Stewarts Law LLP

Partner Aaron leads the Policyholder Disputes team and specialises in representing policyholders in high-value and complex coverage disputes with insurers. Aaron acts for clients facing insured losses in diverse sectors including financial services, hospitality and retail, manufacturing, logistics, sports and entertainment. He is experienced in all commercial lines of business, including directors and officers, business interruption, product liability, environmental risks, property and casualty. Aaron spent eight years practising in the Asia Pacific region (Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok), and is particularly experienced at resolving international and cross-border claims, often via arbitration. In recent times, Aaron has established a reputation as a leading policyholder advocate in relation Covid-19 business interruption coverage and has acted in many leading cases in that sphere.

Adrian Clossick

Partner and Head of Divorce and Family department in Leeds. Described as “one of the most well respected matrimonial finance practitioners in the North”, Adrian is Head of Divorce and Family in our Leeds office and specialises in the resolution of complex financial issues for high net worth individuals. A significant number of Adrian’s cases involve trusts (both on and offshore), commercial and tax issues, family businesses, inherited wealth, international aspects and the tracing of assets. He has considerable expertise in the negotiation of pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements and the treatment of personal injury damages on divorce. Adrian has a particular interest in cohabitation claims, including the property rights of unmarried families. He has commentated in the local and national press on cohabitation issues. He also advises on disputes relating to children, including paternity, residence, international relocation and financial provision.

Alex Lerner

Alex is a “very hard-working and skilled litigator with top City pedigree” (Legal 500, 2022). He is listed as a key lawyer in the Legal 500 for both banking litigation and professional negligence and is sought out for high-value and strategically complex matters, often involving multi-jurisdictional elements. Client feedback has praised Alex’s strategic insight, ability to think outside the box, diligence and commercial approach. Alex’s clients include FTSE100 listed companies, banks, professional service firms (including law firms), funds, private equity firms, high-net-worth individuals (including sports and media personalities), insolvency practitioners and start-ups in the tech sector. His expertise encompasses mis-selling, fraud, professional negligence and shareholder/M&A disputes. Alex also has deep experience of high value and complex group litigation. He has acted for both claimants (Ingenious and Eclipse litigations) and defendants (RBS and Post Office litigations) in group litigation and has considerable experience of all aspects of the legal and procedural intricacies of such cases.

Alison Goldney

Partner Alison specialises in high value and complex clinical negligence claims for individuals who have sustained spinal and brain injuries. She is committed to securing excellent results for her clients and recognises the importance of early access to rehabilitation following a life changing injury. Alison has significant experience in running spinal cord injury claims. She has particular experience in claims arising from the delayed diagnosis of spinal abscesses, injuries resulting from mismanagement of spinal injury, cauda equina and spinal surgery claims. Alison also has experience of running brain injury cases. Notable cases: Alison has recently recovered damages for a 78 year old Claimant who was rendered tetraplegic following negligent spinal surgery. The damages were awarded by way of annualised payments for care for the rest of his life and a lump sum for the remainder of the damages. The capitalised value of the damages was £3m, based upon the Claimant living for his projected life expectancy. Alison recently acted for a Claimant who was a horse enthusiast rendered an incomplete paraplegic following the delayed diagnosis of a spinal abscess. Damages of £3m were recovered which assisted the Claimant to return to her main passion in life, riding her horses. The Claimant has also used the damages to purchase and adapt a property which will enable her to live with her horses on site. Alison recently advised a client in relation to the delayed diagnosis of a spinal abscess, which resulted in her client sustaining paraplegia. Following an admission of liability, Alison secured a significant six figure interim payment enabling her client to move to adapted accommodation and to fund much needed additional care and rehabilitation. The served Schedule of Loss totalled £10m. Alison secured a seven figure settlement for a brain injured client in relation to the delayed diagnosis in A&E of a subdural haematoma following an assault. Alison secured a seven figure settlement for a client following the delayed diagnosis of spinal TB.

Amy Heath

Partner Amy has over 10 years’ experience acting for individuals who have sustained catastrophic, life changing injuries as a result of clinical negligence. Amy acts in claims where delayed diagnosis, surgical and post-operative mismanagement and medical mismanagement have caused life changing injuries. Amy has an expertise in claims involving spinal cord injuries and with a particular interest in claims that involve the delayed diagnosis of spinal infection and injuries resulting from spinal surgery. Amy’s practice also involves cases where injuries have resulted from the mismanagement and delayed diagnosis of sepsis and meningitis.

Amy Fielding

Described by one client as leaving no stone unturned in her approach to litigation, Amy specialises in complex and high-value catastrophic injury clinical negligence claims. She has particular expertise in private multi-defendant claims and obtaining high value fatal accident claims for high net worth individuals’ families with complex future loss claims following representation at inquests. Amy advises on a diverse range of clinical negligence cases that have left her clients suffering from life-altering injuries. Although not limited to these, she predominately deals with spinal, brain and birth injury claims resulting from varying acts or omissions from negligence in a variety of health care settings in particular multi-party private treatment claims. Heading up our Inquests and Fatal Accident claims she has recently completed the Coronial Law Lecture Series 2022 at the University of Bolton. Amy represented a family in a high-value fatal accident claim for a company director, obtaining £1.46m for his estate largely for future dependency claims for his wife and children. In a recent incomplete paraplegic claim, Amy obtained a £3.3m settlement for a client with an impaired life expectancy that included a £130,000 annual payment to cover ongoing future 24-hour care. Amy also recovered £3.2m for an 80-year-old client who suffered complete paraplegia due to negligent anaesthesia. Amy recently concluded a minor acquired brain injury claim for a young person securing a £1m settlement prior to proceedings being served.

Andrew Dinsmore

Partner in the Personal Injury department. For over 20 years, Andrew has specialised in acting for individuals who have suffered life-changing injuries. Andrew has particular expertise in acting for individuals who have sustained spinal cord and brain injuries and is dedicated to achieving excellent outcomes for his clients. Andrew specialises in complex and high-value personal injury claims. Over his 20-year career he has recovered damages for clients well in excess of £100m. Andrew has a range of experience in relation to liability scenarios, from public liability to road traffic accidents and employer liability claims. Andrew also has experience of litigating sporting accidents. He achieves best outcomes for his clients by adopting a pragmatic and consensual approach to his cases. Reported cases which Andrew has acted on include the following Royce v Boyle (2005) EWHC 2638 (QB) – Andrew acted for a young client who sustained a high-level spinal injury and secured a multimillion pound award at trial for his client’s future care needs. Thacker v Steeples and MIB (2005) – Andrew acted for a young man who sustained a severe brain injury. The case was noteworthy as it was the first case where periodical payments for future care were agreed by the MIB. Harcourt v Fef Griffin and Others (2007) EWHC 1500 (QB) – Andrew acted for a young gymnast who sustained a high-level spinal cord injury during a training session. The case was noteworthy in a number of respects including for an order made by the High Court for the defendant insurers to disclose their insurance arrangements during the course of the case. Williams v Williams (2008) – Andrew acted for a young brain damaged client who was injured in a road traffic accident when only a month old. The case was noteworthy as there was a trial of the client’s long-term accommodation needs. This was required due to a dispute over whether he had to avail himself of local authority accommodation as opposed to purchasing private housing. Farrugia v Burtenshaw and Others (2014) EWHC 1036 (QB) – Andrew acted for a young man who sustained an extremely severe brain injury in a road traffic accident. There was a dispute between the parties about the extent of the client’s multimillion pound future care needs and a High Court trial was necessary to resolve that issue.

Anita Jewitt

Partner

Anjali Krishnan

Anjali specialises in catastrophic personal injury claims and has over 12 years’ experience in representing people who have sustained life-changing spinal cord injury, brain injury and limb loss. Anjali also has experience of dealing with fatal accident claims. She regularly deals with complex liability arguments and has extensive litigation experience in the High Court. Anjali only represents claimants, most of whom have claims worth several million pounds. She acts for both adults and children who have been injured in complex claims arising out of accidents on the road, at work and in public spaces. Anjali has successfully represented a number of claimants, securing millions of pounds of compensation. Her recent results include: £3.3m on behalf of a motorcyclist who sustained an incomplete spinal injury in a head on collision £2.4m on behalf of a motorist who sustained a severe brain injury as a result of a collision caused by ice on the road £6m on behalf of a pedestrian who sustained a brain injury and life-changing injuries after being knocked down on a pedestrian crossing The claimants injured in the Alton Towers Smiler crash

Anna Wiseman

PartnerAnna has over 10 years’ experience dealing with catastrophic personal injury claims. She acts for claimants who have sustained serious head and spinal injuries and also has extensive experience of amputee and limb loss cases. Anna has successfully concluded many complex and high-value cases for clients with severe brain injuries, spinal injuries, amputations and limb loss. She has acted for clients who have experienced devastating consequences as a result of an accident, including those who have lost valuable career opportunities and whose lives have drastically changed as a result. Anna understands the impact catastrophic injuries can have on a claimant and their immediate family, and considers the possibility of obtaining an interim payment at the earliest opportunity. Anna is involved in the ongoing high-profile claims against Alton Towers, and also a claim being brought by a child amputee who fell from a moving coach.

Ben Townsend

Partner and Head of Personal Injury Leeds. Ben specialises in brain and spinal cord injury claims. He deals with a lot of challenging cases, and is very on the ball and very involved in the wider picture.’ Ben advises on high-value personal injury claims, particularly brain and spinal cord injuries, including claims with an international element. He has experience of equestrian cases, as well as burn and amputation injuries. Ben has acted in many brain and spinal cord injury claims, including accidents abroad. He has supervised fee earners conducting many more. His highlights include achieving multimillion pound settlements resulting from a range of types of accidents, including road traffic accidents and accidents at work.

