisticated documentation and structures to reflect the increasing corporatisation of ship financing and the innovative financing techniques now being used. Julie's experience has been gained over a number of years through her involvement in various parts of the shipping cycle. She acts for lenders and borrowers on everything from complex cross-border financial transactions to simple ship sales and purchases in relation to all vessel types. Julie's particular focus is on the cruise sector. She led the consulting editor team for, and is a contributor to, the fourth edition of Stephenson Harwood's leading ship finance industry handbook, Shipping Finance, and is also a co-author of the pre-delivery ship finance chapter of the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management's handbook, Grundlagen der Schiffsfinanzierung.

Julie Romer

Julie is a partner in the banking team. Julie advises lenders, private equity sponsors and corporate borrowers across a range of domestic and cross-border finance transactions, with particular expertise in leveraged finance. Julie has built a reputation of being technically excellent, commercial, pragmatic and user-friendly. Julie has over 20 years of experience acting for lenders and borrowers on financing transactions. Her work spans general corporate lending and acquisition and leveraged finance. Julie works regularly with the Stephenson Harwood private equity team on the financing aspects of leveraged buyouts for our private equity clients. On the lender side, clients include both banks and alternative credit providers. Recent lender side experience includes advising on the financing of a private equity backed acquisition of an online gambling testing business, advising on the provision of various super senior facilities for private equity backed businesses and advising on the provision of a Recovery Loan Scheme backed facility for a restaurant business.

Justin McClelland

Acknowledged as a leading individual in the areas of both regulatory investigations and corporate crime, the leading legal directories have noted that "Justin McClelland can be a game-changer; he knows the case backwards and has superb instincts". He is described as “knowledgeable, astute and empathetic” and “‘excellent’ at handling multi-jurisdictional investigations,” where his “structured, calm and thorough” approach has proved invaluable in resolving the most challenging matters for clients, whether corporate or individuals. The Directories have noted that “Justin McClelland is the main selling point as he brings considerable experience, expertise and judgement in the field’.” and that “Justin McClelland is the stand-out practitioner. He has considerable cross-over experience, excellent judgement and secures great results.” Justin’s practice is international and covers a number of sectors, including financial services, transport, construction, pharmaceuticals and energy, in the following areas: Regulatory investigations: Leading and managing the defence of corporate clients and individuals in complex, multi-jurisdictional investigations on issues such as market abuse, insider dealing, breaches of the FCA’s Principles and Rules, and cartel behaviour.  The investigative agencies with which he has dealt include, in the UK, the FCA, the PRA, the FRC, the ICAEW, the MHRA, the NCA and the SFO and, overseas, the European Commission, the US DOJ, the NYAG, the US CFTC, the Dubai FSA and the Japanese FSA; Regulatory advice: Managing interactions with regulators in supervisory environments to avoid or minimise the impact of regulatory breaches pre-enforcement. The agencies dealt with have included (in the UK), the FCA, PRA, MCA, ICAEW and MHRA; Corporate investigations: Managing internal investigations involving POCA concerns, employment disputes, internal fraud allegations, export compliance/sanctions issues, bribery issues and data protection issues; High-value litigation: Representing clients in commercial and financial disputes including cross-jurisdictional litigation, multi-party actions, appellate proceedings, and follow-on actions arising from regulatory investigations; Compliance programmes: Providing assistance to clients in developing, implementing and reviewing compliance programmes. Prior to his private practice, Justin served as a lawyer in the British Army, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and prosecuting cases spanning the criminal spectrum at Courts Martial, as well as advising and negotiating internationally and at the highest levels of government. Justin was awarded the MBE in June 1998.

Kamal Shah

Kamal is the head of Stephenson Harwood's Africa and India groups. He specialises in complex, cross-border international arbitration, litigation and fraud and asset recovery. Kamal is highly regarded by his peers and clients in his abilities in multi-jurisdictional disputes. Kamal acts for governments, government entities, banks, private corporations and high net worth individuals in a range of matters including those relating to projects and infrastructure, joint ventures, banking and finance, shareholder arrangements, energy and a range of schemes commonly used to defraud individuals and corporations. Kamal is highly ranked in the legal directories including The Legal 500 UK, Chambers (UK, global and Asia Pacific) and IFLR1000. “Kamal Shah is highly experienced in Africa and India-related arbitrations” (Chambers UK 2020, international arbitration) and “he understands the continent” (Chambers Global 2019, Dispute resolution Africa-wide). He was named as a leading international arbitration practitioner in "Who's Who Legal: Future Leaders 2017 - 2020" and has been recognised in Africa’s 30 Arbitration Powerlist 2020 and The Legal 500's Powerlists for arbitration and Africa for 2019. In addition to being a LCIA Court Member, Kamal is currently the president of the LCIA African Users Council. He has also been listed in India Business Law Journal's top 100 international lawyers for India-related matters. The Legal 500 UK 2021 notes that "Kamal Shah stands out as the most outstanding personality at Stephenson Harwood. His demeanour and responses are always insightful and full of solution thinking and that makes him a leader." Kamal co-published the text of the ‘African Promise’, which seeks to tackle the under-representation of Africans on international arbitration tribunals. He is also the co-author of the leading text "Arbitration in Africa: A Review of Key Jurisdictions".

Kate Worthington

A partner in the firm's tax group who advises on a broad range of corporate and real estate tax matters. Kate advises on all aspects of UK corporate tax. She has particular experience in advising on real estate transactions and has acted extensively for institutional investors, listed funds (including REITs), private companies as well as individuals in this context. Kate also has experience in corporate and financing transactions, funds, joint ventures, domestic and international tax structuring and tax disputes.

