Drawing upon a cohesive offering across restructuring, litigation and fraud, Stephenson Harwood is well-positioned to advise stakeholders on all issues arising in connection with financial distress, restructuring, and insolvency. ‘Very proactive’ team head Julian Cahn is key to the firm’s success on contentious insolvency matters and regularly picks up high-profile work for administrators and trustees in bankruptcy in often very complex cases involving, inter alia, allegations of fraud and dissipation of assets. The ’practical and pragmatic’ Tal Goldsmith is also highly skilled at advising on contentious matters and is particularly noted for her expertise at recovering assets for clients on large-scale cross-border mandates. For non-contentious work, the ‘fast thinking’ Ian Benjamin has a good standing among a myriad stakeholders, including creditors and investors, while the arrival of Daniel Andrews from Triton Partners in September 2024 strengthens the team’s special situations prowess among private capital providers.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘It is a highly experienced and knowledgeable team. Great resources and very user-friendly, responsive and easy to work with.’
'Stephenson Harwood are a top mid-market firm which focuses on client service and delivering the best possible result for their clients. They are flexible on fee structures and willing to take a risk alongside us and work on a contingent basis, so are motivated to get the best possible result.'
‘Ian Benjamin. Smart, quick on the uptake, fast thinking, and lovely to deal with. My favourite lawyer in the City.’
'Julian Cahn is very proactive, and he is excellent at anticipating (and avoiding) potential pitfalls in a case.'
‘Tal Goldsmith and Paul Hollands - practical and pragmatic. Extensive knowledge and experience at handling cross-border insolvency matters.’
Key clients
- BDO LLP
- Blandford Capital LLP
- Begbies Traynor
- Teneo Financial Advisory
- FRP Advisory Trading
- Investec Bank
- Riverstone Credit Management
- Wells Fargo Bank
- Equitix Proton Cancer Care
- Evelyn Partners
- Interpath Ltd
- KPMG LLP
Work highlights
Advised the Receivers of Sebastian Holdings Inc, which was the personal investment vehicle of the Norwegian billionaire Alexander Vik.
Advised Riverstone Credit Management LLC in respect of (i) the appointment of administrators by Harland & Wolff Group Holdings Plc; (ii) the subsequent insolvency processes for the non-operational subsidiaries of Plc; and (iii) the pre-packaged administration sale of the business and certain assets of the operational subsidiaries of Plc to the Spanish state-owned contractor, Navantia.
Advising Teneo Financial Advisory in relation to the administration of a UK company whose principal activity was the provision of outsize aircraft cargo charters, which became subject to asset freezing measures and needed to enter an insolvency process.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Julian Cahn
Other key lawyers
Ian Benjamin; Tal Goldsmith; Tim Crocker; Daniel Andrews; Paul Hollands; Max Darke; Fiona Siddall