Stephenson Harwood has boosted its China ship finance and commercial litigation practices in Shanghai by hiring partner Vincent Xu from Ince & Co and relocating partner Evangeline Quek from Hong Kong. 

Xu has over 15 years of experience in the shipping industry as an in-house and private practice lawyer, with a strong focus on non-contentious ship finance and energy matters. He was promoted to partner at Ince in 2011.

Quek has a wide-ranging practice that mainly focuses on contentious shipping and international trade matters. She joined SH in 2014, also from Ince.

"China has one of the largest shipbuilding industries and six of the world's 10 largest ports. A strong Shanghai office is important to growing our shipping practice in the country," said Ian Mace, head of the firm's ship and offshore finance practice, in a statement.