Stephens Scown

Stephens Scown began as a traditional law practice in Cornwall in 1938. It is now a full-service firm run from Exeter, with offices in Truro, Taunton, Bournemouth and London, acting for businesses and private clients. Its sector teams cover charities, energy, food and drink, leisure and tourism, healthcare, manufacturing, marine, mining and minerals, real estate development, rural estates, social housing and technology.

The firm is employee-owned and describes itself as the first large employee-owned law firm in the country. Its largest profit share goes to a corporate member, Stephens Scown Employee Ownership Company Limited, according to its accounts. The firm lists 322 employee owners, 63 partners and 32 apprentices and trainees. It has held B Corp certification since December 2022, according to B Lab, and says it was the first B Corp law firm in the South West.

Richard Baker is managing partner.

Two years of double-digit growth

Turnover rose 13% from £27.4m to £31.1m in the year to April 2025, according to the LLP’s accounts at Companies House. The average number of legal advisers and administrative staff grew from 299 to 305, and average members from 39 to 45.

The firm reported revenue of £34m for the year to April 2026, up 10%, with a net profit margin above 35% before members’ remuneration. It put compound annual growth over the past four years at 11% and said its teams recorded more than 170,000 hours of work in the year.

“These latest results show that we’re delivering as a firm,” Baker said when the figures were published in May 2026. “It’s thanks to the hard work of colleagues that we’re able to achieve such results,” he said.

Recognition in the region and beyond

The firm says 42 of its lawyers are ranked across 33 sections of the Legal 500. It lists a place in the Sunday Times Best Places to Work, an Employer of the Year award and a corporate social responsibility award among its recent recognition, and it was named Best Legal Services Provider at the Exeter Living Awards 2024. Its Taunton and Bournemouth offices serve clients in Somerset and Dorset.