Corporate Associate
About the job
- Candidates must be a qualified lawyer in England and Wales or another common law jurisdiction, with mid-level experience.
- Candidates must have an understanding of Chinese outbound investment rules, regulations, issues, and challenges.
- Candidates must have experience with regulatory approvals related to outbound direct investment and inbound investments involving Chinese regulatory bodies.
- Candidates must be familiar with complex negotiations and documentation involving Chinese regulatory interfaces.
- Candidates must have experience working in or with international law firms or top-tier China law firms and multinational clients, and understand both common law and PRC legal frameworks.
- Candidates must have strong private mergers and acquisitions skills.
- Candidates must have strong technical abilities and drafting skills in English and Chinese.
- Candidates must be able to acquire, consolidate, and apply fundamental and up-to-date knowledge of the law.
- Candidates must be accurate and attentive to detail.
- Candidates must have native fluency in both spoken and written English and Mandarin Chinese.
- Candidates must be organised, able to work to strict deadlines, and able to prioritise realistically.
- Candidates must have good housekeeping and file management practices and manage and record time promptly and accurately.
- Candidates must be resilient and able to handle setbacks and pressure.
- Candidates must be cooperative and collaborative and able to develop excellent working relationships at all levels and across roles.
- Candidates must understand the firm's market position and how its services differ from competitors.
- Candidates must have excellent academic and professional qualifications.
- Candidates must be able to work effectively within cross-cultural teams.
- Prepare and draft corporate and transaction documentation clearly, concisely, and unambiguously.
- Negotiate transaction documents and provide commercially minded legal advice as an integral part of clients' deal teams.
- Liaise with clients, specialist lawyers, and other service providers to manage transactions.
- Build working relationships with clients and peers within the firm.
- Develop an informal internal and external network of contacts.
- Participate in and contribute to business development and profile-raising events, including client seminars and graduate recruitment activities.
- Conduct legal research using internal and external knowledge management resources.
- Demonstrated working experience advising PRC clients and Chinese state-owned enterprises is highly preferred.
- Business development and networking capabilities are desirable.
- Exposure to and experience of finance work, ideally gained at a top City or US firm, is preferred.
About the company
Stephenson Harwood provides legal advice and representation to companies, financial institutions and private clients. Its lawyers handle corporate transactions, financing, commercial disputes, regulation, employment and property matters, preparing agreements and representing clients in negotiations, courts and arbitration. Clients pay fees for advisory work, transaction execution and dispute representation, with teams assembled around the legal needs of each matter. The firm coordinates work through offices in Europe, the Middle East and Asia and relationships with local law firms. With roots dating to 1828, Stephenson Harwood is headquartered in London, United Kingdom.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
City of London, United Kingdom
Founded
1828
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Stephenson Harwood opened Madrid in June 2026 with eight partners, adding a Spanish legal team.
- Stephenson Harwood funds qualifying London trainees' law-conversion and solicitor-exam fees, plus maintenance grants.
- Stephenson Harwood assigns each London trainee a dedicated partner for regular development reviews.
What critics are saying
- Stephenson Harwood's August 2026 results reporting showed FY2025/26 firm profit fell 12% to £105 million.
- Stephenson Harwood requires 60% office attendance, limiting flexibility for people seeking predominantly remote roles.
- Stephenson Harwood's success-based disputes fees make annual revenue sensitive to case-completion timing.
What makes Stephenson Harwood unique
- Stephenson Harwood's formal Virtus Law alliance combines English-law advice with permitted Singapore-law services.
- Stephenson Harwood's SHarper AI extracts and analyses contract terms for compliance with EU digital resilience rules.
- Stephenson Harwood prioritised roughly 14,000 of 80,000 High Court dispute documents using technology-assisted review.
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Hybrid Work Options
Company News
Marine insurance specialist Dr Jennifer Lavelle joins Stephenson Harwood as Partner. Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has strengthened its Commercial Litigation practice with the arrival of marine insurance specialist Dr Jennifer Lavelle, who joins the firm as a Partner in London. Jennifer advises on coverage instructions and the handling of recovery claims arising from charterparties, bills of lading, marine casualties and salvage. She is widely recognised as a leading adviser for cargo coverage instructions, in London and internationally. Jennifer holds an LL.M. in Maritime Law and a Ph.D. in Commercial Law. She spent two years at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in Geneva, advising on a range of maritime matters, including oil pollution at sea and piracy. "Jennifer's market-leading cargo coverage expertise, collaborative approach, and dedication to exceptional client service makes her an excellent addition to our growing insurance practice," said Partner Tal Goldsmith (pictured), Global Co-Head of Commercial Litigation, Stephenson Harwood. "Transportation and trade is one of our key areas of focus, and Jennifer adds depth and breadth to our offering in the sector. Her extensive knowledge of cargo coverage is a clear differentiator, which complements the team's existing capabilities, and further enhances our ability to meet the increasingly complex needs of our clients." "Our dedicated insurance team has experienced significant growth in the last five years, as we have invested in building one of the strongest teams in the sector," said Partner Alex Davis, Stephenson Harwood's Head of Insurance, London. "Adding a lawyer of Jennifer's calibre builds on our position at the forefront of the marine insurance market."
