Richard Stephens > Watson Farley & Williams LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile
Watson Farley & Williams LLP Offices

15 APPOLD STREET
LONDON
EC2A 2HB
England
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Richard Stephens

Work Department
PARTNER IN THE TAX GROUP
Position
Richard advises UK and multi-national companies on all aspects of UK corporation tax, with a focus on the maritime, energy and real estate sectors.
Richard acts for a number of banks and international shipping clients in relation to their financings of maritime assets and has a particular interest in the UK’s Tonnage Tax regime.
Richard is a member of the UK Chamber of Shipping’s Tax and Economics Committee and was a member of the Industry Advisory Group for the UK Government’s Maritime Growth Study.
He acts for a number of international clients in relation to their investments in UK wind (offshore and onshore) and solar projects and has provided advice on the UK tax issues connected with numerous UK company disposals.
In 2018-19, leading legal directory Legal 500 UK praised the WFW London Tax Group as “impressive” and as standing out for its “first-class” client service and “highly-responsive, proactive” approach to issues.
Career
Trained Watson, Farley & Williams LLP, qualified 2003, partner 2012.
Memberships
Chamber of Shipping’s Tax and Economics Committee; Law Society of England and Wales.
Education
Manchester Grammar School (1988-95); University of Birmingham (1995-99).
Lawyer Rankings
London > Corporate and commercial > Corporate tax
Watson Farley & Williams LLP is a leading name in tonnage tax and maritime, and takes an active role in thought leadership and the development of legislation in the sector. Richard Stephens, a noted expert in maritime tax with a client base of numerous major shipping companies, co-leads the department alongside Claire Miles, who is qualified as a CTA and is experienced in cross-border corporate tax matters.
Lawyer Rankings
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: mid-market
- Dispute resolution > Commodities disputes
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Renewables
- Finance > Transport finance and leasing
Firm Rankings
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Infrastructure: Project finance and development
- Transport > Aviation
- Dispute resolution > Commodities disputes
- Real estate > Construction: contentious
- Real estate > Construction: non-contentious
- Industry focus > Hospitality and leisure
- Dispute resolution > International arbitration
- Corporate and commercial > M&A: Lower Mid-Market Deals, £100m-£750m
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Oil and gas
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Power (including electricity and nuclear)
- Finance > Trade finance
- Industry focus > Emerging markets
- Real estate > Environment
- Corporate and commercial > Equity capital markets – small-mid cap
- Risk advisory > ESG
- Employment > Immigration
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Infrastructure: M&A and acquisition financing
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Mining and minerals
- Transport > Rail
- Transport > Shipping
- Real estate > Commercial property: development
- Real estate > Planning
- Corporate and commercial > Private equity: transactions - mid-market deals (up to £500m)
- Real estate > Property litigation
- Corporate and commercial > Corporate tax
- Employment > Employers
- Corporate and commercial > EU and competition