Stephenson Harwood LLP is a
law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients (individuals or corporations) about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to r ...
with over 1,100 people worldwide, including more than 190 partners. Headquartered in
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
,
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
, with eight offices across Asia, Europe and the Middle East. In 2020/21 it achieved total revenues of £209 million and profits per equity partner of £685,000 (2020/21)
History
When attorney William Harwood returned to
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
after practising in
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
, he and Henry Stephenson created the firm of Harwood & Stephenson in 1875. The firm's history can be traced back to 1828 and the City law firm Tatham & Lousada. In 1920 Tathams merged with Stephenson Harwood – as the firm was by then known – to form Stephenson Harwood & Tatham, renamed Stephenson Harwood in 1977.
Two years later as one of the first
UK firms to enter the Asian market, it has now been in Hong Kong for over forty years. In 2002 the merger with City shipping specialist Sinclair Roche & Temperley gave it a
Shanghai
Shanghai (; , , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ) is one of the four direct-administered municipalities of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The city is located on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the Huangpu River flow ...
office.
Stephenson Harwood played an instrumental role securing release of American hostages during the
1979 Iranian hostage crisis. Acting for Bank Markazi, a leading Iranian financial institution, their personnel became de facto mediators between Iran and America. At the time all foreign Iranian assets, including those of Bank Markazi, were frozen. A key factor delaying release of the hostages was the unfreezing of Iranian assets. Stephenson Harwood engineered the means by which this could be done, causing
US Secretary of State
The United States secretary of state is a member of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States and the head of the U.S. Department of State. The office holder is one of the highest ranking members of the president's Ca ...
,
Cyrus Vance to laud the firm.
In 2011, in the largest Boeing deal in aviation history, the firm advised Lion Air on purchasing 230 model 747 aircraft worth US$21.7 billion. The signing was witnessed by the American Chief Executive.
2012
In March 2012 the firm converted to LLP status.
In December 2012 the firm opened an office in Dubai, its first in the Middle East.
2013
Stephenson Harwood Singapore converts to LLP.
2014
Virtus Law and Stephenson Harwood announce formal law alliance.
Seoul office opens.
2019
Eifion Morris appointed CEO.
Key practice areas
* Commercial, outsourcing and technology
* Competition
* Corporate
* Data protection and information
* Dispute resolution
* Employment, pensions, incentives and immigration
* Environment
* Finance
* Intellectual property
* Marine and international trade
* Private client, trusts and fiduciary services
* Private wealth
* Projects and infrastructure
* Real estate
* Regulation
* Restrucuturing and insolvency
* Tax
References
External links
*
{{Law firms of the United Kingdom
Law firms of the United Kingdom
Law firms established in 1977
1977 establishments in England
British companies disestablished in 1977
Foreign law firms with offices in Hong Kong