Stephen Parkinson

Stephen Parkinson is Kingsley Napley’s Senior Partner.

Stephen is a highly experienced and versatile litigator with extensive experience in advising companies, organisations, and individuals caught up in criminal and regulatory investigations or public inquiries. His previous client list has included numerous individuals at the top of their fields, whether in business or politics. 

Stephen is unusual in having achieved distinction in a number of areas of law, and in having worked at the highest levels both in the public and private sectors.  This experience has given him an unusually broad perspective and ability to advise on a wide range of issues.

Prior to joining Kingsley Napley, Stephen was the Deputy Head of the Attorney General’s Office. Stephen became a partner at Kingsley Napley in 2005, and then the Head of the Criminal Litigation department from 2006-2018, before stepping up to Senior Partner on 1 May 2018.

Stephen is a BAME and LGBTQ Ally, and has made the promotion of diversity and inclusion a key objective for his term as Senior Partner.

WHAT CLIENTS AND DIRECTORIES HAVE SAID

Stephen Parkinson is regarded as the doyen of this space."

Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2020

Probably has the most faultless judgement in London when it comes to financial crime."

Chambers UK 2020 - A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession

His background in prosecuting, his erudite manner and his disarmingly modest approach make him the most perfect foil for both the SFO and the FCA."

Chambers UK 2020 - A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession

He is a top man. He has a consistently good reputation and is a leader in the field. He is always a pleasure to work with."

Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2020

Brings significant value to clients due to his excellent regulatory experience and expertise in criminal investigations."

Who's Who Legal: Investigations, 2020

He litigates in the most effective way. He's very smart and very strategic."

Chambers UK 2020 – A Client’s Guide to the UK Legal Profession

He comes highly recommended for his expertise representing senior executives facing allegations of corruption and bribery."

Chambers UK 2020 – A Client’s Guide to the UK Legal Profession

Stephen Parkinson probably has the most faultless judgement in London when it comes to financial crime."

Legal 500 UK 2020

If you are a senior director at a blue-chip company who needs heavyweight representation, he  [Stephen] would be one of the first names on the list."

Chambers & Partners, High Net Worth Guide, 2019

He is phenomenal; he's an extraordinarily smart lawyer," adding that "he sees things from all perspectives."

Chambers and Partners, 2019

He has been at the top of the market for a long time and is a brilliant lawyer with a very strategic mind."

Chambers & Partners, High Net Worth Guide, 2019

He's very experienced, very sensible and knows the SFO extremely well," adding that "he has great knowledge of criminal trials."

Chambers and Partners, 2019

A huge figure” in the business crime space who comes highly recommended by market sources for his vast experience handling regulatory and criminal investigations."

Who's Who Legal: Business Crime Defence 2018

Stands out for his excellent advocacy work in relation to business crime investigations."

Who’s Who Legal, Investigations 2018 

He comes across as measured and considered; he's very highly respected."

Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2018

Draws high praise from a range of international sources for his world-class practice."

Who's Who Legal, Business Crime Defence 2017: Analysis

The ‘highly intelligent and calm’ Stephen Parkinson is ‘admired by those who lead the prosecuting authorities, from whom he obtains, as a consequence, results which appear impossible’."

Legal 500, 2017

Fantastically able practitioner who is well connected."

Who’s Who Legal and GIR top lawyers for internal /external investigations, 2017

One of the most talented solicitors around."

Chambers UK, 2017

Hugely knowledgeable and hugely experienced, with a really good sense of judgement in complex cases, and a very strategic mind."

Chambers and Partners, 2017

His diplomatic skills are second to none, which is very valuable."

Chambers UK, 2017

Exceptional judgment."

Chambers UK, 2017

...Respected for his crisis coolness, strategic judgement and political sensitivity..."

Quote taken from Spear's, Top Five Criminal Lawyers, 10th Anniversary Issue

...Recommended for his abilities in politically significant criminal proceedings. Sources praise him as "high-minded and clever."

Chambers UK, A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession

...His knowledge is amazing; he's very sharp and very quick..." 

Chambers UK, A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession                                     

Really top-notch given his experience and insight. …His knowledge is amazing; he's very sharp and very quick."

Chambers UK, A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession

High minded and clever "

Chambers UK, A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession

Strong on the interface between criminal and public law". He is described as "very incisive, pragmatic and easy to work with." 

Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession

Fantastic lawyer, with a political head on him,' ... 'absolutely cool in a crisis."

Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession

Regularly entrusted with cases of the very greatest complexity and intellectual demand."

