Richard Parsons > Stephenson Harwood > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Combining ‘exceptional technical and commercial knowledge of the shipping industry’, Stephenson Harwood provides ‘pragmatic and solutions-oriented advice’ to commercial banks, alternative finance providers and operators. Ship finance head Ian Mace has deep knowledge across varied financing structures (including export credit backed deals and commercial debt, as well as more esoteric structures like Islamic finance) and is a popular choice among creditors and debtors on new money transactions and restructurings in the core shipping and offshore markets. Able to call upon a vast reservoir of knowledge gathered over his many years’ in practice, Jonathan Ward remains a strong presence in the market, and is particularly effective advising on matters with a Chinese nexus. Other recommended practitioners include Greek national Dora Mace-Kokota – who is able to ‘find compromising, creative and pragmatic solutions’ for both Greek and non-Greek clients – and recently promoted partner Jon Cripps, who ‘has exceptional specialist knowledge on complex structures’, including JOLCOs and back leverage structures. While shipping remains the bedrock of the practice, under the guidance of Richard Parsons, the aviation practice continues to thrive, including in the developing area of passenger to freight conversion projects. Rebecca Garner, who has ‘quite a remarkable eye for detail!’, is a popular choice for clients on aircraft acquisition and leasing. Tammy Samuel and Suzanne Tarplee co-head the rail offering, while Lisa Marks‘ broad equipment finance and leasing practice includes rail work, as well as an increasing amount of mandates relating to electric vehicles.

Stephenson Harwood‘s ‘astute, commercial and focused’ team takes on the gamut of aviation matters, acting for airlines, lessors and banks in relation to asset financing, leases, regulatory issues and disputes. The practice is headed by Paul Phillips, an aviation litigation specialist, and Richard Parsons, who focuses on aviation finance. James Collins is noted for his aircraft and engine transactional work, including sale-and-leaseback arrangements. Of counsel Chloe Challinor, managing associate Johnny Champion and associate Patrick Bettle are aviation litigation specialists, representing clients in commercial and regulatory proceedings.