Kate Cordery

Partner

Katie Hewson

Katie leads the firm’s data protection practice. She has significant experience advising clients across a variety of sectors, including retail, transport, financial services, analytics and life sciences. She holds Certified Information Privacy Professional Europe (CIPP/E), Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) and Fellow of Information Privacy (FIP) accreditations from the International Association of Privacy Professionals. Recently awarded "Privacy Leader of the Year: Legal" (PICASSO Privacy Awards 2022), Katie is recognised as a Next Generation Partner for data protection, privacy and cyber security by The Legal 500 UK 2023, in which she is described as “a valued advisor in relation to EU and UK GDPR matters”. She is also ranked as an Up and Coming Lawyer for data protection and information law in the Chambers and Partners UK 2023 Guide, which states she "has excellent technical knowledge and provides clear, practical advice". Katie has extensive experience leading international GDPR compliance projects and also advises on data protection contracts, transparency issues, international personal data transfers, data sharing, cyber security and personal data breaches. She also advises a variety of clients on direct marketing, ad tech, social media and cookies issues under the e-privacy regime. Katie has also acted for clients facing ICO enforcement action on potential data protection and freedom of information law breaches, winning successful outcomes for her clients in relation to subject access requests, breach reporting and FOIA requests. She has helped clients with the data protection impacts of Brexit and coronavirus and has also advised on the complex legal issues in facial recognition, AI and profiling. Katie is a member of the International Network of Privacy Law Professionals, a not-for-profit international network of qualified professionals providing expert counsel on legal and compliance issues relating to data privacy and associated matters.

Lisa Marks

Lisa specialises in asset finance with a particular focus on general leasing and rail finance. She has over 25 years of experience in the leasing sector and regularly advises a variety of banks and financial institutions in relation to all types of structures. These include finance and operating leases as well as asset-backed lending, receivables financing both from lease and service contracts and debt deals with security over key assets often with a cross-border aspect. Lisa's work over the past year has involved a number of important transactions such as advising SQN Asset Finance Income Fund Limited on the leasing aspects of the launch of their new equipment leasing fund. She also advised Alliance Laundry Systems LLC on their entry into the European equipment finance market, through the establishment of a vendor finance program. Lisa is a Governor of The Leasing Foundation and takes an active role in discussions relating to the development of the leasing industry. Her many years of active involvement in the industry have allowed Lisa to develop a large network in which she is well regarded by her peers and her clients.

Malcolm MacDougall

Malcolm is a corporate lawyer specialising in private equity transactions ranging from acting for private equity houses in the mid-market and lower mid-market, to acting for management teams on large cap PE deals. Malcolm’s experience covers all aspects of private equity deals, including MBOs, MBIs, bolt-on acquisitions, investments and exits. Malcolm specialises in private equity transactions acting for PE houses such as Elysian Capital and FPE Capital, as well as growth capital providers such as BGF, investee companies such as Civica (an investee company of Partners Group) and management teams such as the management team of Optimum Credit on the sale to KKR backed, Pepper Money. He has acted on transactions such as Elysian Capital’s acquisitions of Key Travel and Aspirations Care, FPE Capital’s investments in Kallik, The NAV People and IWSR and the sale of Small World to Equistone.  He has acted for the Civica Group on 20 bolt-on acquisitions and has acted for management teams on large cap transactions such as the sale of Almatis by Dubai International Capital (DIC) and the sale of EMP by Actis. Malcolm featured in The Lawyer Hot 100 2019 and was the most prolific M&A lawyer in the UK in 2018 and 2020 (mergermarket).

Max Lemanski

Max Lemanski is a partner in the marine and international trade department at Stephenson Harwood specialising in offshore energy, shipbuilding and shipping. He is head of the firm’s offshore energy and construction group, including Stephenson Harwood’s market-leading FPSO team.  Max works primarily for offshore contractors, negotiating bareboat charters and O&M agreements, and EPIC construction and conversion contracts. He has worked on dozens of floating production projects all over the world including offshore Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway and the United Kingdom. On the litigation side his cases include many complex, high-value FPSO disputes (including in the English High Court and various LMAA, ICC and LCIA arbitrations) involving, inter alia, detailed technical analysis, variations claims, delay and prolongation issues, hire adjustment clauses, production problems and termination disputes. He is an expert in the decarbonisation of the offshore energy sector, including offshore wind (both fixed and floating turbines), carbon capture and the electrification of offshore assets. He is the co-author of the leading work on the law of floating production, Offshore Floating Production: Legal and Commercial Risk Management (2023). Max also heads the firm's shipbuilding practice and has acted in all kinds of negotiations in relation to shipbuilding contracts and related contracts such as refund guarantees, warranty bonds, option agreements and parent company guarantees.  When things go wrong Max regularly advises on all manner of related disputes including liquidated damages, termination, demands under the refund guarantees and post-delivery warranty claims. On the shipping side, Max has many years’ experience working with owners/charterers and their P&I/FD&D clubs (representing shipping companies involved in dry bulk, containerships and all types of tankers, as well as specialist vessels such as oil spill response ships).   Clients value his considerable expertise in all manner of disputes, which span the full spectrum of dry shipping. Max also has expertise in the superyacht sphere, working on a number of disputes involving high value, high profile superyachts.  These include construction and refurbishment disputes, as well as chartering issues.

Menelaus Kouzoupis

Menelaus is a highly regarded lawyer with a broad practice encompassing all areas of international commercial law with a particular focus on marine, international trade, and energy. He has developed a reputation as a problem solver for clients and is regularly instructed by energy companies, banks, trading houses and ship owners. Based in Dubai, Menelaus regularly works from our London and Greek offices to provide a seamless service. He is results driven and prides himself on his dedication to obtaining the most effective solutions for clients. On the contentious side, Menelaus represents his clients in a wide variety of jurisdictions and arbitral bodies such as LMAA, ICC, and LCIA tribunals, as well as the English High Court and Appellate Courts. Menelaus also specialises in enforcement action and is regularly instructed in relation to arrests, attachments, and asset tracing. He has extensive experience acting for clients in disputes concerning fraud and obtaining injunctive relief. His practice includes non-contentious commercial matters, and he regularly advises clients on commercial contracts. He is also active in sale and purchase deals with a particular focus on asset finance. Menelaus also provides regular advice in respect of various international sanctions regimes. Menelaus is a Lord Denning Scholar of the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn and was called to the bar prior to being admitted as a solicitor.