Ben Rogers

Partner in the Personal Injury department. Ben specialises in acting for claimants in catastrophic personal injury claims, and has particular expertise in spinal cord, brain, complex orthopaedic, amputee and burns injuries. He has a particular interest in technology and was the first lawyer to secure landmark awards of damages for the purchase and replacement of REX and Ekso GT exoskeletons. Ben has a proven record of successfully litigating complex liability and quantum claims arising from road traffic accidents, employers’ liability, occupiers’ liability and military claims and is recognised for maximising damages recovery for technological advances. Cases on which Ben has advised claimants include: Astrit Tafa v Matsim Properties & Ors, which resulted in piercing the corporate veil so as to obtain judgment for damages against a director of a company. This was vitally important because the company was uninsured but the director was personally wealthy. The high-profile case of Robert Uren v (1) Corporate Leisure (UK) Limited (2) Ministry of Defence, resulting in judgment for damages against both defendants on a 100% basis for the serious spinal injuries that the claimant suffered as a result of diving into an inflatable pool during an “It’s a Knock Out” style event. Dale Messenger v Ministry of Defence – acting on behalf of a serviceman who suffered serious spinal injuries during a live ammunition training exercise in the Falkland Islands. The claimant recovered 100% damages including in excess of £550,000 to cover the cost of an Ekso GT exoskeleton with its replacement and associated costs over the course of his lifetime, a first in this jurisdiction. Barnes v (1) David Ord (2) EUI Ltd (trading as Admiral Insurance). This case was a worldwide first (according to REX Bionics), as damages were recovered to cover the cost of a REX exoskeleton walking device for home rehabilitation, its replacement and associated costs over the claimant’s lifetime. Mark Polllock v (1) Enda Cahill (2) Madeline Cahill, an important case in the field of domestic occupiers’ liability. Damages were recovered on a 100% basis for a blind claimant who was rendered paraplegic when he fell from the window of a second-storey bedroom. It was established at trial that the window had been left open by the defendants without them giving the claimant any warning that they had done so.

Carly Kinch

Partner Carly has significant experience with all aspects of family law. Her work focuses predominantly on the resolution of complex, high value financial issues arising on divorce or separation as well as parental disputes. Carly specialises in all areas of family law, with a particular emphasis on the resolution of complex issues arising on divorce. She also regularly advises on nuptial agreements and wealth protection. Carly has extensive experience in financial cases with an international element or those involving trusts or asset holding structures, inherited wealth or businesses, where issues of valuation and liquidity arise. Her clients include entrepreneurs, business owners, landowners, city professionals and their spouses/partners. Carly is equally adept at resolving complex parental disputes and has extensive experience in dealing with residence, contact, relocation and parental responsibility issues.

Charles Edwards

Partner in the Personal Injury department. Charles is an experienced, collaborative practitioner with more than 25 years’ experience in the field of personal injury who thrives on achieving the best possible outcomes for his clients. He is listed in The Legal 500 Hall of Fame, which highlights lawyers who have received constant praise from their clients for continued excellence and are considered to be at the pinnacle of the legal profession. Charles specialises in the highest-value and most complex value personal injury claims, with a particular interest in claimants who have sustained either spinal cord or brain injury. He has experience in dealing with a variety of types of claims, covering road traffic accidents, accidents at work and in accidents public places. Over the past 20 years of his career at Stewarts, Charles has settled claims for clients totalling in excess of £200m. These include high-level spinal cord injury cases, brain injury cases involving minimally aware clients, high-earning City workers, and claims with an international element.

Charlie Thompson

PartnerCharlie is an experienced employment lawyer, who specialises in complex and high-value workplace disputes. Charlie advises employers, employees and LLP members. He has particular experience and expertise in: Senior recruitment, remuneration and exits; Mental health in the workplace, including serious psychiatric breakdowns from stress and overwork; Bullying, harassment, discrimination and matters arising from #MeToo; Investigation of allegations of serious misconduct; Employee competition and restrictive covenants; Whistleblowing; Boardroom disputes. Charlie is an experienced litigator not only in the Employment Tribunal but also in the High Court and appellate courts up to the Supreme Court. Charlie acts for clients in a wide range of sectors, including technology, media, entertainment, financial services and professional services. He is experienced in advising on private client employment matters for high-profile individuals.

Chloe Derrick

Chloe specialises in insurance coverage and professional negligence. Having previously acted for insurers, she now acts exclusively for businesses and individuals in high-value disputes against the insurance market and the financial and professional services sectors. Chloe has successfully recovered significant funds for clients and has experience in both group actions and litigation funding. She also advises businesses on insurance risk management and policy wordings. Chloe has more than 10 years’ experience advising on insurance claims. She has expertise on coverage issues across a wide range of industries and policy lines, including property damage and business interruption, political risk, directors’ and officers’ (D&O), warranty and indemnity (W&I), marine cargo, product liability and cyber risk, among others. In addition, Chloe has extensive experience in professional negligence disputes, with particular expertise in claims against lawyers, trustees and offshore financial and corporate services firms. Chloe’s cases often involve high-profile, multi-jurisdictional disputes. She has represented clients in disputes spanning a number of jurisdictions, including the United States, Canada, South Africa, Mauritius and Gibraltar, together with countries across the Channel Islands and Europe.

Chris Smith

Partner Chris joined Stewarts in 2014 and acts in complex and high-value personal injury cases for children and adults. Prior to qualifying as a solicitor, Chris was called to the Bar in 2008. Chris deals with cases involving a wide range of catastrophic injuries including spinal injury, brain injury and amputation and limb loss arising from complex road traffic accidents, accidents at work and public liability claims. Since joining Stewarts, Chris has recovered damages in excess of £70m for his clients. Recent settlements include: a settlement on behalf of a protected party who sustained a catastrophic brain injury in a road traffic accident, valued on a conventional lump sum basis at just over £9.5m with the Financial Services Compensation Scheme as the de facto defendant a settlement on behalf of a 19-year-old man who was injured in a road traffic accident in 2014 and rendered tetraplegic. This claim was valued on a conventional lump sum basis at just over £16.25m

Christopher Deacon

Partner Chris is a specialist international injury lawyer who throughout his career has acted almost exclusively for the victims of accidents abroad and in disputes with tour operators, hotels, travel providers and insurers. He is ranked as a leading travel lawyer in both Chambers and The Legal 500. Chambers 2018 commented "a rising star and all-round class act; he puts the extra 10% on top of the 100%." Chris represents clients following serious international accidents, usually UK residents injured overseas but also foreign nationals who sustain life-changing injuries in the UK. He often acts in high profile and challenging cases and in claims arising from a wide range of catastrophic and fatal incidents, from road traffic accidents to sporting and leisure activities. Chris has a specialist interest and expertise in motorsports accidents, having represented the family of F1 driver Jules Bianchi following his fatal accident at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix and F2 driver Juan Manuel Correa following the serious accident at the 2019 Belgian Grand Prix. Fluent in French, his background in international law means he is well placed to advise in relation to claims arising from incidents across the globe. Chris’ experience notably extends to the USA where he has pursued claims in a number of US states. He has written, presented and advised on the implications of Brexit for international injury claims. Chris is involved in lobbying for the rights of serious injury victims in an international context, regularly engaging with government and public consultations on law reform. Chris is currently representing a number of seriously injured clients and their families following accidents overseas, including a UK national who suffered serious burns in a dune buggy fire in Dubai and in a claim against Airbnb and others in Florida for a client who suffered an amputation following an incident at a holiday rental.

Clare Salmon

Partner in the personal injury department. Clare is recognised in legal directories for her skill, expertise and empathy in dealing with complex catastrophic injury claims with one impressed client describing her as ‘incredibly attentive and professional, she ensured I was constantly aware of where my claim was ever step of the way’. Another client said "I appreciate her calm responses and continued dedication to us as a family". Clare specialises in catastrophic personal injury claims for claimants involving injuries to the brain, spinal cord and brachial plexus, as well as dealing with fatal accident claims. These injuries have often arisen from road traffic collisions, accidents at work or in public spaces. Since joining Stewarts Clare has secured over £100 million pounds in damages for her clients. Clare was involved in previously settling what was believed to be the highest personal injury settlement at that time for young Chrissie Johnson, who suffered a serious brain injury in a road traffic collision at the age of 16. The award was likely to be worth more than £17.5 million over the young girl’s lifetime with her receiving part lump sum and annual payments. The case received nationwide press coverage. She was also involved in the following court decisions; Gleeson v Court [2008] RTR 10 (contributory negligence for passenger travelling in boot of car driven by drunken driver held to 30% suffering severe bilateral brachial plexus injuries), Smith v LC Window Fashions Ltd [2009] EWHC 1532 (brain injury assessment of damages) and a contested interim payment application for the above mentioned case, Chrissie Johnson v Compton-Cooke [2009] EWHC 2582 (QB) (when an interim payment of £1.5m was secured).

Clive Zietman

Partner Clive is a well-known commercial litigator who has been involved in a wide range of complex and high-value claims including a number of high-profile frauds, insurance coverage disputes, professional negligence claims and banking disputes. His work regularly involves an international dimension. Over the past few years, he has been involved in several actions against banks, a task that most central London law firms are unable to undertake as a result of conflicts of interest. Clive also acts as a supervising solicitor appointed by the court in search order cases. He has been involved in several high-profile search order cases including the Ferrari secrets case and the Elton John stolen refuse dispute. Clive has acted in several well-publicised cases, including: Acting for 83 bankers in a case against Commerzbank regarding unpaid bonuses The RBS shareholder litigation concerning the 2008 right issue The high-profile diamond business dispute between Lev Leviev and Arcadi Gaydamak

Dan Herman

Partner and Head of the Personal Injury department. Since 1999, Dan has only acted for clients with very serious injuries. Most of his clients have sustained a spinal cord injury or a brain injury. He has particular expertise in cross-border cases: acting on behalf of British clients injured overseas or foreign nationals injured in the UK. Dan has been involved in more than 60 cases in which the claimant received compensation in excess of £1m.

