Firms

Stephenson Harwood

Web:  www.shlegal.com/graduate 

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Web:  www.shlegal.com/graduate 

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Survey results

Survey results

 

The lowdown (in their own words...)

Why did you choose this firm over any others? 

 ''SH's size and position in the market meant that I was always going to have the opportunity to partake in high-quality work plus the opportunity to spend six months in the Hong Kong or Singapore office was very appealing'; 'good-quality work with interesting clients'; 'small enough intake so that you are treated like an individual'; 'medium sized'; 'international reach'' 

How does your training compare with peers' at other firms? 

 ''Size of trainee intake'; 'lifestyle'; 'size and culture'; 'very friendly culture'; 'open-door policy'; 'good work/life balance'; 'high-quality work and clientele for size of law firm'; 'high quality of training'; 'interest in litigation and in shipping'' 

Best thing about the firm? 

 ''Very friendly culture'; 'open-door policy'; 'good work/life balance'; 'high-quality training'; 'mid-size but almost a guarantee of an overseas seat'' 

Worst thing about the firm? 

 ''Lack of resources means that at deal time hours are very bad'; 'lack of client contact'' 

Best moment? 

 ''Picking up a matter and running it from start to finish'; 'going to Hong Kong for six months'; 'having time to travel round Asia'; 'getting good feedback on work done'; 'being chosen for an overseas secondment'; 'attending a closing on my own in Paris'; 'going to India for four weeks'; 'secondment to Christie's'; 'successfully obtaining an order in front of a master in an application hearing on my own'; 'client meeting where I was actually able to have a significant amount of input'' 

Worst moment?

 ''Coming in at the weekend to get bibles/registration forms ready to send out on Monday morning'; 'after three 4am finishes in a row having to come in on the weekend too'; 'days of scheduling documents'; 'working till 5am for six weeks during dealtime'; 'spending consecutive weekends preparing trial bundles''

The Lex 100 verdict

 The Verdict

The firm

Stephenson Harwood's practice covers corporate finance, real estate and commercial litigation, with banks and financial institutions accounting for a significant proportion of the client portfolio. The firm is noted for its regulatory and finance work in the shipping, rail and aviation sectors, and has a niche practice bringing Asian companies to the AIM market. Strength in international arbitration and civil and criminal fraud are evidence of the firm's broad spread of expertise. 

The star performers

Aviation; Banking litigation; Commercial litigation; Commercial property; Employment; Financial services; Flotations: small and mid-cap; Fraud: commercial and regulatory investigations; Investment funds; Islamic finance; Pensions dispute resolution; Planning; Shipping; VAT and indirect tax.

The deals

Advised Korea Ex-Im Bank on the $1.2bn post-delivery financing of ten of the world's largest container vessels; acted on a cargo loss claim for Vitol; acting for the former owner and chairman of JSC BTA Bank; representing a retired former partner of Cazenove & Co in high-profile criminal proceedings brought by the FSA.

The clients

Air Asia; American Airlines; Aviation Capital; Bank of Scotland; Blue Wing Airlines; Credit Suisse; DnB NOR Bank; DVB Bank; Korea Ex-Im Bank; Macquarie Aircraft Leasing; Vietnam Airlines; Virgin.

The winners

Legal Business Awards 2011

Highly commended Corporate team of the year, Law firm of the year. 

The Verdict

'Stephenson Harwood's size and position in the market meant that I was always going to have the opportunity for high-quality work but not necessarily at the expense of having a life outside of the office' says one trainee when discussing the merits of working here. With interesting work, a 'friendly culture' and the 'opportunity to spend six months in the Hong Kong or Singapore office, SH is a very good option. For those with an interest in shipping and litigation it is also a must as the firm excels in those areas, as well as having a strong finance practice. A Lex 100 Winner for confidence in being kept on, with a relatively small intake each year trainees think that they are 'treated like individuals' and get 'far more involved in high-end work' than their peers in larger intakes. There is a good level of client contact and prepare to have the 'autonomy to take matters forward'. Training is taken 'very seriously' here and you are 'pretty much guaranteed a secondment abroad'. One trainee feels that there can be a 'lack of resources' meaning that 'at deal time hours are very bad', and at times the firm is 'pigeon-holed' as being a 'shipping firm' which is frustrating. However, one of the great attractions of the firm is the high-end work leading to plenty of international jaunts; current trainees went 'to India for four weeks' and 'attended a closing alone in Paris'. For City prestige, good training, overseas opportunities and plenty of high-level work consider Stephenson Harwood.

A day in the life

A day in the life of.....

Joe Gosden, first-year trainee, Stephenson Harwood LLP 
Departments to date:  Corporate tax, marine and international trade
University: Downing College, Cambridge 
Degree: History, 2(1) 

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7.45am: I arrive at the (subsidised) gym next door to work and meet one of the other trainees for a pre-work sweat.

