Stephenson Harwood > Hong Kong, Hong Kong > Firm Profile

Stephenson Harwood > The Legal 500 Rankings

Hong Kong > Asset finance (including aviation and shipping finance)

The ‘very experienced’ team at Stephenson Harwood provides ‘commercially sound and practical advice’ to a broad array of stakeholders engaged in both shipping and aviation financing mandates. Simon Wong is ‘extremely knowledgeable and experienced in aviation matters’ and has been a key sounding board to both banks and lessors as they seek to navigate the difficulties thrown up by the pandemic, including providing key advice on defaults and insolvencies throughout the APAC region. On the maritime front, the ‘very customer focused’ Hongkai Zhou has ‘great sensitivity to his clients’ needs’, ensuring that he provides an excellent service to lessors, owners and banks, including on transactions involving ECAs in China. Elton Chan is ‘solution-oriented and displays a high degree of business flexibility’ to shipping clients on leasing and structured finance matters.

Hong Kong > Private Client and Family Tier 1

One of the leading firms in this field, Stephenson Harwood has an exceptionally experienced private client practice, drawing from extensive expertise at their disposal in Hong Kong, Asia Pacific and across the globe. At the regional level, the team is particularly renowned for its capability to provide comprehensive advice relating to trusts, estates and multi-jurisdictional taxes; the latter being significantly bolstered by team head Kevin Lee’s extensive knowledge of Canadian and UK tax law. Lee is highly respected for the ‘holistic’ guidance he provides regarding the gamut of wealth matters, being sought after to resolve the most high profile, legally complex and multi-jurisdictional trust disputes. The addition of Wei Kang from DLA Piper in 2021 has helped balance some significant departures of the same year, bringing extensive experience of family trusts, tax compliance and succession planning. A crucial member of the team is associate Tze-wei Ng , who brings detailed knowledge of issues such as ESG and philanthropy, which are increasingly expanding matters in the Hong Kong market.

Hong Kong > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 2

Stephenson Harwood’s restructuring and insolvency practice is well-regarded for its contentious outfit and has more recently amplified its non-contentious offering to provide specialist advice, often with a particular sector focus on aviation distressed refinancing, as well as shipping and corporate finance. The firm has renowned expertise in complex cross-border contentious insolvency matters and has been involved in several large-scale enforcement transactions as well as acting for a number of high-profile liquidators. Practice head Jamie Stranger is supported by Alexander Tang, Eloise Matsui and Emily Li, recently promoted partner, to offer a dedicated R&I team across the board.

Hong Kong > Shipping Tier 2

Elizabeth Sloane, an experienced and respected arbitrator and litigator in the maritime field, leads the internationally minded Stephenson Harwood practice. Andrew Ridgen Green handles disputes including carriage of goods by sea, charterparty disputes, shipbuilding disputes, international trading disputes and disputes arising from accidents, such as groundings and loss of containers overboard. Cindy Ko is a highly rated managing associate with experience in several jurisdictions. Of counsel Jason Toms is another name to note. The firm’s lawyers form a ‘tactically astute, expert team that knows how to win in arbitration’.

Hong Kong > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 3

Tapping into ‘a wealth of dispute resolution knowledge’ among lawyers based out of the firm’s Hong Kong and Shanghai offices, Stephenson Harwood is well-placed to represent PRC-based entities, as well as international clients on disputes with an Asian nexus. Team head Ivan Ng  has an excellent understanding of the cultural and business norms in mainland China and regularly picks up shareholder and corporate litigation involving PRC companies. Ng also handles some contentious insolvency work, which is another core strength of the firm, an area that ‘very collaborative‘ head of Greater China restructuring Jamie Stranger  is also recommended. Emily Li  was recently promoted to partner, in recognition of her work for Chinese and international clients in relation to shareholder disputes, as well as international trade finance matters.

Hong Kong > Investment funds Tier 3

Stephenson Harwood provides 'top-tier quality advice' at a cost-effective rate for emerging and institutional managers across a range of private asset classes, including hedge, private equity and real estate. Team head Penelope Shen  has been pivotal to the firm's success in the area since joining in June 2020 from Kwok Yih & Chan; she has deep knowledge of Hong Kong's regulatory framework, including as it pertains to the developing area of ESG.  

Hong Kong > Labour and employment Tier 3

As well as a strong base of expertise in Hong Kong, the international presence of Stephenson Harwood results in extensive capabilities in complex cross-border employment work, meaning they are often sought after by large multinational corporations. Team head Ian Childs has a strong advisory practice, especially in regard to employers, guiding them through complex remuneration disputes, terminations and confidentiality breaches. Jezamine Fewins left the firm in 2021 to join Lewis Silkin.

Hong Kong > Regulatory Tier 3

The Financial Services Regulatory team at Stephenson Harwood acts for a range of clients in relation to investigations, enforcement actions and disciplinary actions that they face. The team is focused on adapting to the increasing influence that technology is having in this area and as a result, is advising major virtual banks across Hong Kong and several unicorn fintech companies. The team is led by Katherine Liu and Ian Childs, dealing with both non-contentious and contentious work respectively.