Debbie Chism

Partner in the Divorce and Family department. Debbie’s leading national reputation in family law is built on over 20 years’ experience advising high net worth individuals. Debbie’s practice encompasses all aspects of family law (complex asset valuation, business interests, trusts and wealth protection structures). She advises regularly on international pre-nuptial agreements. Debbie is known for her expertise in collaborative law, and she co-founded England’s first multi-disciplinary group of collaborative professionals (Creative Divorce). Experience IR v OR [2022] – Debbie acted for the wife, achieving an award of over £70m (exceeding the husband’s offer by over £20m). The case dealt with how wealth generated before the marriage and from the sale of a family business should be treated, as well as the enforceability of a pre-nuptial agreement. XW v XH [2019] EWCA Civ 549; XW v XH [2019] EWCA Civ 2262, [2020] 4 WLR 22 – Debbie acted for the wife who was awarded one of the highest recorded English divorce settlements by the Court of Appeal. The case dealt with issues of special contribution, privacy and foreign marital contracts. The wife was successful, exceptionally, in her application for the reporting restrictions order granted in the High Court to be maintained in the Court of Appeal. HRH Prince Louis v HRH Princess Tessy [2017]– Debbie acted for HRH Prince Louis of Luxembourg in the successful application for a reporting restrictions order relating to family proceedings.

Elaina Bailes

Partner Elaina is an experienced commercial litigator who has acted on a number of high-profile and ground-breaking cases in the High Court and in leading offshore jurisdictions, including Cayman and the BVI. Elaina acts for companies, financial institutions, states and state-entities and high net worth individuals on a wide range of high-value commercial disputes. Her main practice areas include banking and securities litigation, complex fraud and asset tracing, insolvency claims and commercial disputes relating to sanctions (particularly relating to the Middle East). Key cases include: Acting for a financial institution in a dispute concerning the validity of corporate actions under the Cayman Islands sanctions regime Acting for a large number of institutional investors in their claims against RBS relating to its rights issue of April 2008 (The RBS Rights Issue Litigation [2016] EWHC 3161 (Ch)). This was the first group litigation in the financial services sphere and one of the recent leading authorities on the application of legal advice privilege Acting in a €500m claim against an investment bank for breach of fiduciary duty arising out of market manipulation in respect of complex credit-linked note transactions, and related offshore insolvency proceedings

Ellie Hampson-Jones

Senior Associate Ellie is recognised as a “Rising Star” by Spear’s magazine and “one to watch for the future” in The Legal 500. She advises clients on all issues arising from relationship breakdown, both financial and children related. Ellie has a firm grasp of international family law issues. She has a particular interest in cases with an Anglo-US dimension, having spent time working in Los Angeles for a prestigious US family law firm before qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales. As an associate, Ellie acted on behalf of the wife in the case of AB v AC [2018] EWHC 1319 (Fam), a private equity case involving complex, multi-jurisdictional, trust and taxation matters. She has a particular specialism in private equity cases and has a wealth of experience in working with city professionals having started her career working for the chief financial officer of a FTSE 100 company.

Emma Hatley

Partner in the Divorce and Family department. Emma has achieved top ranking in the Directories as a ‘Star Individual’ and has a reputation as the best technical family lawyer of her generation. Admired for her outstanding intellect, efficiency and constructive approach, clients appreciate Emma’s strategic vision and the passion she brings to secure the best outcome for them. Emma is praised as a “superb, no-nonsense and efficient lawyer who can cope with big-ticket litigation". Emma advises on complex and often high profile matters for high net worth individuals, their families and partners. Her cases typically involve an international dimension and she often works in coordination with other cross-border trusted advisers, particularly in offshore jurisdictions and America. Emma has a breadth of experience in all areas of family breakdown but with particular focus on the associated financial issues. She has expertise in jurisdictional disputes, enforcement and injunctive relief. The majority of Emma’s cases involve global assets in the range of £10 million to over £100 million, and concern asset tracing, trust structures, inherited wealth and owner-controlled businesses. Emma advises regularly in negotiating and drafting pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, both in a domestic and international context. Emma has a leading practice in all private law children matters, especially international relocation. Although Emma is proud of a proven track record for discretion and achieving a negotiated settlement in most cases, she has been pivotally involved in a number of reported cases including the landmark relocation case Re C [2015], where she successfully represented the mother. Recent cases include: Advising family office on an ultra-high net worth ($1b) international prenuptial agreement coordinating advice in Middle East, USA and Cayman. Advising wife of co-founder of private equity firm in case involving substantial assets held through complex corporate structures across several jurisdictions as well as an extensive fine art collection. Significant issues regarding illiquidity and post separation accrual. Representing successful British entrepreneur in litigation involving wealth of £400m with issues of premarital wealth/latent value of business interests and Special Contribution. Advising a business associate of the husband in a high net worth matter involving substantial assets held through complex corporate structures across several jurisdictions to defend claims made by the wife as to the beneficial interest of shares in his legal name and/or held by companies under his control. Advising mother in international paternity and relocation proceedings, including to defend allegations of child abduction. Advising father in case involving parental alienation and allegations of coercive control.

Emma Holland

Partner Emma advises beneficiaries, trustees, and other fiduciaries on trust disputes both onshore and in numerous offshore jurisdictions. Emma also specialises in probate disputes, including when conflicts of private international law arise, and disputes overseen by the Court of Protection. Emma regularly advises where there is friction between beneficiaries and fiduciaries and also to facilitate separation of beneficial interests, assisting with associated court applications both on- and off-shore. Emma advises on succession issues and the validity of wills, including issues of capacity and advises where conflicts of private international law arise. She also assists with claims made under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. Emma also has experience in relation to the affairs of those who have lost capacity and associated applications in the Court of Protection.

Fiona Gillett

Partner in the Commercial Litigation and Securities Litigation departments. Fiona advises on a broad spectrum of high value commercial disputes (contract, tort and statutory claims), with a particular expertise in financial services claims against banks. She is recognised in The Legal 500 as “a very able lawyer, who has a great touch with clients." Fiona has acted for states, state entities (including central banks), corporates, institutional investors and private individuals, whether as claimants or defendants. Her matters often have an international dimension, whether representing international clients, acting in claims involving aspects of foreign law or in coordinating proceedings in both England and other jurisdictions. She has worked on some significant and high profile cases including the RBS Rights Issue Litigation and one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 cases of 2020 (National Bank of Kazakhstan and Republic of Kazakhstan v The Bank of New York Mellon SA/NV London Branch, Anatolie Stati, Gabriel Stati, Ascom Group SA & Terra Raf Trans Traiding Limited) which also became the first ever Commercial Court trial to be conducted on a fully remote basis (due to the Covid-19 pandemic) in late March 2020. Acting for an Australian mining company in defending a claim for in excess of US$200m in relation to an alleged breach of a mezzanine lending commitment letter Acting for a company, whose business includes the export of oil products, in successfully challenging the jurisdiction of the English Court to determine a US$300m Russian law governed claim against it. [2021] EWHC 1758 (Comm) Acting for a State and its National Bank in claims relating to a Global Custody Agreement with an international bank. [2020] EWHC 916 (Comm) Co-managing the FSMA s90 claim issued in 2013 by over 300 financial institutions and other institutional investors in the group litigation against RBS in relation to its April 2008 £12bn rights issue. A confidential settlement was reached in December 2016, three months before the start of a six-month liability only trial.

Frank Pinch

Partner and Head of Clinical Negligence Leeds. Frank has achieved some of the department’s highest damages settlements. Frank specialises in claims relating to spinal cord injury and brain injury. Frank’s experience includes: Advising a young woman who was catastrophically injured by the negligent handing of an unstable neck injury after a minor fall Advising a brain injured man after the failure of a GP to refer him urgently to hospital with a serious orbital (eye) infection

Gabrielle Ross

Senior AssociateGabrielle has been ranked by Chambers as an Associate to Watch and Legal 500 2021 as a Rising Star. She specialises in acting for individuals with spinal cord conditions including cauda equina syndrome, and brain injuries arising out of clinical negligence.Gabrielle has significant experience of acting in High Court litigation for clients with catastrophic injuries arising out of medical treatment. She has been recognised in Chambers for demonstrating particular expertise in spinal injury cases. She has specialised in clinical negligence litigation since qualifying in 2004.Gabrielle has acted in cases involving delayed diagnosis of spinal cord compression causing tetraplegia; missed diagnosis of spinal infection leading to paraplegia; mismanagement during surgical procedures; late diagnosis of cauda equina syndrome and failure to obtain proper consent. A number of her cases have involved multiple defendants.

