Global law firm Stephenson Harwood has added an eight-attorney shipping and maritime law team led by Paul Ho, head of Ince & Co’s Greater China practice and Shanghai office lead.

Ho, along with a team of counsel and associates, will join Stephenson Harwood in its Shanghai and Hong Kong offices. The group specialises in shipbuilding, offshore construction, ship finance, international trade and ship sale and purchase transactions, as well as general commercial litigation.

"The Chinese mainland market is home to some of the world's biggest shipowners, shipyards and shipping financial leasing institutions," said Evangeline Quek, Stephenson Harwood's Greater China office managing partner. "The arrival of Paul and his team will add significant bench strength to our Greater China Maritime and International Trade practice, expand our Shanghai office significantly, and give us immediate opportunities to work with a greater pool of Chinese mainland clients, from shipyards to traders to LNG operators."

Ho becomes the third Ince Hong Kong partner to leave this month. Disputes partner Stephen Chan joined Charles Russell Speechlys, and CMS added shipping and insurance partner Richard Oakley as a consultant.

With Ho’s departure, Ince Hong Kong now has 11 partners, including Priscilla Wong, who joined from Loeb & Loeb earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Stephenson Harwood has 20 partners in Hong Kong. Notable hires this year include Ren Yong, who joined from Proskauer Rose; and Justin Ma, who joined as a partner from Jingtian & Gongcheng.