Hong Kong > Banking and finance Tier 4

Stephenson Harwood provides an effective service to lenders and borrowers across a diverse array of financing mandates, with niche expertise in trade and commodity, and asset finance. Key members of the team include Mark Reed , whose broad practice includes new money and restructuring transactions; King Tak Fung , for transactional, contentious and regulatory trade finance matters; and finance head Katherine Liu , who has a focus on financial services regulatory matters.

Hong Kong > Corporate (including M&A) Tier 6

Stephenson Harwood has a varied corporate practice, regularly advising on domestic and cross-border M&A involving Hong Kong public companies. The team’s workload includes acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures and investments; it also stands out for its work on deals involving distressed assets. Key figures in the team include practice head Jane Ng, who has decades of experience in corporate transactions, and Michelle Chung, who’s expertise extends to capital market matters such as IPOs.

Hong Kong > Real estate

China > Fintech: foreign firms Tier 2

Stephenson Harwood‘s ‘very innovative‘ Hong Kong-based practice is widely respected for its financial regulatory, fintech, licensing and compliance expertise. The team has extensive experience in advising financial institutions on the application of new technologies to finance, such as the digitalisation of money lending, P2P lending as well as the creation of financial technology ecosystems that combine payment, personal finance and remittance capabilities. Mark Reed specialises in general banking, finance, insolvency, employment and financial services regulatory compliance advice; and Katherine Liu is highly focused on the financial services sector. Further support is provided by Penelope Shen, who advises on the establishment and structuring of private investment funds, and international trade finance and commercial banking specialist Anna Kwong. At associate level, Teresa Tsoi, Conrad Lam, James Wong, Anthony Wong and Phoebe Cheng are all experienced team members.

China > Restructuring and insolvency: foreign firms Tier 3

Stephenson Harwood‘s Hong Kong group routinely leverages the firm's specialisms in shipping, aviation, banking, corporate and employment. Practice head Jamie Stranger represents liquidators, provisional liquidators, receivers and bankruptcy trustees in insolvency proceedings; and assists creditors, debtors and shareholders with corporate and debt restructuring, schemes, buy-outs, and other work-out arrangements.

China > Banking and finance: foreign firms Tier 4

Stephenson Harwood is well versed in secured and unsecured borrowings and syndicated loan transactions. Apart from its routine work, the firm has recently seen an increase in open account and supply chain finance matters. Hong Kong-based practice head Katherine Liu  is supported by Mark Reed who handles financial services regulatory, financing and insolvency matters. Anna Kwong who was promoted to the partnership in May 2021, is regarded for trade finance products and disputes.

China > Dispute resolution: Litigation: foreign firms Tier 4

With a team based in Hong Kong, Stephenson Harwood has a strong focus on international trade finance disputes, and can also be found acting in corporate, insolvency and restructuring-related proceedings. The practice is further distinguished by its PRC knowledge, which stems primarily from its association with Guangzhou-based Wei Tu Law Firm, providing major clients with a multi-faceted service in terms of jurisdictional advice. Hong Kong-based partner Ivan Ng leads the practice, bolstering the firm’s litigation offering in shareholder disputes, contractual disputes and insolvency matters. Emily Li, who was promoted to the partnership in May of 2022, is another key contact in this regard, acting for PRC and international clients on shareholder and trade finance disputes. Managing partner Jamie Stranger is also noted for his expertise in corporate insolvency, commercial litigation, fraud and professional liability.

South Korea > Shipping: foreign firms

Maintaining its position as one of the top firms servicing Korean global corporates, international banks, insurers, shipping, shipbuilding and trading companies, Stephenson Harwood ‘firmly stand out in the market.’ ‘Very impressive’ Michael Kim overseas the Seoul office and is a recognised authority on maritime law, ship finance, shipbuilding and litigation and arbitration matters. Stuart Burrell routinely represents Korean shipbuilding yards and construction companies in complex disputes. The office benefits from the support of Gregg Johnston in Singapore and Andrew Rigden Green in Hong Kong.

China > Shipping: foreign firms

Stephenson Harwood is praised for providing a ‘responsive, prompt and efficient service’. On the dry side, the shipping team covers bill of lading disputes, contracts for the sale and purchase of vessels, voyage charter disputes, Covid-related disputes (including repudiatory breaches) and time charter disputes, among other areas. On the wet side, the practice covers collisions and criminal prosecutions. The team is jointly led by Hong Kong’s Andrew Rigden Green and Shanghai’s Evangeline Quek, who is regularly instructed for dispute resolution, including international arbitrations and has also built up a transactional practice, acting for financial institutions and shipowners. Simone Liu was promoted to partner in May 2021.

Singapore > International arbitration

The global disputes and international arbitration capability of Stephenson Harwood LLP covers the key areas of London, Paris, Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore. The firm provides sector expertise in the energy, construction, maritime and international trade sectors. John Simpson acts primarily for contractors in the offshore oil and gas sector and has advised on a range of disputes in the space. He co-leads the team with Chris Bailey, who focuses on energy and natural resources, oil and gas, construction and investment treaty cases; and Daryll Ng, who has experience appearing as assisting and lead counsel for interlocutory matters, trials, appeals and arbitrations.

China > Investment funds: foreign firms