Geoff Kertesz

Partner in Trust and Probate department Geoff specialises in resolving troublesome issues relating to trusts and estates, whether domestic or international. Geoff is dual-qualified in England and Wales, and California. He was a litigator in San Francisco before cross-qualifying and relocating to London. Geoff’s experience consists entirely of dealing with complex litigation relating to trusts and estates, often with an offshore element. He has experience with cases involving the UK, US, Channel Islands, Cayman Islands, BVI and Hong Kong, among other jurisdictions. Geoff is equally at ease dealing with purely domestic matters. Unusually for a litigator, Geoff acts as a trustee, which gives him a first-hand view of the issues facing trusts and trustees. Geoff’s experience includes: Acting in a proprietary estoppel claim relating to one of a handful of privately-owned villages in England Advising the successful beneficiaries in a Jersey case that made new law on the scope of duties of trust protectors and the grounds on which they may be removed from office Acting for the successful beneficiaries in an unusual case where trustees surrendered their discretion to an English court In the Cayman Islands, defending trustees against claims of breach of trust through material non-disclosure and successfully arguing that a beneficiary had forfeited her interest in the trust

Giles Salmond

Partner

Harry McGowan

Partner Harry specialises in securities litigation and has particular expertise in statutory claims (s90 and s90A Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA)), bondholder and derivative disputes, as well as an interest in digital asset disputes. Harry had a 20-year career in investment banking, trading credit and credit derivatives before requalifying as a lawyer after a career break

Hugh Johnson

Partner Hugh specialises in complex healthcare claims, particularly those involving spinal cord injury. He has been described as having a "truly excellent grasp of clinical negligence and the issues in a case". Hugh solely undertakes claimant clinical negligence claims, whether against the NHS or private healthcare providers. He has substantial experience of spinal claims and the complications arising from such injuries, as well as with regard to issues arising from the provision of healthcare insurance cover, indemnification and recovery. A significant part of Hugh’s practice includes substandard management of mental health conditions and injuries associated with the failure to protect individuals from harm, both within a hospital environment and in the community.

Inge Forster

Partner in the Competition Litigation department. Inge specialises in competition litigation damages claims in the English Courts. Inge is a skilled negotiator and has significant experience in settling disputes without involving the Court including at the pre-action stage. She is also an experienced trial lawyer. Recent cases of note include: Acting for major power company in its claim for damages in relation to the High Voltage Power Cables Cartel Acting for a multi-national distributor of electronic products and services in connection with the Liquid Crystal Displays Cartel Acting for major UK retailers in multi-billion pound claims against Visa and MasterCard Acting for global corporation in its claim arising from the Smart Cart Chips Cartel Inge was ranked as a Leading Individual in the Legal 500 and described in the legal directories as “extremely impressive” and “highly responsive and engaged with the detail of the case” with “wide-ranging experience of competition litigation”.

James Breese

James specialises in insurance disputes and exclusively advises and represents policyholders. He assists businesses and individuals from various sectors with their claims for indemnity from insurers. Clients range from public companies, private equity houses and multinational enterprises to high net worth individuals and directors of companies facing serious charges. James represented Stonegate Pub Company Limited in its £1.1bn claim for losses suffered due to Covid-19. This is the largest case of its kind in the insurance market and akin to a test case. Other key clients have included large and high-profile institutions and individuals within the financial markets. James also has particular experience advising directors and officers on coverage of third-party claims and regulatory investigations, often involving the application of EU, UK and Office of Foreign Control (OFAC) sanctions to complex cross-jurisdictional proceedings.

James Price

Partner and Head of the Trusts and Probate Litigation department. James set up and heads Stewarts’ Trust and Probate Litigation Department, which The Legal 500 recently described as “combining all the savvy of a top-flight niche litigation firm with the suave sophistication private clients have come to expect. The team is involved in the largest trust disputes, and the depth of knowledge and experience provides clients with a first-class service." James specialises in handling complex, high-value and often high-profile litigation relating to private wealth matters, trust and succession in England and other leading trusts jurisdictions. He also has considerable expertise in handling other contentious issues, especially in cases involving fraud and asset tracing (particularly where trusts are involved) as well as advising on trust issues arising out of divorce. Jurisdictions in which James has experience include Bermuda, Cayman, Jersey, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Singapore, Hong Kong and the US. His recent matters include: Representing one of the parties in what is considered to be the largest (by value) claim in Bermudian legal history which went to trial for 19 weeks during 2021; Advising a number of discretionary beneficiaries of high value Bermudian trusts on the validity of the appointment of trustees and protectors, corporate governance and other matters connected with the proposed restructuring of beneficial interests; Advising a Cayman structure on substantial claims brought against it by the Libyan Investment Authority; Acting for an Italian beneficiary of Jersey trusts involved in a contested Public Trustee v Cooper application in the High Court in England and Wales; and Advising the adult children of the principal beneficiary of very valuable trusts established in Gibraltar concerning a dispute as to beneficial interests.

Jemma Goddard

AssociateJemma specialises in bringing and defending estate and trust related claims, acting for beneficiaries, trustees and personal representatives. Jemma was recognised as one of eprivateclient's Top 35 Under 35 private client practitioners in 2019 and a Rising Star in Contentious Trusts and Probate in the 2021 and 2022 Legal 500 rankings.Jemma advises on a broad range of trust related actions, including trustee-beneficiary disputes, applications for the removal of trustees and complex restructurings, for UK-based and offshore trusts. Jemma also assists with the resolution of estate related disputes, including claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.Acting in a reported case in 2019 for the litigation friend appointed on behalf of a legitimated child, in which the court approved a proposed appointment for the benefit of the child in question. Anonymity was successfully obtained in the application due to sensitive information about the family’s wealth and the child’s legitimacy.

Joe Mitchell

Senior AssociateJoe specialises in high-value commercial litigation, often involving banking and other financial services or complex contractual or tortious disputes. He advises both companies and individuals, including in group litigation, and often in matters involving cross-border issues.Joe is experienced in complex and high-value commercial litigation and advising on contractual and other disputes, often involving complex financial products, issues of company law and international elements.

Joseph Lappin

Partner and Head of Employment Joseph advises on all aspects of employment law and people issues with a particular focus on resolving workplace disputes and exit negotiations. oe’s clients include senior executives, partners, board directors, sportspersons and athletes. His practice includes advice to employees on a broad range of employment and HR issues in both company and LLP contexts, often complex in nature. This work covers grievance and disciplinary investigations, unfair dismissal, discrimination complaints, whistleblowing, contract disputes, the negotiation of exit terms (including settlement agreements), and post-dismissal issues (including breaches of post-termination restrictions and enforcement). Joe advises directors on their duties, appointments and exits. He also advises employers. Joe’s work for employers covers both contentious and non-contentious issues, including providing HR advisory services, and drafting employment contracts and HR policies. Acting for individuals and organisations allows Joe to develop a deep understanding of the issues affecting both sides of a dispute. Joe has particular expertise in Employment Tribunal litigation, providing assistance to claimants and respondents at all stages.

Kate Pollock

Partner and Head of Competition Litigation. Described by The Legal 500 as “a superb litigator: smart, strategic and level-headed”, Kate specialises in competition litigation, in particular cartel damages claims including acting for 12 major retailers in multi-billion pound claims against MasterCard and Visa. Kate has significant experience of complex and high-value commercial disputes, both in the UK and overseas, most recently acting for major corporates based in France, Sweden and Slovenia. Her clients span the retail, manufacturing, aviation and energy sectors. Representative cases include: Acting for major retailers in multi-billion pound claims against MasterCard and Visa Acting for multi-national building materials manufacturer in its claim arising from the Trucks Cartel Acting for a global wholesaler of IT products and services in a multi-million claim arising from the worldwide Liquid Crystal Displays Cartel Acting for global corporation in its claim arising from the Smart Cart Chips Cartel Acting for a major power company in a multi-million claim relating to the High Voltage Power Cables cartel

Keith Thomas

Head of the Securities Litigation department. Keith focuses on complex and high-value commercial litigation with a particular emphasis on financial and banking disputes. Keith has recently led the high profile RBS Rights Issue Litigation to a successful conclusion on behalf of 313 major financial institutions. Keith’s expertise is in banking and financial litigation, securities litigation, multi-jurisdictional and international disputes, fraud and asset recovery, private client and trust disputes. Cases on which Keith has acted include the RBS Rights Issue Litigation where he advised 313 financial institutions on recovering their losses arising from RBS’s £12bn rights issue, the recovery from London institutions of monies for a US receiver of a collapsed hedge fund and a number of high profile Russian disputes being tried in London.

Laura Jenkins

PartnerDescribed by counsel as a very talented solicitor with a stellar career ahead, Laura acts for individuals and corporations in complex commercial disputes and investigations with a particular focus on the financial services sector. The focus of Laura’s work is high value, complex, multi-party disputes. Laura has experience of representing companies, asset managers, funds, liquidators, directors and high net worth individuals across a wide range of industry sectors. Her cases have included claims arising in or relating to breaches of contract, securities claims, debt actions, insolvency-related issues, fraud claims and cross border enforcement as well as breach of confidence disputes. She has significant experience of structuring and progressing group litigation, in particular in a securities context, and litigation funding.

