As part of our 30 Under 30 initiative, we’re celebrating the next generation of leaders shaping the future of the maritime industry. Next up is Stephan Bergmann Johansen, who has recently joined Wikborg Rein as Managing Associate within its compliance team, where his practice focuses on international trade, export controls, and economic sanctions.

Stephan’s recognition in this year’s 30 Under 30 follows the impact he made during his time at Reed Smith LLP, where he was an Associate in the Global Regulatory Enforcement group. There, he developed significant experience advising clients across the maritime, commodities, and international trading sectors, establishing himself in one of the most complex and fast-moving areas of maritime law.

During his time at Reed Smith, Stephan advised shipowners, insurers, traders, and other maritime stakeholders on evolving UK, EU, and U.S. sanctions regimes. His work covered regulatory issues affecting vessel operations, insurance cover, trade flows, contractual performance, and wider compliance exposure, often against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty and rapidly changing regulation.

His experience also included a secondment to the legal department at Skuld, where he handled sanctions-related enquiries and considered the implications of evolving regulatory frameworks on insurance coverage. This gave Stephan valuable insight into the commercial realities facing maritime businesses and strengthened his ability to translate complex legal developments into clear, practical guidance.

What sets Stephan apart is his ability to operate confidently in an area where the answers are rarely straightforward. Sanctions regimes can change rapidly in response to global events, requiring new legislation, guidance, and enforcement developments to be interpreted under significant time pressure. Building expertise in this environment at an early stage in his career demonstrates both his technical capability and commercial judgement.

Alongside his work at Reed Smith, Stephan has also made an important contribution to the next generation of maritime professionals. As Vice Chair of YoungShip London, he played a central role in establishing the London branch, helping create a network that connects emerging professionals across shipping, marine insurance, law, broking, and the wider maritime community.

His recent move to Wikborg Rein as Managing Associate marks the next chapter in an already impressive career. Building on the international trade and sanctions experience developed at Reed Smith, Stephan is continuing to specialise in international trade, export controls, and economic sanctions as part of Wikborg Rein’s compliance team.

Stephan’s journey reflects rapid professional development alongside a genuine commitment to the wider maritime industry. Combining technical expertise, commercial awareness, and industry involvement, he represents a new generation of maritime lawyers helping businesses navigate an increasingly complex global trading environment.

Take a look at our full 30 here.