Stephenson Harwood hires litigation partner in Hong Kong. 11 November 2026 Stephenson Harwood has expanded its commercial litigation team with the addition of Nicholas Lum as a partner in Hong Kong. Lum joins from Hong Kong's Accounting and Financial Reporting Council (AFRC), the independent regulator of the accounting profession. He spent more than four years there and most recently served as deputy head of discipline. Also joining Stephenson Harwood from the AFRC is of counsel Vivien Chung. Lum focuses on audit claims, regulatory investigations, contentious insolvency and multi-jurisdictional commercial disputes. "Nicholas' combination of private practice litigation and regulatory enforcement experience means he is well placed to help clients navigate complex disputes involving accounting, audit and regulatory issues," Evangeline Quek, Stephenson Harwood's Greater China managing partner, told Asia Business Law Journal. "His appointment strengthens our capabilities in an area where we are seeing increasingly complex client needs."

Stephenson Harwood expands energy practice with London partner hire. Former Osborne Clarke partner Matthew Bodfield joins to boost energy transition coverage 04 November 2026 Matthew Bodfield Stephenson Harwood's London office has hired former Osborne Clarke partner Matthew Bodfield as it seeks to enhance its corporate offering in the energy and infrastructure sector. Bodfield brings 20 years' experience advising clients in the energy transition and infrastructure sectors. He made partner at Osborne Clarke in 2016, being promoted successively up the ranks after joining the firm from Irwin Mitchell, where he trained and qualified in 2006, spending four years there. His practice focuses on renewable energy, including solar, onshore wind and hydro power, as well as broader energy transition assets such as battery storage, EV infrastructure, grid stability and heat pumps. Bodfield advises investors, developers and energy supply companies on acquisitions, disposals, investments, joint ventures and corporate reorganisations, with particular expertise in early-stage asset acquisitions and developer platforms. Advertisement Jonathan Cripps, the firm's head of infrastructure, said energy transition work was a strategic priority for the firm - one of the five priorities set by outgoing CEO Eifion Morris. Morris will be replaced in January by the firm's head of banking James Linforth as the London firm eyes a potential merger with European firm Taylor Wessing. Cripps said: "The UK's energy transition is fuelling unprecedented growth in renewables, with generation capacity expected to triple over the next decade, compared to the last 15 years. At the same time, surging demand from AI, data centres and new infrastructure is opening a wealth of opportunities." He added: "As clients aim to diversify into a broader range of assets, and engage in projects earlier in their lifecycle, Matthew's deep expertise in complex, blended investment strategies will strengthen our platform, enabling us to help them navigate this dynamic and rapidly evolving market." Tom Nicholls, the firm's head of corporate, said: "Matthew brings an established practice and deep energy sector expertise that will strengthen our corporate team and broaden its sector reach. LAW OVER BORDERS COMPARATIVE GUIDES Luxury Law Guide This third edition provides answers and insight into how luxury businesses can protect their brands in a range of jurisdictions... | 2yrs. "His specialist energy M&A capability is a clear differentiator, which, when combined with the firm's wider sector relationships, will create significant opportunities for growth and support the development of long-term M&A relationships with our institutional clients." Bodfield, writing on LinkedIn, said that following a short, enjoyable break from practice, he was "excited to start as a partner in the corporate team at Stephenson Harwood, after many happy years with Osborne Clarke". Bodfield is one of a sequence of carefully targeted individual hires across Stephenson Harwood's London office, having invested in private wealth - an area it also seeks to grow - with the arrival of private wealth specialist Nicola Simmons, and in shipping law - an area in which it is well known - with the arrival of maritime partner Jennifer Lavelle. Bodfield's arrival also follows the strategic acquisition of DLA Piper's former office in Thailand, adding to its Asia-Pacific network with a four-partner, 40-lawyer addition in Bangkok. The Thai arrivals more than offset the earlier departure of a five-strong Hong Kong private client team to Charles Russell Speechlys.

Stephenson Harwood acquires DLA Piper's Bangkok office. Office transfer - said to be the first of its kind in the Thai market - adds more than 40 team members, including four partners 30 October 2026 Stephenson Harwood is expanding in Asia by acquiring DLA Piper's Bangkok office, adding a more than 40-strong team, including four partners. The Bangkok office - its 12th globally - will deepen the firm's Asian network, joining its offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Seoul. The Bangkok office will add Thai and cross-border expertise across debt restructuring, corporate M&A, finance and project transactions, employment, real estate and disputes matters. The new Thai partners are financing and restructuring lawyer Waranon Vanichprapa, corporate lawyer Thananan Sangnuan, disputes lawyer Komson Suntheeraporn and white-collar investigations lawyer Santipap Dumprapai. Eifion Morris, Stephenson Harwood's outgoing chief executive, said: "Thailand is an important market within Southeast Asia, and the addition of the Bangkok team complements our existing offices in the region. The team brings local market specialism and experience that will support our clients where they require advice in Thailand, and on cross-border matters where we can draw on the strength of our offices across Asia and our international network. Advertisement "This move marks an important step in Stephenson Harwood's growth strategy and its continued focus on being a leading firm across Europe, the Middle East and Asia." Vanichprapa brings almost three decades of experience to Stephenson Harwood with a career that spanned practice in Thailand, London, Singapore and Hong Kong. He was country managing partner of DLA Piper Thailand and head of its Asia finance practice group. He will become Stephenson Harwood's Bangkok managing partner. Sangnuan arrives after just over three years at DLA Piper, having previously spent almost 25 years at Baker McKenzie in Thailand, including nearly 12 years as partner. Suntheeraporn joins after 16 years at DLA Piper, having previously practised at a number of local Bangkok firms, including Chandler and Thong-Ek Law; Dumprapai arrives after almost 13 years at DLA Piper. LAW OVER BORDERS COMPARATIVE GUIDES International Fraud & Asset Tracing Law Guide As fraud and asset recovery disputes increasingly span multiple jurisdictions, a clear understanding of the legal tools available across borders is essential... | 2w. Vanichprapa said: "We are delighted to be joining Stephenson Harwood and embarking on a new chapter for our clients, our people and our business and this is the first time in Thailand that a transaction of this nature has taken place. "We have built one of Thailand's leading international legal practices over the past 23 years, and we are confident that this move will enable us to develop our team and continue to deliver great value for our clients. We will continue to work closely with DLA Piper on their Thailand matters." The transfer of DLA Piper's Bangkok office to Stephenson Harwood follows a 12-strong DLA Piper team decamping to Clyde & Co in Bangkok back in April, including partners Robert Tang and Samata Masagee, alongside Akyn Suttawatanadech, who made partner on the move.