Leah Keen

Leah specialises in complex competition litigation and has broad experience having acted on many of the high-profile, multi-party damages claims arising from infringements of competition law. Leah’s clients are predominantly high market value companies from diverse industry sectors. Leah has acted for claimants and defendants in high-value proceedings in the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Competition Appeal Tribunal. Leah’s expertise includes advising on follow-on and standalone damages claims, interventions in Competition Appeal Tribunal proceedings and cartel investigations by the CMA. Leah’s experience includes: Acting on follow-on and standalone damages claims arising from investigations into high voltage power cables, trucks, refrigeration compressors, copper fittings, air cargo and animal feed phosphates Multi-billion pound litigation against Visa and MasterCard Challenging CMA decisions Defending cartel investigations State aid judicial review

Lewis Powers

AssociateLewis advises on all areas of family law. He has twice been recognised as a “Rising Star” in The Legal 500 (2020 and 2021). The 2020 edition says: “Lewis Powers is bright and is on the up. He is efficient, hardworking and will go far.”Lewis has been involved in family law cases in both the High Court and the Court of Appeal. He has experience in all areas of family law and has advised and assisted on complex financial settlements, cohabitation disputes, child arrangements (including international relocation) and Family Law Act injunctions. He has assisted on a number of interim applications such as orders for legal services and interim maintenance. He has recent experience of private FDRs (Financial Directions Appointments). Lewis assisted on the landmark financial case of Sharp v Sharp [2017] EWCA Civ 408, concerning the correct approach when dividing wealth in short and dual career marriages Lewis recently acted for the applicant father in an international relocation matter and has represented the respondent in Hague Convention proceedings (international child abduction)

Lisette Dupré

Lisette advises on all aspects of private family law, with specialist expertise in cross-border and jurisdictional issues. She is ranked in The Legal 500 as a Next Generation Partner. Lisette has extensive experience in all aspects of private family law including, financial disputes on separation, divorce, children matters and cohabitation and pre-nuptial agreements. She regularly advises clients on cases involving complex jurisdictional issues to include the enforcement of foreign ‘maintenance’ orders. Lisette has secured financial remedies following a foreign divorce and maintenance for ‘abandoned spouses’. Notable publishable cases include: Acted for wife in financial proceedings following a foreign divorce with husband from wealthy Iranian family. The husband took his wife to the UK against her will while pregnant and then some years later abandoned her in Iran without her passport, taking their child. Prepared a pre-nuptial agreement for an international couple in London, acting in tandem with the parties’ tax planning and ring-fencing key non-marital assets. Acted for a charity wishing to intervene in a Supreme Court case of Owens v Owens to raise awareness of the draconian effect divorce law has on survivors of domestic abuse. Acted for the applicant in Mittal [2013] EWCA Civ 1255 to include pro bono in the Court of Appeal. This case concerned the court’s power to stay proceedings where there were competing divorce proceedings in another (non EU) jurisdiction.

Lorraine Lanceley

Partner Lorraine specialises in high-value and complex commercial disputes. She has worked on a number of high-profile cases including the group litigation concerning RBS’s £12bn rights issue. Lorraine specialises in general commercial disputes and has experience in a wide range of high- value contentious matters including banking and financial services litigation, fraud, shareholder disputes, insolvency, competition damages actions, judicial review, professional negligence, partnership disputes, and bribery and corruption. She also has experience in mediation, arbitration and expert determination. Lorraine’s experience includes: Acted for the liquidators of three venture capital trusts investigating allegations concerning the former manager and liquidators of the companies Acted for 313 institutional investors in the group litigation against RBS regarding its 2008 £12bn rights issue Advising a leading UK FinTech company in relation to various disputes including a potential multi-investor claim Advising a world leading asset finance software company in relation to a shareholder dispute Advising on a series of high-value contractual disputes with major banks and companies in respect of the misuse of core computer systems Advised a major tobacco company on the judicial review of the decision to introduce plain packaging of tobacco products and in relation to its challenge of the EU Tobacco Products Directive II Advised on a number of high-value multiparty private competition follow-on damages actions in the High Court representing various global enterprises including a major oil and gas company Acted on a large-scale multi-jurisdictional bribery and corruption investigation Acted on high-profile professional negligence claim in the Commercial Court ranked as one of the Lawyer’s Top 20 cases of 2014

Lucy Stewart-Gould

PartnerLucy was named Spear's Future Leader in Private Client 2018. She acts for a broad range of high-profile individuals and has particular experience in multi-jurisdictional financial disputes and assets held in trust. Many of her cases have involved significant US assets. Lucy also has expertise in disputes concerning children, including child abduction, and national and international relocation cases.

Lucy Ward

Lucy is a commercial disputes expert specialising in banking and financial services litigation and fraud. She has particular expertise advising institutional investors in complex securities litigation and high value disputes. Lucy is ranked in the Legal 500 as a 'Next Generation Partner'. She was the lead partner in one of The Lawyer’s top 20 cases for 2020 and described as a “heavy hitter”. Lucy co-heads the commercial litigation department. Lucy’s clients include institutional investors and financial institutions, corporates, high net worth individuals and sovereign wealth funds. Her experience covers complicated multiparty cases (including group litigation) in relation to mis-selling of complex financial products, s90 FSMA, professional negligence, breach of contract and fraud. With experience acting for and against banks, Lucy is able to anticipate opponents’ strategy. Her work often involves multi-jurisdictional issues. A selection of Lucy’s key cases include: Acting for 313 institutional investors in the first group securities litigation of its kind in England in a claim against RBS regarding its 2008 rights issue. Acting for Portigon AG (a legacy entity of WestLB) against RBS in a claim for breach of contract, negligence and misrepresentation in relation to CPDO notes. Acting for the investment authority of Ras Al Khaimah (RAKIA) in a claim against a businessman for fraudulent misrepresentation, conspiracy and breach of contract and defending allegations of hacking and abuse of process. Acting for RAKIA in RAKIA (& Ors) v Bestfort Development LLP (& Ors) [2017] EWCA Civ 1014, in which the Court of Appeal clarified the test required for the existence of assets in an application for a worldwide freezing order. Acting for an IT services company in a contractual dispute. Acting for 83 bankers in a successful claim against Dresdner Kleinwort and Commerzbank over unpaid bonuses (Attrill & others v Dresdner Kleinwort and Commerzbank [2012] EWHC 1189 (QB)). Acting for the successful defendant in a claim relating to an alleged written agreement (Gaydamak v Leviev [2012] EWHC 1740 (Ch)).

Lucy Robinson

Partner in the Personal Injury department. Lucy is described as a “fantastic” personal injury solicitor with experience of handling a range of complex and high-value claims. Over the past 14 years, she has specialised in cases involving tetraplegia, paraplegia, brain injury and amputations. Lucy represents claimants only, most of whom have claims worth several million pounds. Lucy predominately specialises in cases involving brain injury, spinal cord injury (resulting in tetraplegia or paraplegia), and amputations. Lucy acts on behalf of claimants who have sustained serious injury as a result of road traffic accidents, and accidents at work and in public spaces. Lucy recently achieved a settlement of £4.5m for a claimant who had an accident at work involving at 10-metre fall resulting in a spinal cord injury and below the knee amputation. Lucy currently acts on behalf of a number of claimants who have been involved in road traffic accidents and sustained a spinal cord injury or a brain injury as a result.

Marc Jones

Partner in the Competition Litigation, Fraud and Securities Litigation departments. Marc specialises in high-value commercial and financial disputes, often involving complex financial products and foreign/offshore jurisdictions. Marc acts for financial institutions, public and private companies, states and state-entities, and high net worth individuals in complex commercial and financial disputes. His key practice areas include securities litigation, company and shareholder disputes, professional negligence, fraud claims, asset tracing and related injunctions such as freezing orders. Marc has been the lead partner in a number of ground-breaking cases, including: Robertson v Person Unknown (in which the High Court treated Bitcoin as legal property and the claimant recovered £1million of bitcoin); the Golden Belt bond litigation (the only case in which the High Court has found that an arranging bank owed a duty of care to the secondary bond market); and the Standard & Poor’s litigation (the only occasion on which a rating agency has been sued in the UK for negligently rating complex derivatives).

Marcus Parker

Marcus has more than 25 years’ experience as both an English lawyer and a Cayman-based professional trustee. The main part of Marcus’s practice involves managing disputes involving wealthy global families and their associated structures. Marcus has in-depth experience of establishing and managing structures and resolving disputes that arise in a practical, commercial and cost-efficient manner. He has led the management of many disputes around the world, most recently a multi-billion dollar, multi-jurisdiction dispute involving prominent Middle Eastern families. Marcus has experience of dealing with litigation in England, Cayman, BVI, Bermuda, Hong Kong, New Zealand and the US. His offshore address book is second to none. Clients are impressed at his round-the-clock availability, his ability to identify the key issues quickly and to assemble the right global team rapidly to tackle any type of dispute.

Mark McMahon

Mark specialises in international arbitration and has extensive experience representing clients in complex and high-value disputes in Europe, the Middle East, the Americas and Africa. He is described in the Legal 500 as a “standout” and “a fantastic lawyer… strategic and commercially aware with a real world savviness." Mark is an arbitration specialist, advising in international commercial and investor-state arbitrations. His practice is almost exclusively international and spans industries including construction, engineering and energy. Mark has acted in disputes in multiple jurisdictions and has extensive experience in complex cross-border matters working on cases under all the major arbitration rules including ICC, LCIA, ICSID and UNCITRAL. Mark is active in the international arbitration community, with a growing reputation amongst young practitioners. He is a committee member of the CiArb Young Member’s Group London Branch and is the Delos Guide to Arbitration Places (GAP) reviewer for Ireland. Mark is also a committee member of the Arbitration Ireland Young Practitioners Group and currently acts as an international mentor for the Istanbul Arbitration Centre.

Martin Walsh

Partner Martin specialises in high-value, complex and strategically important disputes. These are frequently in the fields of IT, telecoms, finance, corporate transactions and public sector outsourcing. Martin advises private sector clients in the technology, finance and manufacturing sectors, as well as public bodies. Martin has experience in High Court litigation, arbitration (both domestic and international), expert determination and mediation. He regularly advises on the renegotiation or termination of live distressed contracts/projects. Cases include: Representing a major international IT supplier following termination for breach of a £400m contract with a government department Acting for a FTSE 100 company facing a £20m claim for software licence infringement by an aggressive US supplier Multi-jurisdictional fraud investigation for a foreign state body LCIA arbitration involving alleged illegal state aid to an airline

Matthew Greene

Please see full biography at osborneclarke.com/lawyers/matthew-greene/

Matthew Tighe

Partner Matthew specialises in a range of high-value and complex competition disputes, acting on claims that frequently appear in the Lawyer's top 20 cases. Matthew’s areas of experience include advising on a range of competition and commercial disputes involving breach of contract, negligence, misrepresentation, rectification, financial mis-selling and breach of competition law. Matthew also has particular experience in litigation costs. Matthew has extensive experience in commercial litigation but now predominately focusses on competition matters, including advising on follow-on and standalone damages claims, interventions in Competition Appeal Tribunal proceedings and cartel investigations. Matthew has advised clients involved in high value proceedings in the High Court, Court of Appeal and the Competition Appeal Tribunal.

