Stewarts is the UK’s largest disputes-only law firm with over 200 lawyers – more than 90 of whom are partners – across 15 specialist practice areas. We act for corporates, government entities 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 such as the ICC, LCIA, SIAC, DIAC, SCC, HKIAC, PCA, and ICSID, 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 alliances 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 experience and coverage extend across numerous key sectors and practice areas relevant to the legal landscape in the Middle East, including:

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

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

• Advising Kuwait’s public pension fund (PIFSS) in legal proceedings in the UK High Court against multiple individuals and corporates involved in securing and concealing secret commissions in excess of $1bn via a senior public official.
• Advising 33 claimants, including various Middle Eastern 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 Middle Eastern 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 the investment authority of Ras Al Khaimah (RAKIA) in a long-running dispute with a businessman involving claims of fraudulent misrepresentation, conspiracy and breach of contract and defending allegations of hacking and abuse of process.
• Advising a Saudi oilfield services company in an ICC arbitration against its joint venture partner in claims related to disputed territorial rights to seismic exploration activities.
• Advising a UAE company in its breach of contract claim against one of Asia’s largest manufacturers of household appliances (UAE law/ICC). Damages awarded to the client were in excess of US$100m.
• Advising sovereign wealth funds and asset managers from the Middle East in both the RBS and Tesco securities litigation in the English courts.

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.