Stephenson Harwood

Stephenson Harwood is a mid-sized corporate law firm headquartered in London.

With a long City pedigree, Stephenson Harwood was founded 1875 as a small shipping-focused practice during London’s maritime heyday. Fast-forward a century, and the firm started to focus on expansion.

It was renamed Stephenson Harwood in 1977, became one of the first UK law firms to open in Hong Kong in 1979, and by the end of the 1980s was even regarded as a member of the so-called ‘Club of Nine’ - an informal grouping of the City’s most prestigious firms which would eventually evolve into the Magic Circle.

Its strict shipping focus saw it forced out of the Club of Nine in the 90s, but more expansion followed nonetheless. Stephenson Harwood merged with fellow shipping specialist, Sinclair Roche & Temperley, in 2002 and continued to grow its international footprint, opening offices in Singapore, Paris and Dubai.

Today, Stephenson Harwood has over 1,300 people on the books, including more than 200 partners and has quietly ascended to the mid-sized international firm ranks.

Its London HQ remains the heart of the operation, but the firm’s eight international offices scattered across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East give it a global veneer, while not being a truly global player.

Stephenson Harwood has carved out a solid reputation for high quality advice. While it’s not necessarily considered an ‘elite’ firm, it is highly regarded for its expertise in specific niches.

Its maritime roots remain a cornerstone of its practice, and it is widely recognised as a leader in shipping law. But the firm has successfully diversified into other areas, including litigation, mid-market corporate and M&A work, asset finance and real estate.

As for recent performance, it’s fair to say the firm was hit harder than most by the 2020-21 pandemic. Revenue flatlined - even falling slightly - during the period. Despite the challenges, Stephenson Harwood has bounced back with revenue and profits trending nicely upwards since 2022.