Matthew Humphries

Partner in the Divorce and Family department. Matthew has specialised exclusively for over 25 years in resolving financial and children issues arising upon divorce or family breakdown. He represents high net worth individuals, or their spouses / partners, frequently in cases involving complex financial structures (often with an international element) or in cases where there are disagreements regarding arrangements for children. Matthew also regularly advises upon the negotiation of nuptial agreements. Matthew is a senior partner in the Divorce and Family department at Stewarts, the pre-eminent divorce and family practice in England that is top ranked in the legal directories. Whilst Matthew is known for his expertise in complex litigation, he is also a renowned negotiator determined to settle cases whenever possible to do so in the best interests of his clients. He is a keen proponent of arbitration. His practice encompasses high value financial claims, including those on behalf of the children of unmarried parents, as well as resolving areas of disagreement over arrangements for children. He attracts particular recognition for his understanding of clients and their needs, together with his prolific legal knowledge allied with his skills and strategic thinking. Matthew has conducted significant recent cases before the Family Court including: IR v OR [2022] – acting for the wife, achieving an award of over £70m. The case dealt with the treatment of wealth generated before the marriage and from the sale of a family business, as well as the enforceability of a pre-nuptial agreement. Fuchs [2022] – acting for a billionaire husband in response to the wife’s application for interim maintenance of £4.2m a year, demonstrating the level of interim maintenance payable in very wealthy cases. WC v HC [2022] – acting for the husband in a case involving pre and post nuptial agreements and inherited wealth. The case also considered the relevance of future (significant) inherited wealth pursuant to forced heirship provisions. DR v UG [2023] – acting for the husband where the case involved arguments about his ‘special contribution’ and post separation endeavour where the main asset increased in value by a multiple of more than seven times after the date of separation.

Mo Bhaskaran

Partner and Co-Head of Commercial Litigation Mo co-heads the commercial litigation department. Mo specialises in large scale fraud and corruption investigations and recovery action (including working with enforcement authorities in the UK and overseas), as well as high-value commercial disputes relating to a range of commercial matters including fraud, IT and PFI projects, product recall and corporate claims arising from acquisitions. He acts on emergency injunctions (search and freezing injunctions). His clients span sectors as diverse as government, manufacturing, financial services, technology, energy and health. Cases in which Mo has advised include defending a major public sector body from claims exceeding £100m in relation to the cancellation of a large PFI project. He also acted on a number of internal investigations into fraud and corruption including historic corruption/fraud by a senior director within a FTSE 250 listed group, defending an HMRC investigation arising as a result and pursuing claims against the director responsible, as well as a significant $1bn multi-jurisdictional investigation into systemic corruption by a foreign public official.

Nichola Fosler

Partner in the Personal Injury department. Nichola acts in complex and high-value catastrophic personal injury claims and for clients who are pursuing professional negligence against their former solicitors in relation to mishandling of personal injury claims. In the last ten years, Nichola has secured over £100m for her clients. Nichola specialises in compensation claims for adults and children who have suffered catastrophic injury including spinal cord injury, brain injury and amputation claims. She also pursues professional negligence claims for those who have not been well served by their solicitors. Nichola assists her clients with accessing the specialised medical and rehabilitative support they need to lead, so far as possible, fully independent lives. Nichola adopts a holistic approach. Whilst her primary concern is to ensure that clients are funded for their immediate and future needs, she always considers the wider financial, emotive and other support that clients and their families require. Nichola consistently achieves excellent financial settlement awards, securing financial stability for her clients when they need it most. In the last ten years, Nichola has secured over £100m for her clients. Nichola is currently acting for a double amputee who was struck by a car whilst assisting a friend to change his tyre, and a young lady who sustained a spinal cord injury following a car accident in which she was a passenger. Recent settlements include: Burns and Amputation In Chisholm v D and R Hankins – Approved judgment, Nichola won the right to damages for a lorry driver following an accident at work which left him with severe burns and a below the knee amputation. Read the case study here – Lorry driver wins right to damages following accident at work which left him with severe injuries. Spinal cord injury The client, who was 28 at the time of the accident, sustained a spinal cord injury resulting in tetraplegia when he fell through an unsecured window during the course of his employment. The claim was settled for a lump sum of £6m and variable periodical payments of £170,000 per year rising to £210,000 per year from the age of 50. The claim was settled on a provisional damages basis in respect of the risk of syringomyelia. Interim payments totalling £1.175m were secured during the claim. Brain injury The client, who was 23 when his claim settled, suffered a brain injury in a collision with another vehicle. Expert evidence concluded that he was travelling in excess of the speed limit. Liability was resolved with a 10% deduction for contributory negligence. The claim settled for £1.4m plus annual periodical payments for care and case management of £25,000 per year for the remainder of his life. There was disputed evidence as to whether the client lacked mental capacity to manage his financial affairs. The settlement included provision for future Court of Protection professional fees/professional trustee costs. Professional negligence The client suffered a brain injury when she was knocked down by a car whilst crossing a road. Her former solicitors handled her claim negligently, resulting in her claim being struck out of court. Nichola took on the case as a professional negligence claim against the former solicitors, which settled for £325,000.

Nick Haworth

Partner Nick is a partner in the Commercial Litigation team with extensive experience of high-value and complex commercial disputes and investigations for large public and private sector organisations. Nick’s expertise includes advising on corporate and shareholder disputes, actions against directors, mainstream contractual and supply chain disputes, commercial fraud actions, restrictive covenant claims, pursuing and defending applications for injunctive relief, trade mark actions and media disputes. He also has experience of advising on live procurement projects that have run into difficulty, and managing and advising on associated risks. Cases in which Nick has advised include: Acting on ultra high value complex commercial (£1bn plus) cases including acting for a global IT systems supplier in arbitration proceedings against the UK government, which progressed to an 80-day hearing involving evidence from over 100 witnesses Pursuing a damages claim arising out of an alleged cartel arrangement, a case that was in court for over 30 days.

Nick Knowles

Partner in the Clinical Negligence department. Nick has enormous experience in handling complex catastrophic injury claims. He has secured many multimillion pound settlements for his clients. Nick acted for the claimant in the important and much-quoted case of Masterman-Lister v Brutton & Co., which formulated the test for mental capacity.Nick handles high-value cases, mainly brain and spinal injury claims, and his clients often include children and protected parties (who lack mental capacity). Sometimes he is instructed by the Official Solicitor and in many cases liability is a hard-fought issue.Compensation secured for children include £2m for brain injury (meningitis), US$4.5m (bronchiolitis) and for spinal cord injury £12.5m (spinal tumour). Other brain injury damages include £5m (encephalitis) and £4m (locked-in syndrome). Other spinal injury damages include £5.6m, £6.5m and £1.5m.

Peregrine Redgrave

Partner Peregrine is described as "brilliant with clients” and someone who is "commercially astute and thoroughly approachable ". In JDF (a child) v. Hampshire County Council [2017], he settled the highest award ever approved by a court in England, the equivalent of £28m capitalised, for a young girl who suffered a brain injury in a road traffic accident. Peregrine specialises in representing claimants in catastrophic injury claims involving traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries as well as amputations. He maximises awards in claims involving road traffic accidents and has a special interest in liability work involving complex accident at work claims. Timely and comprehensive rehabilitation for his clients is always at the forefront of his mind. Experience JDF (a child) v Hampshire County Council – In early 2017 Peregrine secured record breaking compensation for a young girl who sustained a severe traumatic brain injury in 2012. The Claimant received a lump sum of over £9.1m together with annual payments for life for her care and case management (periodical payments) totalling the equivalent sum of £28m capitalised to assist her in securing the necessary care, case management, therapy, professional deputyship and accommodation needs to ensure her quality of life. Interim payments of £1.3m were obtained to cover her considerable care and therapy needs throughout the running of the claim, as well as purchase a suitable property for her. RXG ( a protected party) v BlueFin Farmshield Scheme in which the 59 year old Claimant suffered a complete spinal cord injury at T3/4 (SCI), he received a lump sum of £2.7m plus annual payments (PPO) of £105,000 for his care and case management stepping up to £200,000 at age 65 and then £215,000 from age 70 (capitalised equivalent sum of £6.1m). SXJ ( a protected party) v Stephen Martin – In 2022 he represented a father of two who had sustained a significant brain injury achieving a settlement of £5.875m plus annual payments for care and case management of £200,000 rising to £220,000 for the last 5 years of life (capitalised equivalent sum of over £12.3m). Mr RB, a 33 year old above knee amputee, for whom Peregrine recovered a £6m settlement in 2021 following a car accident which included the cost of private micro-processor knees as well as multiple other limbs.

Peter Neenan

Partner in the Aviation department. Peter is a dual qualified English solicitor and Illinois attorney described by leading legal directories as “an aviation law supremo”, “an exceptional lawyer” and “a seasoned practitioner". Peter specialises in technically complex aviation matters often involving multiple jurisdictions and holds two master degrees in Theoretical Physics and Advanced Air & Space Law. Peter regularly acts for victims of aviation accidents world wide, and has significant knowledge of legal, technical and jurisdictional issues arising out of light aircraft, helicopter and airline accidents. Additionally, Peter advises on commercial aviation matters with an interest in liability issues arising out of the commercial use of drone technology. Peter has represented families in the majority of large airline disasters around the world over the past 10 years. Recent highlights have included the Boeing 737 Max cases (both Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409), Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 and MH370. In addition, Peter assists in commercial aviation matters, eg aircraft resale involving proof of sophisticated aircraft systems malfunction.

