Stephen Parkinson is Kingsley Napley’s Senior Partner.
Stephen is a highly experienced and versatile litigator with extensive experience in advising companies and individuals caught up in criminal and regulatory investigations or public inquiries. His previous client list has included Tesco PLC, the Financial Conduct Authority, three former Prime Ministers and numerous individuals at the top of their fields, whether in business or politics. He is adept at advising on and managing the reputational issues which invariably arise when high profile individuals or companies are involved in investigations.
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. He has rankings in the leading directories in respect of business and financial crime, administrative and public law and professional discipline.
"“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
Outstanding in Field"
Spears Top 5 Criminal Lawyers
Widely recognised for his 'sensational' work, particularly defending high-profile individuals"
Who's Who Legal: Business Crime
"Stephen is one of the most accomplished criminal defence lawyers in the country," enthuses a legal insider, adding that "he has a calm but assured demeanour and tons of experience."
Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2018
Prior to joining Kingsley Napley, Stephen was the Deputy Head of the Attorney General’s Office, advising three Attorney Generals in succession on their responsibilities for criminal litigation and for the Crown Prosecution Service and the Serious Fraud 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 an LGBT 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
"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
"...Respected for his crisis coolness, strategic judgement and political sensitivity..."
Quote taken from Spear's, Top Five Criminal Lawyers, 10th Anniversary Issue 2016
"...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, 2016
...His knowledge is amazing; he's very sharp and very quick..."
Chambers UK, A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession, 2016
"Stephen Parkinson is head of the firm’s criminal and regulatory litigation group and another "major player in the UK market". Interviewees picked out his "phenomenal track record", which includes clients in several major SFO investigations as well as other high-profile clients such as the former prime minster Tony Blair in the Hutton Inquiry and former UBS chief executive Dr Marcel Rohner in relation to the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards."
Who's Who Legal, 2016
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, 2016
High minded and clever "
Chambers UK, A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession, 2016
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, 2016
Fantastic lawyer, with a political head on him,' ... 'absolutely cool in a crisis."
Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession, 2015
Stephen Parkinson is head of the firm’s criminal and regulatory litigation group and another "major player in the UK market". Interviewees picked out his "phenomenal track record", which includes clients in several major SFO investigations as well as other high-profile clients such as the former Prime Minister Tony Blair in the Hutton Inquiry and former UBS chief executive Dr Marcel Rohner in relation to the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards."
Who's Who Legal: Investigations, 2015
"...If I were a local authority or public body looking for a solicitor," states a market source, "he would be my first choice."
Chambers UK, A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession, 2014
Stephen Parkinson has 'a very high standing in his field'... 'wonderful at offering strategic advice' and providing 'sound counsel' to clients."
The International Who's Who of Business Crime, 2013
Excellent lawyer, who has great objectivity, and is considerate and calm",
Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession, 2013
Stephen Parkinson's case list reads like a Who's Who of modern UK political affairs.
The Lawyer, 2013
Excellent strategic advice on highly sensitive issues",
Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession, 2012
Professional, experienced, calm and knowledgeable",
Legal 500 UK. 2012
Stephen is 'cool and calm in a crisis' and has an ability 'to sift through material and find the bits that matter'...",
Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession, 2012
Clients value his ability to 'see the problems and the issues immediately, and understand the easiest way to make progress'...",
Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession 2011
Impressed clients describe him as 'an anchor in the middle of a storm'...",
Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession, 2010
He is commended for his extensive knowledge and ability to explain complex information clearly",
Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession, 2010
Master tactician",
Legal 500, 2009
An intelligent practitioner who has an acute awareness of political sensitivities",
Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession, 2009
Outstanding track record",
Legal Business
Recent cases
- Represents Tesco Plc in the SFO investigation into its accounting practices.
- Currently advises senior business people in several other major SFO investigations.
- 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 Sir Ian Blair in the Flanagan investigation for the MPA.
- Represented clients in the loans-for-peerages investigation.
- Represented clients in the BAE/Saudi corruption investigation.
Publications and Articles
Books:
- Author, with David Corker, Disclosure in Criminal Proceedings, published 2009
Articles and comment:
- 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.
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.