Naeem Noor

Naeem is a pensions specialist with significant experience in advising employers and trustees on all aspects of this technical area. He has wide-ranging expertise covering the general advisory, transactional and contentious elements of the practice of pensions law. Naeem has advised clients across a full spectrum of issues; from complex scheme rule amendments and pensions taxation and investment issues; to High Court applications pertaining to construction and rectification of pension scheme rules; through to managing defined benefit pension risks on corporate transactions. His general advisory practice is broad and amongst other things he has advised clients on their contingent asset arrangements, on scheme mergers, closures to future accrual and the legal aspects of the diversification of pension schemes' investment portfolios. His litigation practice covers advising on non-adversarial applications to construe or rectify scheme rules as well as adversarial claims such as professional negligence actions against former pension scheme advisers. He also advises on the pensions aspects of corporate transactions including the management of employer debt that may be triggered and the application of the TUPE legislation in the pensions transactional context. Naeem is a regular contributor to various trade publications and has written on a number of topics including auto-enrolment, the statutory funding regime and the use of extrinsic contracts to vary pension rights.

Naomi Leach

Naomi has a strong commercial practice, with particular expertise in relation to transactional IP matters. Her practice includes long-term research collaboration and management agreements, licensing arrangements, outsourcing and service agreements, distribution and manufacturing arrangements and data protection. She also frequently works with corporate finance colleagues on the IP/IT and data protection aspects of M&A transactions. Naomi has significant experience working with clients in IP-rich sectors including life sciences, technology and hotels and leisure. She is also responsible for the firm’s growing digital health practice. In addition Naomi advises on the full range of commercial contracts including long term services agreements, software licensing arrangements and outsourcing agreements and data protection law. Naomi has spent time on secondment with clients of the firm including Accor Hotels. Naomi’s transactional IP experience includes  advising clients on licensing (including franchise and hotel management arrangements), partnering, collaboration and R&D agreements (particularly for Biotech and Pharmaceutical companies) as well as on the IP aspects of mergers, acquisitions and investments. Her recent commercial experience includes advising a life sciences client in relation to the outsourcing of its recruitment services in Europe and Asia, the commercial manufacturing agreement for a pharmaceutical product and advising in relation to the branding and management of an Ultra Luxury hotel in London. Finally, in her data protection practice, Naomi has advised in relation to a number GDPR compliance projects, has worked with various Art Galleries for the purposes of their electronic-marketing practices and has advised in relation to the interaction between GDPR compliance and compliance with the Clinical Trials Regulation.

Neil Noble

An asset finance and commercial specialist with a focus on the marine sector. Neil has a wide range of international experience and expertise in asset, project, trade and general finance as well as related commercial contracts such as construction and acquisition contracts and operational matters. Neil acts across the whole maritime spectrum, covering the full range of commercial shipping sectors, the offshore oil and gas industry and also the highly specialist area of superyachts. Within this area he acts for banks, other financial institutions, owners, operators and related service providers. He has a wealth of experience in highly structured complex financing structures that often involve multiple jurisdictions and systems of laws. He has developed an in-depth knowledge of not just the legal issues, but also the cultural and practical influences that can come into play when working across borders. He has been able to develop and adapt his expertise to also advise on a variety of international project and trade financings and transactions in Asia, Africa and Latin America. In the superyacht sector, Neil has developed a reputation as being one of the leading experts on superyacht construction projects and acquisitions. In recent years, he has worked on some of the most prestigious and ambitious projects in the superyacht market. His commercial and pragmatic approach has been valued by clients who want to get their deals done quickly and efficiently.

Nick Barber

An experienced lawyer with a marine background, Nick heads the casualty response group. Nick uses his expert knowledge to advise clients on admiralty and contractual disputes. He represents and advises a number of clients including hull and machinery underwriters, P&I clubs and owners. Nick specialises in disputes arising from casualties and has extensive experience of handling the “front end” investigation, both from the office and on site. In particular, Nick handles claims following collisions, explosions and fires, groundings, salvage and general average, coverage advice and charterparty disputes.

Nick Horton

An investment funds specialist providing launch and on-going advice to funds and their managers, with a focus on closed-ended listed funds. Nick is a partner in the investment funds team. He advises on the launch of a range of fund structures as well as on post-launch events including secondary issues, reconstructions, changes to management arrangements and regulatory matters. Nick has a focus on closed-ended funds, both UK and offshore, advising investment managers, funds and brokers. He has advised on a number of high profile and innovative launches and reconstructions. He also acts for funds on public and private investment and divestment work across a range of sectors.

Nick Axup

Nick is a commercial litigation partner specialising in restructuring and insolvency; fraud and asset recovery; and financial litigation. The cases he is involved in often require expertise in all these areas and he regularly acts on cross-border litigation representing clients in the High Court, in arbitration and at mediation. Nick specialises in the department's key sectors of restructuring and insolvency; fraud and asset recovery; and financial litigation. He regularly acts on cross-border litigation and has experience of other jurisdictions such as Jersey, the Isle of Man, BVI, Cyprus and Singapore. He has recent experience of many interlocutory applications including freezing orders, receivership orders, disclosure and delivery up orders, and security for costs. He represents clients in the High Court, in arbitration and at mediation. His insolvency work is focused on contentious matters including Insolvency Act applications and full-bore litigation often involving fraud and asset recovery. He acts for insolvency practitioners, creditors, debtors and other stakeholders in both corporate and personal insolvency contexts. Nick has significant fraud and asset recovery experience. He has acted for and advised applicants, defendants and third parties in relation to freezing orders, various injunctive relief and disclosure and delivery up applications. He is currently acting in a multi-party, multi-jurisdiction dispute for enforcement receivers appointed to recover assets to meet a high value Confiscation Order obtained by the Serious Fraud Office arising from a significant fraud. Nick has also acted in commercial litigation matters relating to structured products, shareholder disputes, professional negligence, and high-value trusts for companies, banks and high net worth individuals.

Paul Hayward-Surry

Paul is a real estate partner specialising in real estate finance, acquisitions, disposals and landlord and tenant matters acting for lenders, investors, landlords and tenants. Paul also advises on the real estate aspects of restructuring and insolvency work. Paul is part of our highly rated real estate finance team, which offers comprehensive counsel on real estate and real estate finance matters for borrower and lender clients. He specialises in real estate finance, acquisitions, disposals and landlord and tenant matters acting for lenders, investors, landlord and tenants. He also advises on the real estate aspects of restructuring and insolvency work. Paul leads the firm's relationship with HSBC and is a key client service partner for The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc, Barings Real Estate Advisers LLP, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and Barclays Bank PLC.  Chambers UK 2018 and Legal 500 rank Paul as a leading / notable individual for real estate finance.

