Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has won the Culture and Diversity Award at the Partnership Awards 2023.

The Partnerships Awards celebrate excellence in the public–private partnership (PPP) industry. Stephenson Harwood's projects, energy and infrastructure team won the award in recognition of its work on culture and diversity collaboration with its clients in the sector, and the firm's wider focus on nurturing a positive, supportive culture and collegiate community which fosters diversity and inclusion (D&I).

The judges commented on the instrumental role that projects, energy and infrastructure associate Francesca Cadoux-Hudson played in the establishment of Sizewell C's disability and neurodiversity network while on secondment there; partner Rebecca Carter and her team's extensive contribution to client North London Waste Authority's cross-organisational Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Network that was established for its North London Heat and Power Project; and Stephenson Harwood's wider D&I strategy and the actions the firm is taking to embed an inclusive culture.

With international expertise and broad experience in a wide range of energy and infrastructure projects, including PPP, the Stephenson Harwood projects, energy and infrastructure team advises clients all over the world. In renewables and energy transition, the team acts for sponsors, lenders, operators and construction and engineering contractors across the full range of technologies from solar, wind, energy from waste, electric vehicles, geothermal, direct air capture, through to hydrogen and nuclear. Within the broader infrastructure market, the team has advised on every UK government infrastructure programme since the 1990s, including PFI and all its derivative forms, as well as on PPP projects around the world.