Stephenson Harwood has promoted 12 partners, with a quarter based in Dubai.
Jordan Ellis, Paul Katsouris, and Toufic Safie have been promoted to the firm’s partnership, effective from May 1, 2025.
The new partners are based in the firm’s Dubai office, its hub for work in the Middle East. Katsouris will be relocating to Athens this summer, and will maintain strong links to the Middle East thereafter.
Ellis has been named a partner in the private wealth team. He assists high-net-worth individuals and families, family offices, and institutional clients with the structuring of their investments, international estate and tax planning, governance and global mobility.
Katsouris has been named a partner in the maritime, trade and offshore group. He advises on contentious and non-contentious matters for clients including ship owners, P&I Clubs, charterers, banks, traders, bunker suppliers, family offices, private investors and energy companies.
Safie has been named a partner in the corporate and commercial team. He specialises in M&A, joint ventures, and foreign direct investments, within the Middle East, Africa and Europe, advising across multiple industries, particularly those operating in transportation trade and commodities.
Seven of the new partners are based in London, where the global firm is headquartered. One partner was promoted in each of the Hong Kong and Shanghai offices.
“It’s fantastic to welcome these exceptionally talented, driven and accomplished lawyers to our partnership,” said the firm’s CEO, Eifion Morris. “Each new partner has demonstrated the strengths that define our firm—bringing legal excellence, can-do personalities and a collective entrepreneurship, as well as a genuine commitment to building lasting relationships with clients. In a world of constant change, their leadership will be key to helping our clients navigate complexity and achieve lasting success.”
“I’m also pleased that this is our second largest ever group of promotions to the partnership,” he said. “This milestone reflects our commitment to growing the firm for the future: investing in outstanding talent, expanding our capabilities internationally, and strengthening the way we serve our clients, wherever they are.”
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