Paul Reeves

Paul's experience in our employment team is pivotal in its recognition as an elite ranked team for employment law advice. He advises clients on contracts of employment, employment policies, individual and collective dismissals, discrimination claims, restrictive covenants and the practical aspects of sensitive internal investigations (both grievance and disciplinary). Paul is advising his financial services clients on the implementation of the Senior Managers/Certification Regime (SMCR) including drafting policies, updating contracts and SMCR documentation, together with bespoke training to the compliance and HR community at his clients.  Paul has a wealth of experience advising clients on how to apply the SMCR to everyday employment matters, for example disciplinary procedures, internal investigations, regulatory references and the notifications to the PRA/FCA on such issues. He also has considerable experience in dealing with multi-jurisdictional employment law issues on corporate transactions (TUPE and share sale) and outsourcing. Paul's strengths are with clients in the financial services sector, FTSE 100 and international luxury brands. In Chambers UK 2016 legal directory he is rated for the "high level of trust his clients place in his counsel" and is described as "truly exceptional" by The Legal 500 UK 2016. Paul qualified in England and Wales in 1999.

Paul Thwaite

Paul is a specialist in construction and engineering disputes and procurement claims. He advises on projects in the UK and around the world. Paul has a track record in winning difficult and complex cases. Clients value Paul's clear advice and his determination to achieve their goals. He has over 20 years' experience resolving complex disputes. Clients seek Paul out based on his trusted reputation to deliver the right result on high-profile and high-value matters. He excels at difficult cases where innovative legal solutions are called for.  Many of his instructions are referrals from his peers in the industry who have seen first-hand his ability to resolve disputes successfully through adjudication, arbitration, litigation and mediation. Paul has a wealth of experience in construction and engineering claims as well as advising on risk management and dispute avoidance during the construction phase of major projects. He has acted for both employers and contractors in relation to projects in the commercial, industrial, retail, energy, waste, water, health and education sectors. Paul specialises in contractor claims for delay and disruption, cases involving major building defects and disputes arising out of FM contracts and PFI projects. He has been involved in some of the largest and most difficult construction related disputes including one of the biggest cases heard in the TCC in recent years (Accolade Wines v GJ3 and others). Paul also specialises in procurement disputes and challenges under the EU public procurement rules acting for both the public and private sector. Due to his level of work and the service he provides, Paul is recognised as a leading practitioner in construction law by Chambers UK and The Legal 500.

Peter Bennett

Peter specialises in international litigation and arbitration as well as commercial contracts focusing on the energy, commodity and international trade sectors. He is recognised as a leading individual in his area and is the partner advising the international commodity trading group Mercuria in the Qingdao metals fraud case of Mercuria Energy Trading Pte v. Citibank N.A. Peter's clients include trading groups, power utilities, mining and industrial groups, captive insurers, oil and gas companies and banks. He has advised on many different legal issues arising from those clients' operations in many different jurisdictions. Peter has represented clients in arbitrations in London and internationally under ICSID, ICC, UNCITRAL, LCIA, SCC, DIAC, SIAC, HKIAC, LME, CIETAC, FOSFA and GAFTA; undertaken litigation at all levels in England as well as international jurisdictions and advised on regulatory issues and OFGEM investigations. Peter is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. His clients value both his years of litigation experience and his skill and expertise in drafting and negotiating financial and physical trading and supply agreements used in the energy, commodity, and metals industries. These have covered LNG, LPG, gas, coal, oil and petroleum products, biomass, minerals, steel, and precious metals.

Philip Goodchild

A pension law expert, Philip is well known for his work in a range of sectors, in particular corporate and not-for-profit. He advises trustees and employers on all manner of pension law issues. Philip heads up the advisory practice group at Stephenson Harwood. Philip’s experience in advising trustees and employers ranges from advising on liability reduction exercises such as ceasing accruals and pension increase exchange. After twenty five years in the industry there is virtually no area which Philip has not dealt with. His technical skills and knowledge of general pension issues is of an extremely high level allowing him to provide clients with practical commercial advice regarding their pension arrangements. Philip is a member of the Association of Pension Lawyers and a regular commentator on legal issues affecting pension provision in the press and industry publications. He has sat on the legislation sub-committee of the Society of Pension Consultants and is a founder member of the Pension Lawyers Support Group. He regularly speaks at seminars and workshops on topical legal issues. Philip is an accredited CEDR mediator.

Priya Grigoriadis

Priya is a partner in Stephenson Harwood's market leading fraud and asset recovery team, ranked Tier 1 in Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners. She advises clients in large scale complex litigation, including tracing and recovering assets across multiple jurisdictions. Priya is recognised in the directories as a leading lawyer for civil fraud, reporting that she is "seemingly able to do a hundred things at once, all to a very high standard." Priya has acted on some of the largest claims to come before the English courts in recent years. Clients praise her ability, with sources reporting: "Priya is one of the best solicitors I've ever come across"; "She manages issues very swiftly and efficiently, knows all the minute details and is so responsive and great with clients". She has significant experience of large-scale, complex fraud and asset recovery cases, including obtaining and defending freezing orders, disclosure orders and search orders. Most of her cases are international often involving parallel litigation in jurisdictions such as the BVI, Cayman Islands, Southeast Asia and the UAE. Priya is currently acting for a leading trading house in a £600+ million cross-border fraud claim. She also represents the former shareholders of Yukos Oil Company in relation to the enforcement in England of a US$54+ billion arbitration award against the Russian Federation, the largest enforcement action in legal history. Priya is also a leading member of Stephenson Harwood's India group and acts for a number of the leading Indian Banks. Her clients include high net worth individuals, major corporates and insolvency practitioners.

