Global law firm Clyde & Co has appointed Stefanie Johnston as a Glasgow-based Partner in its global marine and insurance teams.
Stefanie joins as a partner from Keoghs where she helped establish its Scottish presence and started up a dedicated UK wide marine practice as well as undertaking marine construction, regulatory and insurance work. She will establish and build Clyde & Co's marine presence in Scotland working closely with marine colleagues in the UK and globally. She will also further strengthen its commercial litigation practice and work with its insurance teams.
Stefanie is a dual-qualified commercial dispute lawyer and is one of a handful in Scotland with expertise and experience in marine law, having established her career in this area at Hill Dickinson in their English offices before moving home north of the border. She specialises in both wet and dry shipping and transport with insurers, P&I clubs, ports, cargo interests, freight forwarders and logistics companies.
David Tait, Managing Partner at Clyde & Co in Scotland, comments: "This is a fantastic hire for us in Scotland as Stefanie's expertise complements and builds on our strategic focus on our core sectors. Attracting one of the few marine specialists in Scotland to our fold is a coup and extends our global strength in this sector. The fact she is a top-class commercial litigator who works across our marine, insurance, energy and projects & construction sectors makes her a great fit."
Stefanie Johnston adds: "Clyde & Co is the pre-eminent marine and insurance law firm in the world which is why I'm so pleased to be joining the team. I am looking forward to building a strong marine presence in Scotland, working with the global practice and supporting our wider ambitions in Scotland."
Stephen Mackin, a partner in the marine team in Newcastle, says: "With Stefanie's hire we're fulfilling a long held desire to build a Scottish marine practice to complement our market leading UK and global offering where we have lawyers across the world working for all parts of the marine sector."
Stefanie is a member of the British Ports Association, Ports Skills and Safety, London Maritime Arbitrators Association and Scottish Shipping Benevolent Association. She also holds a Certificate in P&I Insurance from an International Group P&I Club. She also chairs the Comité Maritime International Working Group on Polar Shipping.
Clyde & Co has the largest marine practice worldwide, with over 150 lawyers across 46 offices. The marine group provides expertise to clients throughout the entire maritime industry: insurers, trading companies, owners, charterers, P&I clubs, shipbuilders, salvors, financial institutions, port authorities and governments.
In September this year the firm hired Andrew Yarwood as a partner in its London marine cargo group from Kennedys. In June 2017 Stephen Mackin and Jessica Maitra joined from Eversheds Sutherland in Newcastle alongside three other lawyers. In 2018 the firm promoted Emma Rice to Partner in its Manchester office, where the marine team now numbers over ten.
Clyde & Co's Scottish practice is widely regarded as having the nation's leading insurance disputes practice, offering property and casualty insurers with an unrivalled and comprehensive service, particularly in casualty, healthcare and professional lines. It also has also has market leading employment and advocacy practices.
Stefanie will join Clyde & Co on 24 October.