8.50am: Leaving the gym there's just time to grab breakfast from the fourth-floor cafÃé before getting to my desk. There's an email from counsel on a big fraud action asking me to re-work the exhibits to an affidavit. Depositing the remains of my breakfast in the kitchen, I head for the photocopy room to get everything in order.

9.40am: My supervisor stops me and explains he has an urgent deadline to get a non disclosure agreement written for one of his biggest clients. It's a key part of a big shipbuilding deal which is closing next week and a draft is needed as soon as possible. I quietly park all the rest of my work and get stuck in.

10.45am: I drop off a first draft on my supervisor's desk for him to review. He's locked in a heated conference call to a foreign client, so I slip out again quietly and leave it for him to look at.

11.10am: A swift cup of coffee later and my supervisor calls me in. There's a few things that I've over looked in the draft, but thankfully nothing too fundamental. We discuss his suggested amendments and I head back to my desk to make the changes.

11.55am: One of the associates needs an urgent dash to court. A client has had a tanker arrested this morning in Milford Haven and we need to file a response. We've managed to secure a letter of undertaking from the P&I club in record time and, armed with this and our response to the affidavit, I make a dash for the door. Bursting into the sunlight on Moorgate and diving aboard a passing cab, I hurtle towards the Strand.

12.25pm: The RCJ successfully negotiated, I emerge onto the Strand and board the bus back to Moorgate. At my desk I fly through some emails then head up to seventh floor for a lunchtime talk. The problems inherent in enforcing judgments in offshore trust work have attracted a remarkable turnout; perhaps something to do with the accompanying buffet.

2.00pm: Having been briefed on some research I head upstairs to the library, hoping nobody has beaten me to that big green book on time charters which I'm convinced is hiding the answer deep within its pages. 90 minutes later I'm back down to discuss it with an associate. Remarkably it looks like I've hit the nail on the head first time around, leaving me a crucial half hour to get any findings turned around into a note to client.

4.30 pm: A partner for whom I do not usually work calls me over. He's got an arbitration tomorrow and the trainee who usually sits with him is down to attend a course off-site. He asks if I'd mind stepping in and runs me through the salient points of the case.

7.00pm: After a productive hour's prep, I think I've got everything in order for the arbitration. As I prepare to take bundles down to the print room my supervisor calls and asks if I fancy a drink. 15 minutes later I've polished off my timesheets, dropped the bundles off at the print room and head out. An hour or so on, I make my excuses and head across the road to catch the Met Line home.

About the firm

About the firm

Address: 1 Finsbury Circus, London EC2M 7SH

Telephone: 020 7809 2812

Website: www.shlegal.com/graduate

Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

 

Other offices: Paris, Piraeus, Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Guangzhou. Associated Offices: Greece, Kuwait, France, Romania 

Who we are:  Stephenson Harwood is a thriving, international law firm with over 100 partners and more than 600 staff worldwide.

What we do: Not only do we act for a wide range of listed and private companies, institutions and successful entrepreneurs, we also offer a full range of services in a wide variety of sectors.

What we are looking for: Firstly we look for a quick intellect. As well as at least a 2(1) in any discipline plus 320 UCAS points or equivalent, you'll need strong analytical skills, sound judgement, imagination and meticulous attention.

What you'll do:  You can expect on-the-job training complemented by in-house seminars; to share an office with a partner or senior associate; and to benefit from a continuous review of your career development.

Perks: These include subsidised health club membership, private health insurance and screening, pension, life assurance, private GP services, critical illness cover, dental insurance, retail vouchers, concierge service, season ticket loan and 25 days' paid holiday a year.

Sponsorship: Fees paid for GDL and LPC and maintenance awards (if still studying).

 

Facts & figures

 Facts and figures

Trainee places available for 2014: 16

Applications received pa: c1,200 

Percentage interviewed:  

Salary

First year: £37,000

Second year: £40,000

Newly qualified: £60,000

 The money

(from Legal Business magazine)

Turnover in 2010: £91.9m (+8% from 2009) Profits per equity partner: £557,000 (-10%)

Total partners: 100

Other fee-earners: 200

Total trainees: 30

APPLY NOW

Application process

Apply to:  online via www.shlegal.com/graduate

When to Apply: By 31 July 2012 for 2014 training contracts. 

What is involved: Training contract - application screening, online verbal and numerical testing, telephone interview and assessment centre. Placement scheme - application screening, online verbal and numerical testing, face-to-face interview and assessment centre. 

 

 Vacation schemes

Spring: 19-30 March 2012 (apply by 31 January 2012) 

Summer: 11-22 June 2012, 25 June 2012-6 July 2012 and 9-20 July 2012 (apply by 31 January 2012) 

Winter: 12- 17 December 2011 (apply by 06 November)