Rebecca Carter

  Rebecca is the London managing partner and also leads the firm's real estate and projects group. Rebecca has been advising on energy and infrastructure projects for decades and her work now spans decarbonisation, transport and other infrastructure sectors. Rebecca specialises in energy, infrastructure and construction projects. She advises funders, sponsors, contractors and government at all levels in a wide range of infrastructure sectors, including transport (road, rail and aviation), energy (including renewables), waste, energy from waste, as well as social infrastructure. Rebecca has advised on many forms of project including project financing, including PPP, and PFI, outsourcing, joint ventures and strategic partnerships. Rebecca also advises on construction matters advising developers, contractors, sponsors, funders and public sector bodies on the construction aspects of real estate development and investment projects. Public procurement law is another area of specialism, whether advising procuring authorities or contractors and suppliers who are bidding for public contracts. Rebecca has particular experience of advising suppliers to the NHS in the life sciences sector on public procurement issues, to aid their route to market.

Richard Garcia

Richard leads Stephenson Harwood's corporate and commercial disputes group. He specialises in corporate and commercial, financial and fraud disputes. He is regularly instructed by banks, asset managers, sovereign states and large corporates on their most important and complex cases. Richard has particular expertise in banking, funds, structured finance and financial products disputes. Clients value his familiarity and detailed technical understanding of products and structures. Richard is also often instructed on shareholder, joint venture and private equity disputes. He regularly advises on a wide range of commercial disputes and has also advised investors and stakeholders on a number of major fund and institutional collapses. Richard has experience of a broad range of dispute resolution mechanisms including litigation, arbitration and mediation. He has advised on a number of group actions involving multiple claimant groups and third parties and he regularly coordinates large multi-party proceedings across multiple jurisdictions. The largest value cases often involve multi-faceted proceedings including jurisdiction challenges, freezing orders, cross-border evidence gathering and complex enforcement strategies and defences. Richard has been involved in many such cases, including enforcement proceedings arising from foreign judgments, LCIA, ICC and ICSID arbitrations.

Richard Coleman

Richard is active across a range of private equity, growth capital and venture capital transactions, advising sponsors, management teams and founders. Richard’s experience includes MBOs, MBIs, minority investments, fundraising rounds and exits. Richard has acted on transactions such as Apposite Capital’s MBO of Summit Medical and minority investment in Mirada Healthcare, Rockpool Investments’ recent buyout of Datum Alloys and investment in Rooftop Cinema Group, and Mobeus Equity Partners on its investments in IPV, Tapas Revolution and Supercarers.

Richard Hugg

Richard is a marine insurance specialist, regularly acting for London market insurance clients on coverage issues, advising on wordings and helping to resolve disputes sensibly. Richard acts for insurers over a wide range of classes of business, with a focus in particular on Hull and Machinery insurers, war and liability disputes. He also advises on salvage, general average and recovery angles, providing legal and practical input. Despite being a seasoned litigator, Richard aims to bring a sensible and commercial approach to disputes to achieve early resolution. He has enjoyed a focus on yacht insurance disputes, advising on multiple coverage issues ranging from design issues, paint damage, engine damage and total losses.  A recent highlight includes the Galatea, where he acted for Hull and Machinery insurers, successfully defending a €13 million total loss (by fire) of a 36m Riva yacht. Richard is a core member of the firm's yacht and superyacht team and regularly advises on contentious matters in the sector, with a particular focus on insurance disputes.

Rob Jacob

Rob is a partner specialising in both contentious and non-contentious IP issues with a particular focus on trade mark and copyright matters. He has particular expertise in the life sciences, offshore construction and luxury brands sectors. Rob has a masters degree in Chemistry from Imperial College, London and a post-graduate diploma in IP law and practice. He trained and qualified into the IP team at Clifford Chance before joining Stephenson Harwood in 2009 specialising in all intellectual property matters. Rob acted on DataCard Corporation v Eagle Technologies Limited ([2011] EWHC 244 (Pat)) where the firm successfully argued for the extension of trade mark law in relation to post-sale confusion. His other more recently reported cases include: Glaxo Wellcome UK Limited v Sandoz Ltd [2017] EWHC 3196 (Ch), Parainen Pearl Shipping Ltd v Kristian Gerhard Skipsrederi AS [2018] EWHC 2628 (Pat), Smart Reamer Drilling Systems v NOV Downhole Eurasia [2018] 1265 (IPEC) and Pathway IP Sarl v easyGroup Ltd [2018] EWHC 3608 (Ch). He has also successfully argued that residual goodwill subsists in the NICHOLSON gin brand (UK Decision: Opp 0520-14) and has successfully convinced OHIM's Board of Appeal that the shape of GSK's DISKUS inhaler was distinctive (R2074/2013-2). On the non-contentious side, Rob's highlights include working on the public takeover of Biocompatibles plc by BTG plc, the US$3.8 billion sale of Piramal Enterprises' domestic formulations division to US pharmaceuticals giant Abbott, the acquisition of the worldwide rights to Florbetaben (a pioneering molecular imaging product for the diagnosis of early Alzheimer's disease) from Bayer Pharma AG and the US$220 million acquisition of EKOS corporation. Rob is a recommended lawyer in the Legal 500 UK directory for intellectual property and pharmaceuticals and biotechnology with "notable strengths in trade mark work". Rob has been described as “a very brainy guy who thinks deeply about his cases. He is always stress-testing and playing devil’s advocate to be as well prepared as possible. He is unflappable and his measured manner is very reassuring.” (WTR 1000, 2019) Rob also wrote the intellectual property chapter of the book Offshore Construction Law and Practice published by Informa Law from Routledge.

Roland Foord

Roland is the firm's senior partner and a full time commercial disputes expert. He has deep experience particularly in the professional services and fine art sectors where he has practised throughout his career. Roland leads our teams in these sectors and is highly ranked in them by the directories. His work covers a broad range of commercial disputes taking place in the High Court and in arbitration. Most of Roland's work has an international dimension and he is also experienced in managing multi-jurisdictional disputes. Much of his work involves management of risk and the avoidance of claims, nipping problems in the bud and working with clients to resolve issues early and cost-effectively and keep them out of court. Roland has a long and extensive experience of acting for and against professional firms, particularly those in accountancy and law sectors and has been closely involved in several leading cases. He has been described as a "very good, very tough litigator," by Chambers UK 2022 in this area. In the fine art sector, Roland advises a broad range of clients from auction houses and dealers to museums and private collectors. His work in this area goes well beyond disputes, for example about title and attribution. He regularly advises on matters ranging from the sale and purchase of fine art to the standard terms of business of major market players to export, looted art and related issues. Roland is a member of the Art, Cultural and Institutions Committee of the IBA and recognised by Chambers & Partners for his experience handling high-value disputes within Art and Cultural Property Law. They describe him as "enormously impressive, a good tactician and knows the area back to front." In Legal 500, Roland is recognised for having "unparalleled experience in the field, with noted leadership and unassailable credibility." Roland is ranked in the Hall of Fame by Chambers in both the Professional Negligence and Art and Cultural Property categories.