Trustees and Mercer speed up bulk annuity deals with teamwork. By Laila Fitriansyah October 6, 2026 Mercer's DB Master Trust executed three bulk annuity buy-ins within weeks this year, a speed that would have been impossible just a few years earlier. Activity in the bulk annuity market has surged. Consultants tracked a record 350 to 375 transactions in 2025, with smaller and mid-sized schemes leading the way. Transactions that once took months now often close in weeks, thanks to improved workflows and shared knowledge. The transactions were overseen by Mercer's risk transfer team, working alongside the master trust's independent professional trustees, PAN Trustees, Independent Governance Group, and Zedra, along with legal support from Stephenson Harwood. The trustees' prior experience with buy-ins allowed the process to focus on critical decisions rather than foundational explanations. A key innovation was conducting a data cleanse before finalizing contracts. This preparatory work, coordinated with Mercer's advisers and Just Group, simplified later stages and provided trustees with immediate clarity on costs, which are usually confirmed only after data verification. By consolidating three fully segregated sections of the master trust into a single transaction, Mercer achieved better pricing and insurer capacity than would have been available for individual schemes. This strategy also shortened the period between buy-in and buyout, accelerating the trust's progress toward winding up. The increased pace has required pension schemes, trustee boards, and advisers to adjust. Stephenson Harwood launched its Derisking Pathway, a standardized framework for faster transactions. The program uses pre-approved disclosure templates and AI tools to accelerate document review, while standardized contracts and benefit specifications minimize redundancy and reduce costs. Estella Bogira, a partner at Stephenson Harwood, described the collaboration between Mercer, Just Group, and the trustees as exceptional. The process emphasized member outcomes, with all parties coordinating closely to optimize the approach. Tim Ball, Mercer's lead for the DB Master Trust, observed that while the master trust was designed for efficiency, this deal established a new pathway for employers transitioning through it toward buyout. Mercer's transactions reflect a broader movement: as more pension schemes approach their final stages, trustee boards face growing options. The consistent factor across all deals remains effective teamwork. Insurers, consultants, and trustees must align their efforts to keep up with a market that operates at an unprecedented speed.
Dubai showcases its growing global superyacht proposition at Monaco Yacht Show 2026. Dubai highlights extensive marina infrastructure, a growing maritime ecosystem and luxury lifestyle offering as it strengthens its position as a global superyacht destination Dubai: The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has reinforced Dubai's position as a leading global superyacht destination with its participation as part of the UAE Pavilion at the Monaco Yacht Show 2026 (23-26 September). DET brought together international and regional yacht owners, captains, brokers, charter companies, investors, family offices and luxury sector stakeholders to showcase the emirate's evolving role in shaping a more connected yachting proposition across the country. In collaboration with industry partners, Dubai's programme at the show highlighted the breadth and growing sophistication of its yachting ecosystem, extending from premium marina infrastructure and yacht management to charter, brokerage, provisioning, shipbuilding, luxury lifestyle and investment. The engagement also reflected the objectives of the newly-formed UAE Yachting Alliance, announced by authorities from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah at the show to support integrated itineraries, joint international promotion and closer coordination across the marine tourism sector. Attendees at the show were able to learn about Dubai's yachting proposition, which is supported by 22 marinas, alongside streamlined arrival processes that allow superyachts to complete entry requirements at the marina. Foreign visiting vessels can remain in Dubai waters for up to six months, while eligible foreign-flagged vessels on a visa permit benefit from exemptions from VAT and customs duties. These measures strengthen Dubai's appeal as a practical, accessible and commercially attractive base for the international yachting community. Saud Hareb Almheiri, Cruise Tourism & Yachting Lead at the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), said: "The Monaco Yacht Show provided an important platform for Dubai to engage directly with the global yachting community and demonstrate how our destination proposition is evolving. Dubai delivers much more than an exceptional place to berth, combining advanced infrastructure, luxury lifestyle offerings, and a growing network of maritime expertise and services, while providing seamless access to the wider UAE. Through close collaboration with our public and private sector partners, and as the UAE's yachting proposition becomes increasingly connected, our ambition is to make Dubai the gateway through which the global