Stephenson Harwood

The Legal 500 Future Lawyers verdict on Stephenson Harwood

Trainees choose Stephenson Harwood for its “good culture,” “international work, small trainee intake and split of contentious and transactional work,” and strong “finance/corporate practice.” The “balance” of work and lifestyle is another draw, alongside “approachability, growth plans, quality of work” and a record of “good retention.” One insider sums up the attraction as “a combination of sector-focused practice groups and strong finance/corporate practice, plus the work-life balance.” Training is generally well regarded. One trainee describes being “lucky” with “excellent exposure to clients and a range of work,” often doing “substantive tasks and working directly with partners.” The scheme is seen as “well structured,” though some would like “more social events for trainees that aren’t just drinking in the in-house bar.” A colleague adds that “good work, more responsibility” and “confidence on feeling like they will be retained” set the experience apart. The “people and culture” stand out as the best part of life at the firm, alongside “approachability of senior members” and the opportunity for “international secondments.” Yet frustrations surface around “pay,” “seat allocation” and “the IT systems.” One trainee bluntly notes: “I have only gotten one top choice of seats during my training contract.” Career highlights frequently involve international placements, described as “a major highlight. Seamless transition into team, international work, great social life.” Others recall “being able to draft complex transaction documents” or “running a client call.” On the flip side, one trainee remembers “consecutive all 4-5am finishes for almost two weeks in my corporate seat to handle a hostile private company takeover.” Another cites being “told at 5pm on Friday (before a seat change on Monday) that I was being put in a seat I didn’t have listed.” Hybrid working is generally “good” but with quirks: while the firm has a “three day in policy in general,” trainees must attend four days, which some call “a bit redundant when everyone else is at home.” Pro bono, by contrast, is praised: “if you want to be involved there is always a project you can contribute to,” with support from a dedicated lawyer helping to expand opportunities. If you want international exposure, supportive colleagues, and early responsibility, Stephenson Harwood is worth exploring.

About the firm

Introductory paragraph about the firm:

Stephenson Harwood is an international law firm, and we’re committed to creating ‘positive partnerships’ with our clients. We represent listed and private companies, institutions and individuals, building lasting relationships to help them succeed in a complex and ever-changing world.

List of clients: The clients that Stephenson Harwood works with are hugely varied. Whether they’re corporations, institutions or individuals, the firm assembles teams of bold thinkers to match clients’ needs and ensure they receive the right advice, from the right person, at the right time.

Some recent clients include: Acadia Healthcare; Bowmark Capital; China Development Bank; easyHotel; ENGIE; Transport UK Group (formerly Abellio); Henderson Global Trust plc; Kroll; DVB Bank; and Hotel Chocolat Group plc.

List of deals/cases in which the firm has been recently involved: Advised ABN AMRO Bank on a US$50 million secured revolving credit facility to Star Bulk Group; advised Chailease on superyacht financing for Turkish client; advised Pelican Capital on strategic investment in Capacitas; represented successful Claimant in £1.6 billion pension fund dispute; advised Targeted Provision on its acquisition of SENse Learning; advised Cebu Pacific on the sale of three aircraft to AFG.

Partner in charge: Eifion Morris

Other offices: Dubai, Hong Kong, Paris, Seoul, Singapore, Piraeus, Shanghai.

Who we are: Our focus is on five core sectors: Energy Transition, Life Sciences and Healthcare, Private Capital and Funds, Technology, and Transportation and Trade.

With more than 1,400 people, including 210+ partners, across eight offices in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, we combine deep legal capabilities and broad commercial expertise. We have also forged close ties with high quality law firms around the world, blending local knowledge with global savvy for clients in over 100 countries.

 

What we do:

The clients we work with are hugely varied. Whether they’re corporations, institutions or individuals, we assemble teams of bold thinkers to match our clients’ needs and ensure they receive the right advice, from the right person, at the right time. Our experience encompasses: corporate; commercial litigation; employment, pensions and private wealth; finance; marine and international trade; and real estate and projects.

We pride ourselves on supporting our people to reach their full potential, so as a trainee you can expect to work in close-knit teams, where associates and partners will take responsibility for ensuring that you get in on the heart of the action on the matters on which you work.

What we’re looking for in a trainee: We expect the 25 trainees we take each year to be dedicated, driven and ambitious. If we choose you, it’s because we see qualities that make you a potential high-performing associate – possibly even a future partner. We look for four key characteristics.

The ability to quickly assimilate a wealth of information and identify the main issues is critical. You’ll have an excellent academic record (ideally at least a 2(1)), be able to make well-reasoned decisions and have meticulous attention to detail.

Ambitious, driven and inquisitive, you’ll love a challenge and have the resilience needed to respond well to feedback and adapt to working in a changing environment. As someone who always keeps the end result firmly in mind and is enthusiastic even under pressure, you’ll be able to show us you know how to get a job not just done, but done brilliantly – to the very best of your ability.

Lastly, you won’t be afraid to question and challenge, or to put forward practical solutions and ideas that are well thought through. We’re known for sound commercial judgement and our international outlook, so you’ll need the potential to develop the same skills.

What you’ll do: You could find yourself working on anything from a high-profile, multimillion-pound financial litigation case to a ground-breaking M&A deal. You could even spend time on secondment at a client’s office, absorbing a totally different business culture first-hand.

Although every seat is a different journey, each is designed to give you a broad balance of commercial awareness and practical legal experience, plus the flexibility to move between projects and pick up new skills. There will be plenty of challenges along the way, but also lots of support. At every stage you’ll be coached and mentored by a partner or senior solicitor who’ll give you regular feedback, advice and guidance on everything from your day-to-day responsibilities to your long-term career decisions.

Perks : We want you to feel valued so we’ll offer you a range of flexible benefits including: critical illness cover, dental health scheme, subsidised gym membership, private health insurance and screening, life assurance, pension, private GP services, subsidised café, retail discounts and a travel to work loan.

Sponsorship

PGDL grant – £12,000; SQE grant – £18,000.

Tips from the recruiter

1. Triple check before submitting! Ask someone to proofread your application and ensure that you haven’t missed any spelling or grammar errors.
2. Include as much work experience as possible. This does not just have to be legal experience – we want to hear about any volunteering/extra-curricular activities/any work you’ve been doing.

Diversity and Inclusion