Stephenson Harwood fosters knowledge-sharing in new office

The legal firm’s Quarry Bay office has a centralised social hub and collaboration zone for learning by osmosis.

A single legal case can span multiple fields of law, making it crucial for legal firms to have an environment where collaboration and knowledge sharing flourish. Stephenson Harwood recognised this and created their new office to support these practices.

“Offices have been designed to encourage a collaborative culture, encouraging our lawyers to knowledge share and promoting learning by osmosis, particularly for our trainees,” Evangeline Quek, Greater China office managing partner of Stephenson Harwood (SH), told Hong Kong Business.

True to its goal to foster knowledge sharing, SH also has collaboration zones.

One of all colleague's favourite spaces in the SH’s new office at One Taikoo Place in Quarry Bay, the centralised social hub, was also designed to “encourage interaction, knowledge-sharing, and a sense of community amongst the team.”

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The centralised social hub features a large communal kitchen and lounge area, which is “an ideal spot for client meetings, brainstorming sessions, and team discussions.”

For SH, ensuring a collaborative environment in the Hong Kong office is significant, given that it supports a diverse range of legal teams, including those in commercial, corporate, dispute resolution, employment, finance, and other practice areas.

The new SH office boasts an expansive, multipurpose events space that can seamlessly switch from boardroom meetings to large seminars and event venues.

Other unique spaces in the office include an internal pantry named “refreSH,” a quiet room, and a client area offering a breathtaking view of Hong Kong East CBD.

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Sustainable workspace

Apart from having state-of-the-art facilities, what makes SH’s office even more noteworthy are its sustainability features.

Quek explained that the office was built with eco-friendly materials, systems, and features that minimise the office’s carbon footprint.

“The design of the new office at One Taikoo Place was guided by the firm’s desire to create a sustainable, flexible and tech-empowered workspace that can support the firm’s ambitious growth strategy,” Quek said

The firm’s ambition to enhance sustainability was a key factor in relocating to One Taikoo Place as it “achieved the highest energy performance building in Hong Kong and has a total of 34% reduction in annual energy consumption obtained, making the move to this office a natural fit for the firm."

“The new office at One Taikoo Place is a significant upgrade from the previous location. The focus on eco-friendly features and energy efficiency marks a clear shift towards a more environmentally conscious workspace compared to the previous office,” Quek added.