Stephen was conceived in Cardiff and born in Yorkshire. He graduated in law from Trinity Hall Cambridge where he was a keen tennis player and Cam punter. Never tall enough or good enough to get a Blue he played tennis for his college and with the university second team. After university he qualified for The Bar becoming a QC in 1996, followed by appointment as a Recorder of The Crown Court, part time High Court Judge and Parliamentary Boundary Commissioner. For the last 11 years he has been Chairman of The Bar Council Trust and is a Bencher of The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, and is on their Finance and Kitchen committees. A significant part of his career has been involved in children's law, and he has considerable experience of the law relating to disadvantaged and disabled children and their needs.

He lives in London with his wife, Rita, and daughter, Nina. He is a City Liveryman. His interests besides tennis are skiing, shooting, music, theatre, cooking, friends and family. He looks forward to others developing his rudimentary knowledge of, and interest in, rugby.