Ron Nobbs

A construction and engineering law expert, Ron is highly rated by his clients and in legal directories. Recognised for giving practical yet innovative legal and strategic advice, Ron is totally committed and absolutely tenacious in pursuing his clients' objectives. Ron has over 26 years' experience working for UK and international clients on construction and engineering projects around the world. From roads, railways, tunnels, bridges, airports and ports to stadiums, factories, hotels, offices, retail, housing, power stations, process plants, waste facilities, oil rigs and FPSO's, Ron has worked on some of the world's largest projects and used all of the principal forms of contract including JCT, NEC, FIDIC, ICE, IChemE, GC/works as well as numerous bespoke forms. Ron has acted as legal advisor on projects covering all major forms of procurement including EPC, EPIC, DBFO, PPP and partnering. He also has extensive real time project pre-dispute and dispute management expertise including mediation, adjudication, arbitration (under ICC, LCIA and UNCITRAL Rules amongst others) and litigation. Chambers UK records that Ron is "an incredibly experienced litigator" and "very thorough, diligent and great to work with". Ron also advised the winning contractor in the leading decision of Walter Lilly v DMW Developments and Giles Mackay. Graham Corless, a former Director says "Ron provided innovative legal and strategic advice and worked tirelessly with our team for 3.5 years to achieve the best outcome for us". Ron also regularly lectures on construction and engineering law issues to UK and international audiences. Ron is recognised by Chambers UK, The Legal 500 and Legal Business as a leading practitioner.  

Ros Prince

Ros is head of our market leading fraud and asset recovery team. She has extensive experience of high value cross border fraud cases, and obtaining and defending injunctions, including freezing orders and search orders. Chambers & Partners' global Asset Tracing & Recovery guide ranks her as one of just 5 leading lawyers ranked in Band 1 in the world. The Legal 500 UK list Ros in the 'Hall of Fame' and Chambers & Partners UK list her as a 'Leading Individual' in Band 1 for Fraud. Chambers & Partners UK 2023 describe Ros as "a hands on partner who knows her cases inside out". Ros has acted on a number of the largest claims before the English courts in recent years. Clients praise her ability and commitment, with The Legal 500 2023 describing her as “great team leader" and Chambers UK 2023 reporting that she has "a ferocious ability to progress matters and her client's interests in a positive manner." Ros has particular expertise in the enforcement of arbitration awards, and injunctions in support of arbitrations and foreign proceedings. Ros has acted on numerous cases both for and against states and state owned entities, and has deep expertise in questions of state immunity in the context of asset recovery litigation. Ros' clients include companies, directors, insolvency practitioners, trustees, high net worth individuals and sovereign states. Most of her cases are international, and she has particular expertise in cases originating from Russia, CIS and other emerging markets. Ros has extensive experience of disputes involving offshore structures and parallel litigation in jurisdictions such as BVI, Cyprus, Cayman, Mauritius and the Isle of Man. She often works on cases involving parallel civil and criminal proceedings, both domestically and internationally. She is a solicitor-advocate with full rights of audience before the English High Court. Ros’ expertise is highly regarded internationally, and she has been asked to speak on fraud and asset recovery related topics at events organised by the United Nations, the Commonwealth, and a number of governments.

Sean Gibbons

Sean specialises in shipping, shipbuilding and offshore disputes and also advises shipyards and shipowners on negotiations for new contracts.  He is recognised by The Legal 500 as a leading individual and has been praised by both, The Legal 500 and Chambers, for his commercial perspective when advising clients. Sean advises a diverse range of clients, including shipowners and charterers, P&I and defence clubs, shipyards and banks. He has extensive experience of High Court litigation and arbitration (LMAA, LCIA and ICC) in relation to disputes under charterparties, bills of lading, MoAs and shipbuilding contracts covering vessels/superyachts and offshore structures of all types.  Sean also advises in contract negotiations relating to newbuildings. He is regularly instructed in matters involving investigation and defending of fraudulent cargo claims made against shipowners, insurers and banks and has spent extensive time in West African countries investigating such claims. As a result, Sean is a specialist in obtaining freezing/inspection/disclosure orders and anti-suit injunctions in the English courts, especially as a part of the asset tracing process. Sean also advises ship finance banks in relation to enforcement of mortgages. This includes the provision of both legal and practical advice on the strategic options available to enforce the lenders’ security. Sean is a core member of the Stephenson Harwood yacht and superyacht team and regularly advises on contentious and non-contentious matters in the sector.

Sean Jeffrey

Sean heads the firm’s regulatory litigation practice. Sean is a commercial litigation partner specialising in contentious regulatory matters, advising financial institutions and senior executives in connection with all aspects of complex investigations including related litigation and insurance matters (especially Directors’ and Officers’). Sean's recent work includes advising a prominent financial institution and an international intermediary on FCA enforcement proceedings and supervisory visits. He has advised a major lender in relation to regulatory, litigation and insurance issues arising from significant accounting irregularities. Sean has broad experience of financial services redress exercises in a range of legal and regulatory contexts. He has advised a leading international financial services business regarding issues with the sale of retail products to approximately two million customers, including using an innovative Scheme. He has extensive experience of advising regulated firms on remedies concerning decisions of authorities and public bodies, including the FCA, PRA, FOS and SFO. Sean has represented a number of international banks in relation to sanctions issues, including in judicial review proceedings against HM Government and in cases in the General Court and the Court of Justice. Sean acted for Vincent Tchenguiz, Robert Tchenguiz and the associated trusts in various litigation and regulatory matters connected with the SFO's 2011 dawn raids, which were successfully challenged in judicial review proceedings. He has assisted directors of financial and other institutions with the consequences of major regulatory and litigation crises. He has particular expertise regarding legal professional privilege and has litigated privilege issues in the Court of Appeal and House of Lords. He worked on the Bank of England litigation defending the claim for misfeasance in public office arising out of the supervision of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI). Sean led the team which won the Legal Week/British Legal Awards litigation and regulatory team of the year for a ground-breaking challenge to a major investigatory and prosecuting authority. Legal 500 describes Sean as "technically strong". Chambers UK describe him as "very knowledgeable, easy to work with…works hard, thinking laterally to achieve the best result for his clients" and "very pragmatic, very intelligent, and an experienced litigator".

