Stewarts has been recognised in the Chambers Litigation Support 2026 guide across its litigation funding, costs disputes and asset recovery practices, with multiple individual rankings and continued strength across its specialist offering.
The firm is ranked in three key areas in this year’s guide, including Band 2 for Litigation Finance Deal Counsel (UK-wide), Band 3 for Costs (UK-wide), and Band 4 for Asset Tracing & Recovery (Global-wide).
Partners Julian Chamberlayne and Alex Jay receive individual rankings in Litigation Finance Deal Counsel, with Julian ranked Band 1 and Alex Band 2. Alex is also ranked Band 2 globally for Asset Tracing & Recovery, reflecting his leading role in complex, cross-border recovery matters.
Litigation funding advice
Stewarts continues to be recognised for its expertise advising on litigation funding, costs and insurance arrangements for complex disputes. Chambers highlights the firm’s “strength of knowledge, experience and track record of success” and its ability to deliver commercially focused funding strategies.
Sources note that the team is “financially astute and very commercial in how it structures and pursues claims”, with deep understanding of both the funding and adverse costs insurance markets.
Both Julian Chamberlayne (UK-wide, Band 1, up from Band 2 in 2025) and Alex Jay (UK-wide Band 2) are individually ranked. Chambers notes that Julian “knows this market extremely well” and is “a very strong negotiator” with a detailed grasp of funding arrangements.
Alex is recognised as “incredibly diligent and thorough” with a commercial approach to funding and dispute strategy.
Costs disputes
Stewarts’ Costs team is again ranked by Chambers, reflecting the firm’s longstanding expertise in high-value, complex costs and funding disputes.
Sources highlight the team’s “genuine knowledge and excellence in this area” and its “comprehensive and streamlined approach across the firm”.
The practice advises on complex disputes relating to legal costs, litigation funding and insurance, acting both as a core ancillary service for existing clients and increasingly on a standalone basis for significant, high-value mandates.
Asset recovery
Stewarts’ Asset Recovery team is recognised in the global-wide rankings for the fourth consecutive year, reflecting its continued strength in international asset tracing and recovery.
Chambers describes the firm as having “outstanding investigative capabilities” and a “hands-on approach”, with the ability to handle “sensitive, time-critical, and urgent matters with professionalism and discipline”.
Clients also point to the team’s “strategic clarity” and “forensic grip on the detail”, highlighting its ability to run complex litigation with discipline and momentum.
Alex Jay is ranked Band 2 (up from Band 3 in 2025) globally, with sources describing him as “a master tactician” who combines commercial awareness with flexible, strategic thinking in high-value disputes.
The team acts for officeholders, creditors and stakeholders in identifying, securing and recovering assets across jurisdictions, often in cases involving fraud, insolvency and attempts to conceal assets.
