Stewarts

Managing Partner: Stuart Dench

Number of partners: 84

Number of other fee-earners: 125

Firm Overview 

Stewarts is a law firm like no other. Specialising in high-value and complex disputes, its track record of success for our clients has helped it become the UK’s leading litigation-only law firm. Clients choose Stewarts for its legal excellence, its specialist expertise and pioneering approach to complex litigation. The firm’s focus is always on success: achieving the best results for its clients around the world.

Main Areas of Practice 

Divorce and Family 

The team is the pre-eminent divorce and family practice in the UK, ranked No.1 in the legal directories. They act for high net worth individuals based in the UK and overseas. Partners are regarded as ‘the leading lights of the profession,’ spearheading a department of unrivalled strength and depth advising on all aspects of family law. Stewarts takes time to understand the issues clients face, and help them achieve the best possible outcome both in relation to their children and their finances. The team’s lawyers have particular expertise in unravelling complicated trusts, identifying assets held within companies and advising on complex cross-border issues. The team is at the forefront of taking a collaborative approach to divorce and family issues and, when appropriate, uses arbitration and mediation as an alternative to court proceedings. A number of partners are accredited mediators and arbitrators.

Contact Stephen Foster

Employment 

Stewarts has a leading employment law team, highly ranked by legal directories. The team has an outstanding reputation in the financial and professional services sectors. Partners are recognised for their cutting-edge work for senior executives and their ‘excellent knowledge of how the City works.’ The team’s lawyers have particular expertise advising on individual and team moves, whistleblowing, and discrimination claims. The team’s advice goes beyond beyond legal analysis to address the wider practical, commercial and strategic issues, ensuring its clients achieve the best possible outcome.

Contact Joseph Lappin

Tax Litigation & Resolution 

The team advises high net worth individuals on tax disputes with HMRC, from enquiry stage through to appeals before the tax tribunals and courts. Stewarts also advises on commercial disputes arising out of tax issues, including claims against professional advisers in relation to negligent tax advice and financial institutions involved in structured planning. The firm’s lawyers have acted in many of the recent high profile cases brought before the Tax Tribunals, and the UK and European courts.

Contact David Pickstone

Trust & Probate Litigation 

The team advises on complex, large scale and often high profile disputes in the UK and other jurisdictions. Stewarts acts for high net worth individuals, families, family offices, trustees and trust companies. The work undertaken includes both onshore and offshore trust litigation, and domestic and international probate disputes. In addition to conducting litigation in the UK, the firm’s lawyers coordinate claims in overseas jurisdictions, when necessary working alongside specialist law firms around the world.

Contact James Price

Offices

London 

5 New Street Square, London, EC4A 3BF

+44 (0) 20 7822 8000

Leeds 

9 Bond Court, Leeds, LS1 9JZ

+44 (0) 113 222 0022