Sean Crowley

Sean is a partner in the firm's banking team, acting for both lender and borrower clients on a range of debt financings, with particular expertise in real estate financing and corporate lending transactions. He has comprehensive experience advising stakeholders on a range of investment and development property financings. Sean advises lenders and borrowers on a range of secured and unsecured debt financing transactions, frequently with a cross-border element. He acts for an array of clients, including the UK clearers, international banks, alternative lenders, funds, joint venture vehicles and corporates from around the world. His expertise lies in corporate lending and real estate finance transactions. In real estate finance, Sean has been involved in some of the most high profile financings of super prime residential developments in the London market. He has also advised a number of lenders and borrowers on investment financing for a range of assets: retail, industrial, student accommodation, hotels and commercial offices, including large portfolio acquisitions.

Simon Brading

As a real estate lawyer with a focus on large development, investment and forward funding transactions, Simon is well regarded in the real estate sector for delivering straightforward and succinct advice. He regularly deals with complex transactions involving cross border and corporate elements and has particular expertise in the data centre sector. Simon has broad experience of the full life cycle of development acquisitions and subsequent projects on behalf of developers, forward funders and investment purchasers. This has involved dealing with the initial acquisition of development land, the negotiation of development, joint venture and forward funding agreements, and advising on lettings and subsequent disposals of the completed development and investment package. In the investment market, Simon has acted on many portfolio transactions across the sector, including industrial and office assets and shopping centres. Simon regularly acts for data centre developers, operators and investors. This has included acting on data centre developments, lettings and investment disposals, with experience acting for the developer, seller and investor.

Sophie Schultz

A specialist property litigator with over 15 years' experience, Sophie helps clients navigate the complexities of property law and resolve disputes quickly and cost-effectively. She advises property investors, developers, lenders, corporate occupiers and individuals on every manner of property dispute. Sophie has particular expertise in rights of light and disputes relating to property development. She is renowned for her legal knowledge and ability to get to the bottom of a tricky issue.  Sources quoted in Chambers UK have praised her "phenomenal" knowledge (2015) and described her as a "walking brain" (2014) that is "able to tie the opposition up in knots" (2011). Sophie regularly acts on a wide range of landlord and tenant disputes, representing both landlords and tenants, including lease renewals, forfeiture, dilapidations, service charge and agreement for lease disputes. She also has extensive experience in the development sphere, advising both developers and neighbours on claims (including injunctions) relating to nuisance, rights of light, trespass and party wall matters, restrictive covenants and easements. She is equally at home using her experience to help developers navigate and pre-empt claims as assisting neighbours assert their rights. Other experience includes adverse possession, boundaries, easements, insolvency-related issues, joint ventures, leasehold enfranchisement, professional negligence, residential property and sale and purchase disputes. Sophie gives practical advice which goes straight to the heart of an issue. She deploys her expertise in the law and strategy to secure the best result for her client at the earliest possible stage.  Clients express their appreciation of having her in their corner to fight their side.  She has a track record of achieving excellent results.  She aims to resolve disputes without court proceedings wherever possible.  Often straightforward 'without prejudice negotiations' are most effective but she also has experience of mediation, arbitration and expert determination. She is a solicitor advocate and member of the Property Litigation Association. Sophie has written for Property Week, Estates Gazette, Landlord & Tenant Review and FM World.

Stephen Laud

Stephen specialises in commercial real estate, principally advising on investment acquisitions and disposals, development and landlord and tenant matters. He also has particular expertise in the hotels and leisure sector. Stephen acts for a wide range of clients, including institutional investors, one of London's main estate landlords, entrepreneurs, corporate owner/occupiers, hotel/restaurant/bar owners/occupiers, banks and charities. Clients value Stephen's highly commercial and pragmatic approach and his drive to achieve a successful outcome for them. Stephen has broad experience acting for commercial real estate investors, often involving offshore holding structures. He advises on acquisitions and disposals, ranging from large town centre multi-let mixed use properties, office blocks, shopping centres, regional industrial estates and development sites. His work often involves dealing with the real estate aspects of financing acquisitions. Following acquisition, Stephen advises on the asset management required to increase the property value. Stephen has a strong track record acting for corporate occupiers with their office headquarters requirements, including FTSE 100 companies, London-based law firms, hedge funds, hotel groups, insurers and overseas companies setting up in England for the first time. This often includes advising on the strategy for exiting existing premises in the most cost effective way. In the hotels and leisure sector, Stephen has significant experience gained over many years acting for recognised hotel and bar/restaurant chains. He acts for hotel owners/operators on sales and purchases of hotels as going concerns, redevelopment and refurbishment projects and also asset management, including leases/licences/concessions granted to third party operators. He acts for a number of restaurant and bar owners and his work for them includes new site acquisitions, disposals and financings.

Stephen Richards

A big scheme specialist, Stephen advises employers, trustees, and master trusts on all types of pensions issues. He has a commercial style on strategic issues and brings a responsive approach on day to day matters. With the ability to present complex ideas in a simple way, Stephen has helped a variety of clients with tricky pensions issues, from the trustees of global banks to UK manufacturers. Stephen joined Stephenson Harwood from Allen and Overy to complement our strong and growing pensions team. As a rising star in pensions law, Stephen further enhances the reputation of the firm's pension practice. He is an expert on pensions in the banking sector, large pension schemes, Pensions Regulator issues and master trusts. Stephen has experience on major strategic projects including advising on the acquisition of a major master trust provider and the largest company contribution made to a pension scheme to date. Stephen is also a trustee so he understands what trustees need from their advisers. Stephen established the Pensions Innovation Café, and likes to present advice in a modern, user friendly way. Stephen‘s recent experience includes advising on multiple transfers to DC master trusts and the trustees of several of the UK's major pension schemes on all day to day legal issues. He also gave strategic advice on major Pensions Regulatory issues for a FTSE 100 company as well as to a global telecoms company on world-wide pensions issues.