Pia Mithani

Partner Pia is a general commercial litigator. She has particular experience in high-value multi-jurisdictional fraud and asset recovery cases, acting for clients in both civil cases and those with criminal exposure. Pia also focuses on cases involving misuse of confidential information. Pia is a solicitor advocate, with trial experience in both the High Court and appellate courts. Pia advises high net worth private clients and corporate clients, both domestic and international. Pia works with clients in a diverse range of sectors, from foreign public institutions, through to hedge funds and partnerships. Many of Pia’s cases involve multiple jurisdictions, especially in her civil fraud practice. Pia also has an interest in cases involving misuse of confidential information.

Rebecca Smith

Senior Associate Rebecca is a highly experienced aviation lawyer, specialising in complex high-value, catastrophic personal injury and fatal accident claims from both a domestic and international perspective, including the application of the Montreal Convention. She has been involved in a number of large group action claims in the USA and Nigeria, which include the recent Boeing tragedy. She brings a pragmatic approach borne of dealing with complex cases involving jurisdictional and applicable law issues. Rebecca has successfully represented clients in all the most recent noteworthy aviation disasters including the Germanwings, Shoreham Air Show and Boeing Ethiopian airlines tragedies.

Rebecca Huxford

AssociateRebecca specialises in international injury claims, with a particular specialism in cases involving severe brain injury. She is highly regarded for her client care and forensic approach to complex expert evidence. Rebecca represents clients following serious international accidents, including UK residents injured overseas and foreign nationals who sustain serious injuries in the UK. Rebecca has extensive experience in running serious injury claims, with a particular focus on ensuring her clients have quick access to rehabilitation and interim payments, where possible.Rebecca has represented clients in a range of serious personal injury cases involving amputation, brain injury and spinal cord injury. She has secured millions of pounds of compensation for clients during her career. In more recent years, most of her cases have involved brain injury ranging from subtle to severe, including the onset of additional conditions such as epilepsy, endocrine disorders, visual and hearing difficulties. She has also recently run a complex case to trial in the High Court involving technical arguments on expert liability and causation evidence that was worth millions of pounds.

Richard Hogwood

Partner in the Divorce and Family department. The Legal 500 has described Richard as "ferociously clever and very solution focused" and a "star in the making". Richard focuses particularly on negotiating the financial aspects of divorce (and civil partnership dissolution), separation and preparing pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements. Richard focuses particularly on negotiating the financial aspects of divorce (and civil partnership dissolution), separation and preparing pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements. Often, these matters will have an international element and, with pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements especially, Richard is accustomed to liaising with lawyers in several different jurisdictions. Reflective of his private client background, Richard is also regularly involved in cases involving complex tax and trust issues. Richard acted for HRH Prince Louis of Luxembourg in the successful application for a reporting restrictions order relating to family proceedings – [2017] EWHC 3095 (Fam). Richard also acted for the wife in XW v XH 2017 EWFC 76 (and XW v XH (No.2) (Reporting Restrictions Order) [2018] EWFC 44) in which the wife was awarded one of the highest recorded English divorce settlements. In addition the case dealt with issues of special contribution, privacy and whether foreign marital contracts should be treated as pre-nuptial agreements. At the Court of Appeal the wife was successful, exceptionally, in her application for the reporting restrictions order granted in the High Court to be maintained (XW v XH [2019] EWCA Civ 549). Furthermore her lump sum award was increased from £115m to £145m (XW v XH [2019] EWCA Civ 2262).

Robert Dransfield

Partner in the Clinical Negligence department. Robert specialises in complex and high-value clinical negligence claims and is a recognised expert in spinal cord injury claims. Robert assists clients with catastrophic injuries arising from clinical negligence. He has a particular expertise in high-value spinal cord injury and brain injury claims. Robert acted for the claimant in one of the leading cauda equina cases, Oakes v Neininger [2008] EWHC 548 (QB). This remains a particular interest, with substantial awards obtained for clients with cauda equina. Robert acted for the claimant in the leading cauda equina case, Oakes v Neinninger. He has obtained more than £28m in damages for clients since 2010, £9.2m of which were obtained in 2016. Robert has recently settled claims for clients with high cervical spine injuries and serious brain injury. Robert has acted for individuals based internationally in countries including Cyprus, Balearic Islands, Ireland and Canada.

Sam Longworth

Partner in the Divorce and Family department. Sam is a leading lawyer in international, complex and high-value divorce and family law cases. He is recognised across the private wealth industries as a leader in his field. Sam is instructed by individuals, families, and trustees across the world to address issues arising from divorce, and to assist in the preparation of pre- and post-nuptial agreements. He also has extensive expertise in complex parental disputes, with a particular emphasis on international relocation. His clients range from the sports and entertainment industries to the City and international community, with a particular emphasis on the US, South America, Russia and the Middle East. Sam is known for his complete discretion, commercial advice and ability to achieve swift, best-outcome solutions for his clients. He also has extensive experience in ‘private court’ based arbitration for family disputes.

Sarah Stewart

Partner in the Aviation department. Sarah specialises in aviation related disputes resulting in death or injury claims in the UK and abroad. The claims she handles often involve jurisdictional arguments, issues of foreign law and the application of international conventions. Since 2006 Sarah has specialised in aviation related disputes resulting in death or injury worldwide. The claims she handles often involve jurisdictional arguments, issues of foreign law and the application of international conventions. She has acted in major air disasters and fatal helicopter and light aircraft accidents in the UK, Europe and worldwide. She supports families through official accident investigations and coroner’s inquests. Sarah was instructed in the landmark case of Rogers v Hoyle [2014] EWCA Civ 257 [2014] 3 WLR 148, [2014] 3 All ER 550, in which the Court of Appeal held that air accident investigation reports produced by the Department of Transport are admissible in civil proceedings. She also acted in Dusek v StormHarbour [2016] EWCA CIV 604, which established liability on the part of a UK employer for failing to adequately risk assess travel arrangements for its employee travelling abroad for his work. Sarah is currently acting for families of victims of the Shoreham Airshow disaster in the ongoing inquest proceedings. Sarah joined Stewarts in 2002, and became partner in 2007. She qualified with Gregory Abrams in Liverpool in 1997 before moving to personal injury at Bolt Burdon in Islington.

Scott Rigby

Partner in the International Injury department. Scott specialises in acting for clients who have suffered catastrophic injuries abroad. He has secured over £40m in damages for his clients. He represented the claimant in the landmark case of Wall v Mutuelle de Poitiers Assurances [2014] EWCA Civ 138. Scott represents clients who have suffered spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, amputations, brachial plexus injuries and fatal injuries. These claims typically involve jurisdictional, applicable law and service disputes or are brought under the Package Travel Regulations. Scott has secured numerous multimillion pound settlements for clients injured in Europe and jurisdictions around the world. He also acted in Wall v Mutuelle de Poitiers Assurances in which the Court of Appeal provided guidance on the assessment of damages in personal injury claims in circumstances where the English Court is bound to apply the law of another jurisdiction.

Sherina Petit

Partner, Head of International Arbitration and Head of India Sherina specialises in international commercial arbitration, investor-state arbitration, litigation and alternative dispute resolutions (ADR). In addition to acting as counsel in arbitrations, she also sits as an arbitrator. Sherina is ranked in the Legal Business Arbitration Power List and as a Global Leader in the Who’s Who Legal. Sherina has a wide range of experience in all key aspects of international arbitration, including a focus on India-related disputes. Her global client base spans a broad range of industries, including energy, construction, oil and gas, trade, transport pharmaceuticals, commodities, finance and technology. Sherina has experience of all major arbitral institutions, including the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC). Sherina has practised across multiple jurisdictions, including as an advocate in India (Mumbai) before qualifying in England and Wales. Sherina has achieved a number of successes for her clients in both commercial and investment arbitration proceedings in terms of settlement and arbitration awards. Her experience includes acting for: An Indian multinational oil and gas company and its international subsidiary in two oil and gas-related arbitrations against an African state (UNCITRAL, Sudanese law, London seat). A French maritime and transportation company in respect of its challenge in the English courts to an award issued under the India-France BIT in an arbitration seated in London and conducted under the UNCITRAL rules (UNCITRAL, English law, London seat). A US curtain manufacturer against a large Pakistani textile manufacturing company (UNCITRAL, English law, London seat). A national oil and gas company in relation to a decommissioning dispute against a contractor in respect of a drilling campaign offshore West Africa. The dispute involves variation claims exceeding US$80m (LCIA, Angolan law, London seat). An Indian airline in relation to a multi-billion dollar dispute between various shareholders concerning alleged breaches of a shareholders agreement (LCIA, Indian law, New Delhi seat). One of the wealthiest South Asian families in an African jurisdiction involving a dispute over a number of assets the family owns worldwide (LCIA, English law, London seat). A Middle Eastern satellite operator in a dispute with a Canadian telecommunications provider concerning a transponder rights agreement (ICC, English law, London seat). An Indian water manufacturer against a Qatari contractor relating to contracts in relation to two water treatment plants (ICC, Qatari law, London seat). Two multinational banks against an insurance company relating to political risk insurance events in South America (LCIA, English law, London seat). A global company on potential remedies under bilateral investment treaties involving Tanzania in a matter involving several hundred million dollars, including advice on the implications of the Standard Chartered v Tanzania BIT claim. A European infrastructure company in a bilateral investment treaty claim against a former Soviet state for breaches of agreements and fair and equitable treatment provisions relating to changes in local law and investment policy. Sherina has also had numerous successes in high-value litigations before the English High Court. Some high-value, complex disputes in which she has been involved include acting for: A US construction company as defendant in a litigation concerning the construction of one of the world’s largest beverage facilities One of India’s largest conglomerates in a multi-billion dollar litigation against numerous global and Indian banks An Indian owner and operator of a commodities and currencies derivative exchange in a litigation relating to the enforcement actions arising out of a successful award in a London-seated ICC arbitration.

