One of Exeter’s biggest law firms has swapped law for litter picking, joining forces with Plastic Free Exeter to pick up litter along Exeter’s Quay. Eleven volunteers from Stephens Scown LLP spent two hours collecting litter from Exeter’s Quay on Thursday, 22 November. The group collected six bags of litter, which included lots of single use plastics as well as two deck chairs. The firm has also signed up to Plastic Free Exeter’s pledge, committing to reducing – and cutting out where possible – its use of single use plastics. The litter picking initiative was organised by Jess Swallow, a...
Stephens Scown LLP has supported calls for the introduction of no fault divorce, following the Supreme Court’s ruling in a historic divorce case. This case involves a couple who have been married for 39 years. Tini Owens who is 68 sought a divorce from her 80 year old husband on the grounds of unreasonable behaviour. She has described her experience as being trapped in a “loveless and desperately unhappy” marriage. At present, it is not possible for a couple to divorce without blame being apportioned unless they have separated for at least two years. They are required to either record...
The Exeter Dementia Action Alliance (EDAA) organised their second annual members event kindly hosted by Stephens Scown LLP.
The afternoon consisted of the moving play reading ‘Don’t Leave Me Now’ by playwright Brian Daniels.
Don’t Leave Me Now written by playwright Brian Daniels and inspired by two real stories, explores with insight and humour the impact of early onset dementia on family life. Where does love end and duty begin? or does it?
Home Instead Senior Care Director, Mark McGlade, one of the play sponsors, said “We were thrilled to sponsor the play reading...
As a new report is published that illustrates the positive impact employee owned businesses have on the economy, the UK’s first large law firm to become employee owned has backed calls for more support to encourage businesses in the South West to follow its lead. Stephens Scown LLP, which has offices in Exeter, Truro and St Austell, was one of the businesses to give evidence to the Ownership Effect Inquiry. The inquiry heard and examined evidence from over 100 employee owned businesses and their advisors. The results of the inquiry were published on 27 June in advance of Employee Ownership...
The UK’s first large law firm to become employee-owned, Stephens Scown LLP, has appointed two new Exeter-based sector heads. Toby Pool, a partner in the firm’s real estate team becomes head of leisure and tourism, while Thomas Chartres-Moore an associate in the firm’s intellectual property team takes on the role of head of food and drink. Tom is a non-executive director of the not-for-profit organisation Food and Drink Devon. Robert Camp, Stephens Scown’s managing partner said: “Our job is to help our clients to solve problems and seize opportunities. But first we need to understand their...
A leading Exeter-based energy lawyer has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. Sonya Bedford, partner and head of energy at Stephens Scown LLP has received the honour for her services to community energy. At Stephens Scown Sonya has built up one of the strongest energy teams in the South West. She has been involved in a large number of innovative projects that aim to ensure the continued deployment of renewable energy including the first grid consortium in the UK, local supply initiatives and grid sharing. In her spare time she sits on the board of five community energy...
Employee-owned law firm Stephens Scown LLP has promoted four members of staff. Ellie Hibberd from the firm’s employment team has been promoted to partner, as has family law expert Sarah Walls. Two further promotions have been made in Stephens Scown’s intellectual property team, with Thomas Chartres-Moore becoming an associate and Charlotte Trussler promoted to team co-ordinator. Stephens Scown’s managing partner Robert Camp said: “Our clients often need our help at stressful times in their lives – they may be a business owner launching a new product, a manager handling a dispute with an...
The managing partner of a leading South West law firm has been included in The Lawyer’s Hot 100, which is described as “a list of the most daring, innovative and creative lawyers in the UK”. Robert Camp, managing partner of Stephens Scown LLP – which has offices in Exeter, Truro and St Austell – has been named in the prestigious list of standout lawyers compiled by industry magazine The Lawyer for the first time. He is included in the leaders section, along with managing partners from some global law firms including Mayer Brown and CMS. “The cultural change Stephens Scown’s managing...
One of the South West’s largest law firms is encouraging its staff to start the conversation about mental health following a series of presentations by TEDxExeter speaker Gill Hayes, who survived a suicide attempt in 2013. Stephens Scown LLP is one of the sponsors of TEDxExeter and after seeing Gill’s powerful talk, the firm’s HR Manager for Devon Emily Ottery asked Gill to visit the firm’s three offices in Devon and Cornwall to talk about her experiences. Gill was living in Exeter when she began suffering from severe depression. She attempted suicide in March 2013 and following a long...
A leading South West energy lawyer, whose dedication to the energy sector has seen her train in high altitude rescues for wind turbines, has won a trio of industry awards. Over the last three weeks Sonya Bedford, partner and head of the energy team at Stephens Scown LLP has been named Community Energy Champion at the Community Energy Awards, Energy Champion at the Energy Institute Awards and Environmental Champion at the Devon Environmental Business Initiative Awards. The Energy Institute is the professional body for the energy industry. It has over 23,000 individual members and 350...
