Stephen Surgeoner has more than two decades of experience advising clients on all forms of commercial dispute resolution, with a focus on the banking, funds, insurance, energy and telecommunications industries. Mr. Surgeoner has considerable experience in assisting clients with high-value, cross-jurisdictional complex commercial litigation both in London and globally. Mr Surgeoner also focuses on alternative methods of dispute resolution including domestic and international arbitration and mediation.
In addition to dispute resolution, Mr. Surgeoner advises financial institutions and corporate enterprises on risk mitigation including the use of insurance products such as political risk, credit, directors and officers and warranty and indemnity insurance. He also represents policyholders in maximising recoveries under their insurance assets. Mr Surgeoner also regularly advises clients on contract drafting and the structuring of insurance and reinsurance to hedge risk.
Mr. Surgeoner is consistently recognized as a leading practitioner by The Legal 500 UK and is listed in the Hall of Fame for Insurance and Reinsurance Litigation (2022-2023). The Legal 500 UK lists him as a key lawyer for Fraud: Civil and Commercial Litigation: Premium (2023) with clients describing him as "technically superb, highly intelligent, excellent on tactics, and a very pleasant person to deal with", and "calm, not phased by pressure, good judgement and available round the clock". He is also praised as a "hardworking, intelligent and experienced [litigator] who work[s] well with the bar" (2022).
The Legal 500 UK 2018 edition ranked Mr. Surgeoner as a Leading Individual and describes him as "experienced, wise and gets to the point and delivers results" and that he "offers pragmatic, focused advice." The 2017 edition notes his particular insurance and reinsurance expertise, and praised as a "standout individual" who "is redoubtable and resilient, with the ability to get to the heart of a dispute and secure a successful result" (2016). He was also recognized as a leading lawyer for insurance in Chambers Global and Chambers UK, where clients described him as "thorough and unbelievably efficient" and "really bright and someone you would want on your side" (2017).
Prior to joining Dechert, Mr. Surgeoner served as a litigation and dispute resolution partner at Clifford Chance.
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- Trinity Hall, Cambridge, B.A., 1991
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- England and Wales
- Ireland