Job Description

What we will offer

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We will offer you a place where you can be yourself and where there are no limits on what you can achieve. With us, you can take ownership of your career and have honest conversations throughout. You would join an ambitious firm with a clear strategy for profitable growth where you can get early responsibility and early involvement in growing the business. Here you can expect a competitive and fair reward as well as recognition based on all round performance. This forms part of our internal promise to you, The Deal, between the firm and its employees.

Team Structure

Stephenson Harwood has one of the world\'s leading marine and international trade practices, offering a breadth of services to clients in the shipping, asset finance, insurance, offshore and commodity sectors that few other firms can match. In Singapore, we are ranked Tier 1 for Shipping by Legal 500, and Band 1 for Shipping Finance and Band 2 for Shipping Litigation by Chambers.

From our offices in London, Dubai, Hong Kong, Paris, Piraeus, Singapore, Shanghai and Seoul we frequently act in high profile disputes involving complex legal and commercial problems. We often have to advise on cross-border and jurisdictional disputes which has resulted in a considerable pool of experience relating to the majority of important maritime jurisdictions. Our clients include many of the world\'s largest ship owners, shipyards, asset financiers, insurers, P&I clubs, energy services companies and commodities traders.

You would join our c.75 lawyer team in Singapore, covering international and permitted areas of Singapore law. The core areas of our firm\'s work that our lawyers in Singapore cover include transportation & trade and private capital & funds. Many of our individual lawyers are recognised as leaders in their fields.

The size of the team globally and the depth of its experience means we are well positioned to advise on any shipping or trade-related concern, from the most complex marine incident or financing structure to the more straightforward cargo claim or sale and purchase dispute.

The Opportunity

Due to the continued growth of the practice, we are seeking talented experienced associates for our Marine & International Trade team. In this role you will advise on all types of shipping, shipbuilding and offshore disputes, as well as work-outs and asset financing-related disputes. You will also undertake non-contentious work acting for shipyards and shipowners in drafting and negotiating contracts including shipbuilding contracts, charterparties, MoAs and contracts of affreightment, or traders in their long-term supply contracts.

Main Responsibilities

• Technical skills and research
• Clear, concise and unambiguous preparation and drafting of documentation
• Matter management
• Liaising with clients and other third parties
• Managing experts and counsel efficiently and proactively
• Developing own informal internal and external network of contacts
• Building excellent working relationships with clients and peers within SH
• Attending business development and profile raising events
• Managing more junior level staff where applicable

Most of our roles are hybrid, meaning that colleagues benefit from working in our office and remotely. We are happy to discuss this and other flexible working arrangements with you as part of the application and interview process.

Attributes/Skills Required

• Excellent academic and professional qualifications
• Qualified lawyer with proven experience in shipping and commodity disputes and ideally with exposure to and an interest in the marine and international trade sector
• Ability to acquire, consolidate and apply fundamental and up-to-date knowledge of the law
• Excellent diligence, accuracy and attention to detail
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Business level Mandarin capability will be viewed as very attractive but a lack thereof will not bar an otherwise strong candidate from consideration
• Good housekeeping and file management practices; manages and records time promptly and accurately
• A good understanding of the firm\xe2\x80\x99s position in the market and how it distinguishes its services from its competitors
• Organised and able to work to strict deadlines with the ability to prioritise realistically
• Resilient with the ability to handle setbacks and pressure
• A self-starter, able to work alone and within a small team
• Cooperative and collaborative in approach and able to develop excellent working relationships at all levels and roles
• Able to operate professionally and proactively at all times

This job description is indicative only and does not represent an exhaustive list of responsibilities. The firm reserves the right to alter or change the responsibilities at any time, in line with the firm\'s strategy and business needs.

We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to having a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, culture or any other protected characteristics. We aim to create a culture where everyone can be themselves and is valued for their strengths and unique perspectives.

About the Firm

With 8 offices worldwide and with our headquarters based in London, Stephenson Harwood is a law firm where our people are committed to achieving the goals of our clients - listed and private companies, institutions, and individuals across the globe. Our mix of expertise and culture results in a combination of deep local insight and the capability to provide a seamless international service.

Our experience encompasses corporate, commercial litigation and arbitration, employment, pensions and private wealth, finance, marine and international trade, and real estate and projects.

We assemble teams of bright thinkers to match our clients\' needs and give the right advice from the right person at the right time. Dedicating the highest calibre of legal talent to overcome the most complex issues, we deliver pragmatic, expert advice that is set squarely in the real world.

We understand the power of diversity in delivering that high calibre advice to our clients. We want to attract diverse talent and we particularly encourage applications from underrepresented demographics.

Our values:

Individuality - We encourage creativity and develop talent
Commitment - To be the best and deliver the highest standard
Teamwork - We work together to build close, long-term relationships
Straight talking - We say what we mean and do what we say

These values express the personality of the individuals within our firm. They are the behaviours we encourage in our people and the standards which inform our decisions and actions.

Our vision into 2026
To be a successful firm where talented people work together in an entrepreneurial environment, building long term client relationships.

This vision is about who we want to be, as well as who we are. It is as much about our values as about our character \xe2\x80\x93 the attributes we want to see from all of our people. It also reflects the importance of remaining independent - a clear sign that we are confident in our own future. That\'s how we unlock our entrepreneurial spirit, advising our clients with top performing teams.

A key part of the 2026 strategy is to focus on five core sectors: decarbonisation, life sciences, private capital & funds, technology, and transportation & trade. These have been identified as crucial in the drive for accelerated profitable growth.

Stephenson Harwood