Repeating their 2022 success in the Family Law Team of the Year category, our Divorce and Family team has again been awarded the prize at the Chambers High Net Worth Awards 2023.

Our team is ranked top in the Ultra High Net Worth category by Chambers, and is described as “second to none for family law”. Market sources say Stewarts is “without a doubt the number one divorce firm in the country by a country mile. Stewarts provides clients with quality advice… they are effective and go the extra mile.”

The awards “recognise a law firm’s pre-eminence in key jurisdictions and reflect achievements over the past 12 months including outstanding work, impressive strategic growth, and excellence in client service. They honour national and international law firms across the world based on the research for the recent edition of Chambers High Net Worth.”

Partners Sam Longworth and Sophie Chapman collected the award on behalf of the team at the ceremony, hosted on 13 July at The Grand in London.

Head of Department Stephen Foster says:

“Thank you to Chambers for recognising our team as the standout in the field for the second consecutive year. This sustained success is a powerful endorsement of our growing talent pool and continued work leading the market on high net worth and complex financial and children’s law cases.”

Our Divorce and Family team

With 13 individuals ranked, our Band 1 team has more total rankings than any other firm.

Head of Department Stephen Foster is in Band 1 alongside fellow partners Debbie Chism and Richard Hogwood. Stephen is credited with “huge experience and significant international expertise,” and commended as “a strategic lawyer with a methodical approach. He is great at seeing the bigger picture and achieving results for clients.”

Emma Hatley is acknowledged by Chambers as a Star Individual. “She’s one of the brightest legal technicians that I’ve ever dealt with,” an interviewee says. “She is a really formidable opponent; when she’s on a case it’s like having two silks on the other side.” Helen Ward is listed as a Senior Statesperson and “an absolute titan of the family law world. Her skills and abilities are legendary.”

Debbie “enjoys a fantastic reputation for her expertise in complex family matters” according to Chambers. She is described by a source as “fantastic with clients. She is my go-to for collaborative law matters.” Richard is described as “totally, totally efficient and effective in everything that he does. If you want something done, Richard has already done it. He’s always ten steps ahead on a matter.”

Matthew Humphries rose to Band 2 in the 2022 rankings. Chambers interviewees describe him as “the full package: he is hugely knowledgeable, has fantastic judgement and great client skills.”

Toby Atkinson and Sam Longworth are listed in Band 3. The guide says Toby “combines all the qualities that you want; he’s practical, empathetic and extraordinarily knowledgeable.” Sam is credited with a “phenomenal work ethic” by an interviewee: “He is very client-focused, very knowledgeable and great to deal with.”

Previously listed as an Up and Coming partner, Carly Kinch has now risen to Band 4. “Particularly skilled at dealing with complex financial remedy proceedings,” Carly “has incredibly sound judgement and good client management.”

Sophie Chapman and Lucy Stewart-Gould appear as Up and Coming partners. Sophie is hailed as “a rising star. She combines a number of skills that make her terrific; she is exceptionally calm under pressure and really good on the detail of a case.” Lucy is “one of the best junior lawyers in the market right now,” according to an interviewee. Another says “her level of knowledge and ability is unparalleled for someone of her generation.”

Ranked as Associates to Watch by Chambers, Senior Associates Jenny Duggan and Sarah Havers also debuted in the 2022 guide. A family law barrister praises Jenny as “very strategic, detailed and thorough,” while a fellow solicitor says she is “really approachable and knowledgeable.” Sarah also earns excellent commentary: “She is very good on cross-jurisdiction cases, she’s great with clients and has strong judgement. You would trust her to run a big case.”