yachting community and their guests can discover more of the country and the region." A series of curated engagements at the show provided a platform to strengthen relationships across the international yachting community and showcase Dubai's proposition beyond the marina. Highlights included a luxury fashion presentation by homegrown brand Carter & White, in collaboration with Sunreef Yachts, bringing together fashion and superyachting as part of a curated breakfast gathering. DET also partnered with Stephenson Harwood LLP on an exclusive reception exploring Dubai's growing economic appeal to private wealth, international investment and luxury asset stakeholders. In collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi (DCT), DET hosted a dedicated session for leading yacht brokers and charter companies, moderated by Charter Itineraries, examining opportunities to develop richer multi-destination experiences across the UAE. The session highlighted Dubai's role as the gateway and anchor destination, supported by increasingly efficient permitting processes and ease of movement between the emirates. The discussion also explored how Dubai's hospitality, dining, retail, culture, entertainment and events offering can help brokers and charter companies design longer, more commercially attractive itineraries. Together, these engagements demonstrated the depth of Dubai's wider maritime ecosystem, with companies spanning yacht management, charter, sales, marina operations, provisioning, construction, engineering and luxury services. Stakeholders including Phoenix Yacht Management, JLS Yachts, D-Marin, Magnitude, MY OCEAN, Dubai Harbour, AAA Marine, EMS and Grandweld Shipyards reflect the range of expertise supporting the complete superyacht journey, from acquisition and ownership to arrival, operation, servicing and construction. Dubai's proposition is further strengthened by the experiences available ashore, from luxury hospitality, dining and retail to culture, entertainment, sport and international events, offering owners and charterers a destination that extends well beyond the yacht itself. Building on the current momentum across the industry, the city continues to offer yacht owners and charter guests a safe and globally connected destination with the infrastructure, services and experiences expected by high-value travellers. The Monaco Yacht Show engagement reinforces Dubai's ambition to strengthen its position as a globally connected yachting hub, while positioning the wider UAE as a seamless, multi-destination cruising proposition.
Stephenson Harwood locks in Asia IP and tech talent. TMT lawyer Amita Haylock arrives from Mayer Brown to take up post at the helm of the firm's Asia technology and IP practice. Stephenson Harwood has hired Amita Haylock as partner and head of its Asia-based technology and intellectual property (IP) practice, effective 1 October. Haylock, who arrives from Mayer Brown, will split her time between the firm's Hong Kong and Singapore offices. She brings almost two decades' experience in intellectual property, competition, and technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) law, with a practice focused on complex multidisciplinary issues spanning commercial regulation, strategy and dispute resolution. In a statement posted on LinkedIn, Haylock said she looks forward to "continuing to help clients navigate the rapidly evolving technology landscape and build on Stephenson Harwood's well-established platform across Asia, the Middle East and Europe". Haylock joined Mayer Brown as a senior associate in 2016 after three years at Bird & Bird. She quickly climbed the ranks, making partner in 2020 following a 2018 counsel promotion. Stephenson Harwood global IP, technology and data head Dan Holland said Haylock's "valuable combination of skills" will serve to differentiate the firm's services "in a highly competitive Asia market". "Amita is one of the leading TMT lawyers in Asia and we are very pleased that she will be joining us to lead and grow our practice there, in line with our regional and global strategy," Holland continued. "As well as IP, technology and data matters, Amita is able to advise on regulation and competition law, strengthening our ability to advise our clients on their most complex IP, technology and data challenges." Holland added that Haylock's fintech experience will "be of huge benefit" as the firm seeks to "match [its] clients' investments in the growing intersection of technology and finance". The news comes amid rumours that Stephenson Harwood is in the early stages of merger talks with European law firm Taylor Wessing, which split from its UK arm earlier this year.
A&O Shearman hires Stephenson Harwood pair as global secondaries co-heads. A&O Shearman has hired a pair of partners from Stephenson Harwood to co-lead its global secondaries practice. Sarah de Ste Croix, who headed Stephenson Harwood's private equity practice, is moving with Gabriel Boghossian, who is recognised by Legal 500 as a next-generation partner for private funds in London, as well as their full team. Your limit of 1 article in 30 days is up. Please login for full access or subscribe . Corporate users - click here for simple access (no password needed). For more information, please contact [email protected]