Stewarts is one of the UK’s market-leading disputes firms with more than 450 staff, including 97 partners across 15 specialist practice areas. We act for corporates, institutions, states, sovereign wealth funds and individuals in complex and high-value disputes in the UK and across the globe. We have experience on both sides of litigation and as counsel and arbitrators across major arbitral institutions, and in ad hoc arbitrations.

Clients instruct us when the stakes are high and where genuine disputes experts are needed. We are conflict-free and uniquely placed to advise where other law firms may be conflicted.

A great majority of our work is international. As an independent law firm, we are free to work with our clients’ existing advisers and can also draw on our strategic relationships with leading international law firms. This enables us to work in a global counsel role to coordinate complex multi-jurisdictional matters via a single point of contact.

Our reputation is confirmed by our top rankings in the leading legal directories. We are recognised as a “truly client-focused outfit whose calibre and experience is second to none”.

Our expertise and coverage extend across numerous key sectors and practice areas relevant to the legal landscape in North and South America, including:

• Aviation
• Commercial Litigation
• Divorce and Family
• Employment
• Fraud
• International Arbitration
• International Injury
• Insolvency and Asset Recovery
• Investment Treaty Arbitration
• Policyholder Disputes
• Securities Litigation
• Tax Litigation
• Trust and Probate Litigation

The following is a selection of the cases we have worked on:

• Advising 33 claimants, including various US institutional investors, in their £1bn claim against Glencore in relation to its alleged cover-up of widespread bribery and corruption which led to a drop in its share price.
• Advising 44 claimants, including various US institutional investors, in their £500m claim against Petrofac in relation to it pleading guilty to multiple bribery offences following a prosecution by the Serious Fraud Office, which led to a drop in its share price.
• Advising US parties in relation to the obtainment of deposition and documentary evidence in the UK in support of a multi-billion dollar dispute in New York.
• Advising two Central American shipping investors against one of Latin America’s largest countries in an UNCITRAL investment treaty claim worth US$400m+.
• Advising a Canadian company in High Court proceedings, contesting the English Court’s jurisdiction and opposing an anti-suit injunction relating to claims over extraction rights to South American mines.
• Advising three defendants in a multi-jurisdictional claim involving the USA, Canada, UAE, Switzerland, and the UK, relating to an alleged scheme to defraud creditors to the value of £19m, including defending injunctive relief sought in England.

If assistance in financing a dispute is required, we offer expert guidance on a multitude of options for litigation funding. These creative solutions encompass securing external funding for significant cases, exploring insurance coverage, implementing conditional fee agreements and providing fixed or capped fees where appropriate. We have now acted in more than 2,000 disputes for nearly 4,500 clients and have recovered well in excess of £2bn in damages using alternative funding arrangements of one or more forms.