News | EU & Competition

Tuesday 16th May 2006

SJ Berwin LLP is delighted to announce that Stephen Kon, Head of the EU & Competition department, will take on the role of International Practice Partner for the firm with effect from 23 May 2006. 

Stephen has been heavily involved in the firm’s international strategy for some years having successfully established a pan-European Competition practice which now spans France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium and the UK.  Stephen, who has been with the Firm since 1982, will continue to head up the firm’s EU & Competition practice.

Stephen's role will primarily focus on three areas: the integration of our Continental European offices; a focus on international client development and the development of our relations with other law firms in key jurisdictions which will include the EU Accession Member States, India, China, the Far East, Australia, New Zealand and the US.

Stephen will work closely with the firm's Professional Service Partner, Simon Witney, which is also a new role.  Simon, who has been Head of Knowledge Management since 2000, will take on the role of Professional Service Partner with effect from 23 May 2006.  The principal aim of the role will be to set and maintain consistently high standards of service and quality across all parts of the firm, and on integrating its European teams.  The main initiatives he will focus on will include client satisfaction and training programmes, implementing standard-setting procedures and further developing the firm's professional support function. 

Stephen comments: "The firm's rapid growth and enormous success over the last few years means there is a real need for greater focus on our international strategy as the firm moves into its next growth stage. This is a role I have been interested in undertaking for some time and I am delighted that I will have the opportunity to work with our Continental European offices to further integrate and develop our international practice.  I also look forward to working with Simon in his capacity as Professional Service Partner to build on the success of our European expansion and create a strong and reputable international practice".

Stephen is widely recognised as a leader in his field and has been described as having "one of the most creative minds around" and "Enterprising and not afraid to challenge convention".  He was recently awarded the Best Achievement in Copyright Practice at the World Leaders European IP Awards for the role he played in achieving a ground breaking victory for William Hill in its dispute over database rights.  He also headed the team in the EU & Competition department which was named "Competition Team of the Year" at the Legal Business Awards 2006.
 
Jonathan Blake, Senior Partner, commented: "Stephen's new role is testament to the confidence we have in the future of SJ Berwin.  His experience and reputation in the international marketplace made him an obvious choice to take on this role and I look forward to seeing our international presence go from strength to strength".

• Founded in 1982, SJ Berwin is a leading City corporate and commercial law firm with offices in London, Berlin, Brussels, Frankfurt, Madrid, Milan, Munich, Paris and Turin.
  Further information about the firm may be found at www.sjberwin.com and about the partners at www.sjberwin.com/people
• SJ Berwin was named UK Firm of the Year at the Legal Week Awards 2005. 
• SJ Berwin has recently been named "Law Firm of the Year" at the European Venture Capital Journal Private Equity Awards for the third year in succession.
• SJ Berwin has recently been named "Law Firm of the Year" 2005 at the EVCA/Real Deals Private Equity Awards for the second consecutive year, in recognition of our private equity work over the last twelve months. The award acknowledged our contribution to European private equity, and our work on buy-outs, venture capital and fund formation.
• The EU & Competition department of SJ Berwin advises on mergers and JVs; state aid, cartel and monopoly enquiries; national and  EC complaints and litigation; notifications to competition authorities; regulatory work; IP and competition interface issues; advisory and compliance work; trade and customs; lobbying and arbitrage.   The team was named 'Competition Team of the Year' at The Legal Business Awards 2006.