Stuart Beadnall

Stuart is a leading specialist in shipping and energy, with particular expertise in dispute resolution and negotiating contracts relating to offshore oil and gas, shipbuilding, shipping, floating production and LNG/FLNG. He has relevant industry expertise, having worked as in-house counsel at BHP Petroleum and North West Shelf LNG Shipping. Stuart has been lead adviser on numerous FPSO projects in the North Sea, various West African states, Australia and Brazil, negotiating EPIC and production contracts and resolving disputes. He has a leading reputation in shipbuilding and offshore construction contracts, representing a number of top shipbuilders and assisting owners and their banks. He is a co-author of "Offshore Construction: Law and Practice" published by Informa. Stuart has advised on numerous LNG projects and disputes, being one of few lawyers with expertise in FSRU projects, the emerging floating LNG sector and LNG voyage charters. He has been a member of the BIMCO sub-committee advising on the production of LNGVOY, Intertanko LNG documentary committee.

Sue Millar

Sue is an experienced and well-respected litigator whose expertise is recognised in the leading directories. Her practice is  broad, encompassing finance litigation, sanctions, civil fraud and corporate and commercial disputes. Clients value her responsiveness and her commitment to finding solutions to complex problems. She leads the firm's sanctions practice and co-heads the firm's "technically strong" finance litigation team. Sue is recognised as a leading individual for commercial litigation and banking litigation in Legal 500 2023. Clients have described her as 'a very experienced litigation partner, with the magical combination of being a tough litigator while also being easy and fun to work with!’ and as 'a force of nature and a brilliant litigator. While she has excellent common sense and an instinctive grasp of the commercialities of a case, she is also a talented lawyer and team leader.’ (Legal 500 2023). Meanwhile, she is described as "excellent" in Chambers UK 2023. Sue also leads the firm's sanctions practice, having practised sanctions law for over 14 years. She advises on a range of contentious and non-contentious issues arising in relation to the Russian, Iranian, Libyan and Syrian sanctions regimes. There are very few firms in the City which can match Stephenson Harwood's experience in this area.

Suzanne Tarplee

Suzanne is a commercial and regulatory rail expert and advises on all aspects of the heavy and light rail markets, both within the UK and internationally. Her clients include rolling stock manufacturers and maintainers, train operators and the public sector. Suzanne has worked within the rail industry for over 15 years (including a train operator and as general counsel for HS2) and really understands the issues faced by her clients and the industry as a whole. Her experience includes providing comprehensive advice on railway franchises and concessions (both in the bidding and operational phases), rolling stock procurements (including all elements of procurement, evaluation, financing, leasing and maintenance of the new fleets) and regulatory matters (including track, depot and station access and new regulatory regimes). Suzanne’s broader experience includes advising on PPP and PFI projects. Suzanne's recent projects have included advising bidders in all rounds of franchising and concessioning in the UK as well as advising on all recent high profile rolling stock procurements. The rail team at Stephenson Harwood is a significantly expanding team, noted for its very high-profile instructions across a range of rail issues. Especially noted for its expertise in franchise bids and rolling stock-related issues. Ranked in Chambers UK where clients commented in relation to the rail team stating: "They're very commercially astute and have made the effort to understand our business."

Tammy Samuel

Head of the finance practice and a leading commercial and regulatory rail expert advising on all aspects of the heavy and light rail markets both in the UK and internationally. Tammy works closely alongside her clients as part of the team, rolling up her sleeves to work with rolling stock manufacturers and maintainers, train operators and the public sector. Her experience includes providing comprehensive and strategic advice on railway franchises and concessions (including in bidding and operational phases and emergency measures agreements), rolling stock procurement (including manufacturing and maintenance arrangements), infrastructure development (including station and depot construction) and on regulatory matters (including the development of new regulatory frameworks). Tammy's projects have included advising bidders in all rounds of franchising and concessioning in the UK (including EMAs and Direct Awards) and concessions overseas. She advises on the most high profile rolling stock procurements, including working with commercial litigation colleagues on disputes relating to the same. The rail team at Stephenson Harwood is at the forefront of the industry, writing numerous articles, presenting seminars and hosting industry dinners.

Tom Nicholls

Tom is head of the firm's corporate department. With a particular expertise in equity capital markets and M&A, Tom has acted on over 60 IPOs on the London Stock Exchange. He is well known in the mid-cap sector where clients value his in-depth knowledge of the London market and highly commercial and pragmatic approach. His practice includes advising on IPOs and secondary issues (Main Market and AIM) both in London and internationally, public company takeovers, investment funds, domestic and cross border private M&A and advising quoted companies on their obligations to the FCA and the London Stock Exchange. Tom acts both for listed issuers as well as for investment banks and financial advisers in their capacity as sponsors, nomads and brokers. Reflecting the varied constituents of the London markets, he has advised clients across a number of sectors but has a particular focus on both the technology and natural resources (oil and gas, mining and minerals and energy) sectors. With regards to M&A, Tom regularly advises on acquisitions and disposals involving both private and listed companies. He also advises clients on general company law issues including corporate governance for public and private companies as well as private fundraisings, joint ventures, investment agreements and a range of commercial contracts. Tom is consultant editor of "A Practitioner's Guide to the AIM Rules" published by Sweet & Maxwell and is ranked as a key individual for Capital Markets (mid-cap) by both The Legal 500 and Chambers UK directories.

Tom Page

Tom has extensive experience advising on all aspects of corporate finance including capital markets, takeovers and M&A. Clients value Tom's pragmatic and commercial approach and his ability to guide clients smoothly through transactions. Tom's practice includes advising clients on IPOs, Code takeovers, private company M&A including mid and large cap and cross border transactions, restructuring and joint ventures. He has particular experience advising mid-cap investment banks and working on transactions in the life sciences sector. Tom is consultant co-editor of "A Practitioner's Guide to the AIM Rules" published by Sweet & Maxwell.

Trudy Feaster-Gee

Partner ,Barrister