Legal 500 UK

 

Recent cases

• Currently advises senior business people in several major SFO investigations.
• Leads a team representing Core Participants in the Jay Child Abuse Inquiry.
• Represented Tesco Plc in the SFO investigation into its accounting practices.
• Represented the Financial Conduct Authority  in the Davis Inquiry (2014)
• Advised Rebekah Brooks in the early stages of operations Weeting and Elveden (phone hacking and police corruption) and the Leveson Inquiry. A Kingsley Napley team led by Angus McBride represented her at trial.
• Adviser to several former Cabinet Ministers on a range of criminal and public inquiry work: 2012 – to current date.
• Advised the former Prime Minister Tony Blair and all the No 10 and Cabinet Office witnesses in the Hutton Inquiry.
• Advised former Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher and John Major and former Deputy Prime Minister Michael Heseltine in the BSE Inquiry.
• Advised a key witness in the Iraq Inquiry.
• Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards: advised former UBS Chief Executive, Dr Marcel Rohner.
• Represented several clients in corruption investigation/prosecution in Turks and Caicos Islands.
• Represented Sir Ian Blair and other officers in the IPCC investigations arising out of the shooting of the Jean Charles de Menezes.
• Represented clients in the BAE/Saudi corruption investigation.

 

Publications, Press Highlights & Speaking Engagements

• UK anti-fraud chief defends her record after judge’s criticism - Stephen Parkinson quoted in Financial Times, September 2020
• Questions raised over attorney general's independence - Stephen Parkinson quoted in Financial Times, Febraury 2020
• Kingsley Napley Opens entry process for The Legal Apprentice 2020 - Press Release, November 2019
• Supreme Court’s ruling could force MPs to dodge making life or death decisions for fear of being hauled to court, warns top lawyer - The Sun on Sunday, September 2019
• Appeared on Sky News on 26 September 2019 on the topic of Supreme Court Judgment on prorogation
• Supreme Court judgment on prorogation - Stephen Parkinson writes letter in The Times, September 2019
• Boris Johnson’s court victory is good news for remainers and leavers, The Spectator, 8 June 2019
• What Gavin Williamson must do to rebuild his career, The Spectator, 2 May 2019
• Letters to the Editor, The Telegraph, 2 May 2019 - writing on the Huawei inquiry
• Sky News at 7.30pm, 2 May 2019 - speaking on Gavin Williamson and the Huawei inquiry
• Huawei inquiry - Stephen Parkinson writes letter in The Times, April 2019
• The Times, March 2019, Deferred prosecution agreements are not the cosy deals they seem by Stephen Parkinson
• Quoted in The Times - Win a debt-free legal apprenticeship, November 2018
• Quoted in CDR Magazine - Dishonesty test: Playing with a new deck, March 2018
• Quoted in multiples news outlets, 13 December 2017, UK seeks new anti-fraud head after crime agencies overhaul
• Quoted in multiples news outlets regarding Ivey v Genting Casinos, October 2017, Stephen Parkinson comments on Ivey v Genting Casinos
• Quoted in The Times, June 2017, Jury is still out on future of the SFO
• Quoted in Reuters, June 2017, Serious Fraud Office wins reprieve after May fails to mention abolition plan
• Quoted in Commercial Dispute Resolution Magazine, June 2017, Lawyers hit back as SFO threatened with the axe
• The Times, May 2017, Decision to axe Serious Fraud Office is bizarre in the face of £650m success by Stephen Parkinson
• Quoted in The Financial Times, May 2017, Lawyers urge May not to abolish fraud office
• Quoted in Law 360, May 2017, UK Lawyers Warn Nixing Fraud Squad Will Hurt Enforcement
• Quoted in Daily Mail Online, May 2017, End of the white collar crime buster: Serious Fraud Office to be axed after series of bruising scraps with Theresa May
• Quoted in The Law Society Gazette, May 2017, No sense in 'pulling the rug' from under SFO, lawyers say
• Quoted in The Guardian, May 2017 General election 2017: ITV hosts first leaders' debate – as it happened
• Quoted in  The Financial Times, May 2017 "Conservatives pledge to scrap Serious Fraud Office"
• Quoted in The Financial Times, March 2017 "SFO fights to keep white-collar crime role"
• The Lawyer,  October 2015 "Hot 100 Alumni - Stephen Parkinson"
• The Times, June 2014 'Should we follow the Scots by having a written constitution?'  (paywall access required)
• The Lawyer, June 2014 'Government bribery review: need for speed must not replace fairness'
• The Guardian, 'Keir Starmer to stand down as director of public prosecutions'  April 2013
• The Times, 'when is a bribe not a bribe', Stephen comments on the challenges of oligarch litigation, July 2012
• The Times, Ministers defy their experts to kill Serious Fraud Office and Standalone agency crucial in the fight against corruption, April 2011.
• The Telegraph, The Bribery Act is a case of 'right idea, wrong time' for the the Government, February 2011.
• Times online, CPS role in extradition cases, January 2011.
• Lawyer of the Week, The Times, July 2010.
• Stephen is a member of the Times Law Panel and of the Advisory Board of the Centre of Criminal Law, University College, London.
• Author, with David Corker, Disclosure in Criminal Proceedings, published 2009

 

Professional SOCIETIES and Memberships

Stephen was called to the Bar in 1980 and requalified as a solicitor in 2005. He became a partner of Kingsley Napley in 2005 and the head of the Criminal and Regulatory Practice Area in 2006. He is also admitted to the Bar of the Turks and Caicos Islands in respect of a number of cases.