Sophie Lalor-Harbord

Partner Sophie specialises in complex commercial litigation and has particular experience in the media and technology sectors. Sophie has experience across a wide range of high value commercial disputes with significant expertise in: Fraud claims including those involving asset tracing, freezing injunctions, gagging orders and applications for Norwich Pharmacal relief; and Media and technology disputes including cyber-security and data breach responses, content-related disputes and internal investigations. Sophie advises clients in handling corporate crises, including advising on reputation management strategies. Sophie’s recent work includes: Acting for a property developer in a breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty claim, involving complex issues of asset tracing across several jurisdictions Acting for the shareholders of an oil company in multi-jurisdictional litigation against a Russian state-owned company Acting for an Irish bank in relation to the tracing of assets worldwide in connection with conspiracy proceedings Acting for a French consortium in a claim for fraudulent misrepresentation against an Indian manufacturing company Advising on subject access requests under the GDPR

Sophie Arrowsmith

Solicitor

Stephanie Clarke

Partner in the Personal Injury department. Stephanie has extensive knowledge and a wide breadth of experience in all areas of catastrophic personal injury claims, but with a particular focus on rehabilitation as a priority. She takes a pragmatic, effective and proactive approach to the early resolution of claims and enjoys good working relationships with her opponents. Stephanie has over 30 years’ experience in all areas of catastrophic personal injury claims but with a specialist interest in complex catastrophic brain and spinal cord injury claims. She uses her extensive knowledge and numerous contacts to ensure the early provision of interim payments, where appropriate, which in turn allows for rehabilitation and care packages as well as suitable accommodation to be put in place well before the claims are settled. This ultimately helps improve the quality of life for clients and their families. Stephanie has a great empathy for her injured clients and their families and is highly conscientious and tenacious in her representation of them. She has an acute eye for detail as well as tactical nous. Stephanie has particular expertise in all manner of complex brain injury cases, having had an extensive background in employers’ and public liability as well as road traffic cases. She is a highly knowledgeable advocate with an emphasis on timely settlements in a wide range of serious injury claims.

Stephen Foster

Head of Divorce and Family department. Head of Department Stephen Foster is praised in The Times “for leading Stewarts’ phalanx of family law lawyers to the top of the pack” and as an “intelligent and superbly talented litigator”. The Legal 500 says he has assembled a “scarily bright” team noted for its knack in “unravelling complicated trust structures and assets hidden behind companies”. His clients include figures from the City and entrepreneurs, and many of his cases have an international dimension including Europe, the US and the Middle-East. Stephen is very adept at dealing sensitively with all aspects of children’s matters, including international relocation.

Stuart Carson

Partner with Competition Litigation department. Stuart specialises in complex and high-value competition litigation, having advised on some of the largest cartel damages claims to be litigated in Europe. Stuart specialises in competition damages claims, the breadth of which is extensive and includes particular expertise in relation to complex and innovative funding structures. Stuart has acted for clients in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court and Competition Appeal Tribunal. Recent cases of note include: Acting for major retailers in multi-billion pound claims against Visa and MasterCard Acting for multi-national building materials manufacturer in its claim arising from the Trucks Cartel Acted for a global manufacturer in a billion Euro claim arising from the worldwide LCD and CRT Cartels Acted for global corporation in its claim arising from the Smart Cart Chips Cartel

Tim Symes

Tim is an expert in insolvency and asset recovery disputes, helping insolvency office-holders and stake-holders to investigate, fund and launch estate claims leading to asset recoveries. Tim has spent two decades running contentious insolvency litigation and asset recovery cases, encompassing director misfeasance, fraud, antecedent transactions, and claims against third parties. Experience Advising liquidators on £200m foreign exchange fraud across multiple jurisdictions Advising group of prime city real estate landlords in £350m hostile ‘loan to own’ debt buyout and administration application Advising group of non-UK creditors on recovery of £40m of suspected assets concealed in trusts in multiple offshore jurisdictions Advising liquidators on realisation of claim concerning £1bn in bonds Advising a Greek insolvency office-holder of a company with debts of £100m on recognition and asset recovery proceedings in the UK

Toby Atkinson

Partner Toby advises on all aspects of family law, with a particular emphasis on helping his clients resolve arrangements for their children and finances where they are separating, divorcing or dissolving a civil partnership. Toby specialises in all areas of family law, including financial settlement on divorce and arrangements for children after parents separate. Toby’s financial cases frequently have an international dimension, often involving trusts, inherited wealth and family businesses. His clients include entrepreneurs, business owners, City professionals, and their spouses/partners. Toby is equally adept at dealing with highly contested children cases as he is with resolving complex financial disputes. He is an experienced practitioner in the field of international child abduction and is frequently instructed by “left-behind” parents in both Hague and non-Hague Convention cases, international relocation cases and jurisdiction disputes. On the non-contentious side, Toby regularly advises in relation to pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements and wealth protection. Toby’s recent reported cases include: Cathcart v Owens [2021] – Acted for the successful respondent wife in respect of an application brought by her former husband in the High Court to set aside a financial order made on divorce. JC v PC [2021] – Acted for the successful applicant father in High Court proceedings brought to determine the habitual residence of his two children following their wrongful retention abroad by the respondent mother’.

Voirrey Ward

Partner. Voirrey is a highly regarded lawyer advising on all aspects of family law, with particular expertise in complex, multi-jurisdictional financial proceedings, and in particular those involving complex trust and/or corporate structures, third parties/joinders and issues of enforcement. Voirrey’s expertise is resolving complex financial claims arising on family breakdown, acting for a broad range of high net worth and high-profile individuals and their spouses and partners, and relevant third parties (such as trustees, companies or related individuals). Voirrey’s cases often involve intricate trust and/or corporate structures, private equity assets and art collections, and usually have an international element. Voirrey regularly advises upon the negotiation of nuptial and other relationship agreements and acts on cases involving the enforcement of such agreements. Voirrey also regularly advises upon the resolution of arrangements for children. Voirrey is known for being an effective litigator, with a strategic and commercial eye on achieving the best possible result for her clients. She also operates with compassion and in a collaborative way. Voirrey is a qualified Collaborative Lawyer and has successfully resolved a number of cases through the Collaborative Law process. Cherwayko v Cherwayko [2014] EWHC 4252 – acted for wife in case where the High Court made a suspended committal order for breach of a disclosure order by the husband. Baker v Baker [2022] EWFC 15 – acted for wife in successful application for maintenance pending suit (MPS), in which Mr Justice Mostyn considered the approach to be taken by a court when considering an application for MPS and in particular the issue of where the paying party has not provided satisfactory disclosure of explanation of their financial position. ARQ v YAQ [2022] EWFC 128 – representing the husband in a matter concerning the treatment of significant pre-marital wealth and the legal definition of matrimonial property.

Warren Maxwell

Partner in the Personal Injury department. Warren represents claimants in high-value and complex personal injury claims arising from road traffic collisions, accidents at work, equine and sporting accidents. Before training as a solicitor, Warren served for five years in the Coldstream Guards and has a particular understanding in relation to claims brought by past and present HM Forces personnel. Warren has significant experience in acting for child and adult claimants who have suffered injuries of the utmost severity, particularly brain, spinal cord, burns, amputations and complex orthopaedic injuries. Warren recently recovered £14M for a 17 year-old female who sustained a brain injury after she was run down when aged 5. He acted for the claimant in Housley v Christiansen LTLPI 6/1/2010 where damages to pay for a light aircraft and associated costs, (including the cost of renting accommodation with attached airstrip), were recovered by a flying instructor who was unable to continue teaching as a result of his injuries. He was also the claimant’s solicitor in Cheung v Zhu (t/a Yang Sing Fish and Chip) [2011] EWHC 2913 (QB): an employer’s liability action where the claimant sustained a spinal cord injury, which is now often cited in ‘slip/trip’ cases.

Zachary Sananes

Partner Zach has significant experience acting on a wide range of complex and high value commercial disputes. In recent years, Zach has participated in several trials in the Business and Property Courts, as well as hearings in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, on a variety of different legal issues. Zach is regularly involved in multi-party cases (including group litigation), often with cross-border elements. Zach has a broad range of experience having previously advised on contractual/breach of warranty claims, fraud cases, conflict of law disputes, professional negligence and insurance claims, securities claims, trusts disputes and competition law matters. Zach has also acted on several regulatory matters and internal investigations for both companies and individuals. Zach’s current and previous cases of note include: Acting for 112 financial institutions claiming under s.90 FSMA against Tesco Plc in respect of its £263m accounting misstatements. Acting for one of the parties to a multi-billion dollar trusts dispute in Bermuda (trial listed to commence in April 2021). Advising a group of leading UK high street retailers in relation to claims against Visa and Mastercard arising from alleged breaches of EU and domestic competition law in relation to interchange fees. Acting for an Indian conglomerate regarding its repayment obligations under a syndicated facility agreement. Advising a large Australian business group in relation to a contractual dispute with its clearing house. Acting for a global sugar refinery based in America in relation to a dispute arising from the acquisition of its European business. Advising a large French bank in relation to its insurance claim in respect of $500m worth of gold bullion.