STEPHENSON HARWOOD LLP
Company number: OC373597
Reporting period:
1 May 2025 to 31 October 2025
Report filed on:
27 November 2025
Approved by:
Eifion Morris
Contracts and payments
Do any of this business's construction contracts with its suppliers include retention clauses? No
Payment statistics
Average time taken to pay invoices: 38 days
Total value paid:
- within 30 days: £8,376,562 (33%)
- in 31 to 60 days: £14,214,355 (56%)
- in 61 days or more: £2,857,978 (11%)
Invoices paid:
- within 30 days: 32%
- in 31 to 60 days: 59%
- in 61 days or more: 9%
Late and disputed:
- total value of payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: £4,929,808
- payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: 17%
Payment terms
Shortest standard payment periods
42 days
Longest standard payment period
Answer not provided
Standard payment terms
The principal activity of Stephenson Harwood LLP is the provision of legal services in the United Kingdom and internationally, both directly and through its subsidiary undertakings. Our standard payment terms for trade suppliers are 42 days, unless alternative terms are agreed between the vendor and Stephenson Harwood LLP. Payment for all goods and services will be made only after any issues or queries have been resolved to the satisfaction of both parties. Approved and due invoices are paid weekly via BACS or other bank transfer methods. Please note that payment of disbursements incurred on behalf of clients are excluded from our standard terms. Disbursements are settled on a ‘pay when paid’ basis. In line with UK SRA Accounts Rules, these are paid within a reasonable timeframe (within 2 days) after Stephenson Harwood LLP receives payment from the client.
Were there any changes to the standard payment terms in the reporting period?
No
Were suppliers notified or consulted about these changes before they were made?
N/A
Maximum contractual payment period agreed
42 days
No further comment provided
Any other information about payment terms
No further comment provided
Dispute resolution process
All invoices in dispute are passed to the appropriate team that requested the goods or services in- order for them to resolve the dispute. It may then be referred onto the senior management of the firm if necessary.
Other payment information
Has this business signed up to a code of conduct or standards on payment practices? If so, which?
For example, signatories to The Fair Payment Code must commit to paying 95% of their invoices within 60 days.
No, this business has not signed up to a code of conduct or standards on payment practices.
Does this business offer e-invoicing in relation to qualifying contracts?
This is where suppliers can electronically submit and track invoices. It's not just allowing suppliers to email them an invoice.
No
Does this business offer supply chain finance?
This is where a supplier who has submitted an invoice can be paid by a third-party finance provider earlier than the agreed payment date. The business would then pay the finance provider the invoiced sum.
No
Under its payment practices and policies, can this business deduct sums from payments under qualifying contracts as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?
No
During the reporting period, did the business deduct sums from payments as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?
No