KEY CONTACT

Duncan Stiles

Duncan Stiles
Partner

T: +44 20 7809 2163 M: +44 7768 122 740 Email Duncan | vCard Office: London

North America

The United States is an important focus market for Stephenson Harwood. With particular expertise in private capital and funds, life sciences, technology, transportation and trade and decarbonisation, our dedicated team have extensive experience advising US-based clients with international operations on their contentious, transactional and advisory matters. From complex disputes to public and private M&A, as well as complementary advisory services, such as employment, data privacy, intellectual property and private wealth, we provide high quality, commercially focused legal advice to help our clients achieve their goals.

We do not have offices in the United States or practice US law. This means that we can partner with the US law firms that best fit our clients' needs depending on the nature of the instructions – whether relating to sector or industry focus, geographical location in the US or, recognising the importance of budgeting and controlling legal spend, the cost effectiveness of the advice.
  • Profile
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We are highly skilled 'quarterbacks'. Clients benefit from our strength in coordinating major cross-border matters with one point of contact, enabling the delivery of high-quality advice, focused on explaining and clearly advising on the key legal issues that arise when the US approach meets how markets and legal practice operate in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

“Brilliant international firm with exciting global reach …”
The Legal UK 2022

A selection of our US-related experience includes:

Private capital and funds

City of London Investment Group

Advising City of London Investment Group PLC on its £78.4 million acquisition of US-based investment management business, Karpus Management Inc.

Unigestion

Advising Unigestion on its investment, alongside co-lead Cadence Equity Partners, in Aquam Water Services (AWS), and the simultaneous acquisition of Orbis Intelligent Systems, AWS’ US-based technology partner.

Investment Fund collapse

Acting for new management of investment management group following collapse of private equity fund including proceedings in Hong Kong, Cayman and London relating to the acquisition of a US consumer data and analytics business.

Technology

Elemica

Advising Elemica, a US-based digital supply chain network for the global manufacturing sector, on its acquisition of OmPrompt, a UK-based technology company.

Kroll

Advising Kroll, a global provider of services and digital products related to governance, risk and transparency, on its acquisition of Redscan, a UK-based cyber security services provider.

Fintech dispute

Advised associated UK and US financial institutions in respect of investigations by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the New York Attorney General and by the Financial Conduct Authority into allegedly unlawful trading schemes.

Life sciences

GE Healthcare

Advising GE Healthcare on the acquisition of Zionexa. GE Healthcare is a medical technology, pharmaceutical diagnostics, and digital solutions company; Zionexa is an innovator of in-vivo oncology and neurology biomarkers that help enable more personalised healthcare.

Global Pharmaceutical Company 

Advising a global pharmaceutical company based in the US on its minority investment in a French biotech company with a path to control depending on the successful deployment of the biotech’s products.

Biotechnology

Assisting a global pharmaceutical company, headquartered in the US, to obtain French FDI clearances in the context of the purchase of a French biotech developing biomarkers in the oncology and neurology sectors.

Exscientia

Advising on a wide-ranging data protection review for NASDAQ-listed Exscientia.

GSK

Advised global healthcare company GSK on a number of matters, including acting as coordinating counsel in relation to what was probably the largest piece of trade mark pharmaceutical litigation to date. The dispute was between two of the largest pharmaceutical companies globally, related to the third best-selling pharmaceutical product of all time and spanned 30 different countries. Jurisdictions included UK, Germany, Norway, Sweden, South Korea, Denmark, Ireland, Estonia, Latvia, Australia, and the United States.

Transport and trade

BW Group

Advising global maritime company, BW Group, on its acquisition of 100% of Hawaiki Submarine Cable and International Connectivity Services (Hawaiki).

Swire Pacific

Advising Swire Pacific on the US$190 million sale of its offshore subsidiary, Swire Pacific Offshore, to US NASDAQ-listed offshore vessel operator Tidewater.

Marine claims

Advising US law firms and sovereign states in relation to marine claims arising out of South America on issues ranging from collisions and machinery breakdowns to seizures due to breach of customs regulations.

Fleetscape

Advised Fleetscape Capital Limited (Fleetscape) on an innovative financing structure with Macquarie Bank Limited. Fleetscape, the alternative capital provider to the maritime and offshore industries, is an affiliate of funds managed by US-headquartered Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.

Obtaining freezing order in Hong Kong

Obtaining freezing order in Hong Kong against the assets of an airline, and other ancillary orders, for a lessor of aircraft engines in connection with ICC arbitration in New York, with related proceedings in Thailand.

Decarbonisation

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

Advised Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. a global provider of data, technology and market infrastructure, on its acquisition of Urgentem, a provider of global corporate emissions and climate transition data.

Covanta

Advised US-headquartered Covanta on its strategic partnership with Green Investment Group/Macquarie to develop, fund and own energy-from-waste projects in the UK and Ireland including four investments in facilities at Earls Gate, Rookery South, Newhurst and Protos.

Jericho Energy Ventures

Advised Jericho Energy Ventures, as lead investor, on its equity investment into Supercritical Solutions. Lowercarbon Capital (climate-tech fund of longtime investor Chris Sacca) and New Energy Technology (green hydrogen venture capital fund) are co-investors in the deal.

Acquisition of innovative eco-type barges

Advised J.P. Morgan Asset Management on the acquisition of 40 LNG-fuelled innovative eco-type inland waterway barges against charters with energy major Shell. The barges will be built by Concordia Damen Shipbuilding B.V.

Chris Bailey

Chris Bailey Partner

T: +65 6622 9685
M: +65 9248 1428 Email Chris | vCard Office: Singapore

Jonathan Conder

Jonathan Conder Partner

T: +44 20 7809 2015
M: +44 7941 100 381 Email Jonathan | vCard Office: London

Richard Garcia

Richard Garcia Partner

T: +44 20 7809 2346
M: +44 7811 409 216 Email Richard | vCard Office: London

Max Lemanski

Max Lemanski Partner

T: +44 20 7809 2224
M: +44 7826 550 715 Email Max | vCard Office: London

Tom Platts

Tom Platts Partner

T: +65 6622 9641
M: +65 8233 3245 Email Tom | vCard Office: Jakarta, Singapore

Genevieve Quierin

Genevieve Quierin Partner

T: +44 20 7809 2174
Email Genevieve | vCard Office: London

Duncan Stiles

Duncan Stiles Partner

T: +44 20 7809 2163
M: +44 7768 122 740 Email Duncan | vCard Office: London

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© Stephenson Harwood LLP 2016. Any reference to Stephenson Harwood in this document means Stephenson Harwood LLP and/or its affiliated undertakings. Any reference to a partner is used to refer to a member of Stephenson Harwood LLP.