In addition to supporting IPOs, Stephenson Harwood's 'pragmatic and commercially astute' listed funds team advises clients on fund mergers, capital raises and manager changes. Practice head William Saunders brings his considerable experience to bear on the range of fund transactions, from investments to IPOs and mergers. Fund structuring and restructuring mandates form the core of Alex Haynes' work, and he is also able to advise funds on the acquisition or disposal of assets. Carolyn Hall's joint funds and corporate practice means she is well-positioned to assist clients with their initial listings and secondary issuances, all of which are also areas of strength for Kate Longman.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'An extremely knowledgeable, well-resourced team that is really focused on client needs and interests. I've used the team over many years and they've never let me down. They are great fun to work with.'
  • 'William Saunders is outstanding - he's my first choice lawyer in the sector based on quality of advice and value for money. He's readily accessible and very responsive, and always willing to go the extra mile. He really knows how to build long-term relationships with clients.'
  • 'Kate Longman is excellent. She has a no-nonsense approach and consistently delivers.'
  • 'Very capable team at all levels. Knowledgeable and technically excellent but also pragmatic and commercially astute.'
  • 'Pragmatic, thorough and wide-ranging expertise.'
  • 'Kate Longman is great - very responsive to queries, and pragmatic and sensible with advice.'
  • 'Profound understanding of the sector. Regulatory, commercial and legal but above all highly commercial and practical.'
  • 'The team has a degree of depth of understanding and experience that is rarely matched, let alone beaten. There is also a degree of pragmatism and real-world understanding with any advice. The biggest innovation is actually old-fashioned, down to earth client servicing: being responsive and clear/concise.'

Key clients

  • Aberdeen UK Tracker Trust
  • Acorn Income Fund Limited
  • Akur Limited
  • Allianz Global Investors GmbH
  • Allianz Technology Trust PLC
  • Alternative Asset Opportunities PCC Limited
  • Alternative Credit Investments plc
  • Alternative Liquidity Fund Limited
  • Alvarium RE Limited
  • APQ Global Limited
  • Aseana Properties Limited
  • Ashoka India Equity Investment Trust plc
  • Ashoka WhiteOak Emerging Markets Trust plc
  • Asian Energy Impact Trust plc
  • Augmentum Capital LLP
  • Augmentum Fintech plc
  • AVI Japan Opportunity Trust plc
  • Bellevue Healthcare Trust plc
  • Big Society Capital Limited
  • BDO LLP
  • BlackRock Income & Growth Investment Trust plc
  • BlackRock Smaller Companies Trust plc
  • BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc
  • Camper & Nicholsons Marina Investments Limited
  • Cantor Fitzgerald Europe
  • Capital Gearing Trust P.l.c.
  • Cavendish Securities plc
  • CC Japan Income & Growth Trust plc
  • City of London Investment Trust plc
  • CG Asset Management Limited
  • Corevestis Portfolio Management GmbH
  • Coupland Cardiff Asset Management
  • Custodian Property Income REIT plc
  • Development Partners International LLP
  • Dr. Peters Holding GmbH
  • Dragon Capital Limited
  • Draper Esprit VCT plc
  • Eighteen East Capital Limited
  • Ellora Partners Limited
  • European Opportunities Trust plc
  • European Real Estate Investment Trust Limited
  • Fair Oaks Income Limited
  • GCP Infrastructure Investments Limited
  • GCP Asset Backed Income Fund Limited
  • Geiger Counter Limited
  • Gore Street Capital Limited
  • Gore Street Energy Storage Fund plc
  • Gravis Advisory Limited
  • Gravis Capital Management Limited
  • Grit Real Estate Income Group Limited
  • Gulf Investment Fund plc
  • Henderson Global Trust plc
  • Henderson International Income Trust Fund
  • Henderson Value Trust
  • Hipgnosis Song Management Limited
  • Home REIT plc
  • Impax Asset Management Group plc
  • Invesco Fund Managers Limited
  • Investec Bank plc
  • Jefferies International Limited
  • Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co. KG
  • J.P. Morgan Cazenove
  • Jupiter Emerging & Frontier Trust plc
  • Jupiter UK Growth Investment Trust PLC
  • Jupiter Green Investment Trust plc
  • KR1 plc
  • Lazard Asset Management Limited
  • Liberum Capital Limited
  • Lowland Investment Company plc
  • LXI REIT plc
  • LXi REIT Advisors Limited
  • Kudu Investment Management, LLC
  • Manchester & London Investment Trust plc
  • Menhaden Resource Efficiency PLC
  • MIGO Opportunities Trust PLC
  • Mobius Capital Partners LLP
  • Mobius Investment Trust plc
  • Molten Ventures VCT plc
  • Momentum Multi-Asset Value Trust plc
  • Numis Securities
  • Oakley Capital Investments Limited
  • Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited
  • Peel Hunt LLP
  • PMM Partners
  • Premier Miton Global Renewables Trust plc
  • Premier Miton Investors
  • Qatar Investment Fund plc
  • Sancus Lending Group Limited
  • Scape Living plc
  • Scape Student Living Limited
  • Schroder British Opportunities Trust plc
  • Schroder BSC Social Impact Trust plc
  • Schroder Investment Management Limited
  • Schroder Real Estate Investment Management Limited
  • Schroder Real Estate Investment Trust Limited
  • Schroders Capital Global Innovation Trust PLC
  • Secured Income Fund plc
  • Seraphim Space Investment Trust plc
  • Seraphim Space (Manager) LLP
  • Shore Capital and Corporate Limited
  • Shore Capital Stockbrokers Limited
  • Singer Capital Markets Securities
  • Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited
  • Stockdale Securities Limited
  • Strand Hanson Limited
  • Strategic Equity Capital plc
  • Sturgeon Capital Limited
  • SuperSeed Capital Limited
  • SuperSeed Ventures LLP
  • The Bauhaus Investment Trust plc
  • The Bankers Investment Trust PLC
  • The Brunner Investment Trust PLC
  • The Diverse Income Trust plc
  • The Merchants Trust PLC
  • The Investment Company plc
  • Victory Park Capital Advisors
  • Vietnam Enterprise Investments Limited
  • Vietnam Holding Limited
  • VPC Specialty Lending Investments PLC
  • Whiteoak Capital Group
  • Winterflood Securities Limited

Work highlights

  • Acted for Custodian Property Income REIT plc on its recommended merger with abrdn Property Income Trust Limited.
  • Acted for Atlantis Japan Growth Fund Limited on its merger with Nippon Active Value Fund plc.
  • Developed and implemented EOT plc's tender offer for up to 25% of its issued share capital, completed on 31st January 2024.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

William Saunders

Other key lawyers

Alex Haynes, Carolyn Hall, Kate Longman