The Legal 500 has again recognised Stewarts as one of the leading disputes firms in its latest guide to the UK legal market. This year’s guide lists Stewarts in 22 practice area categories, more than in any previous year. The Legal 500 2025 also acknowledges a record 59 individuals from across our teams.

Our Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury teams maintain their top rankings in both London and Leeds. They are described as “A really impressive team, who bring great experience and attention to detail to every case. Every case they take on matters to them and gets their A-game. A real class act.” In September we welcomed Anita Jewitt as our new Head of Clinical Negligence, building on our market-leading practice; Anita is one of several members of the team listed as a Leading Partner.

Our Personal Injury department are praised for their “ambition to provide the best possible outcome…” and their “dedication to provide the best quality service.” They are also described as “… the pre-eminent industry leading claimant firm in the field of catastrophic personal injury…” The collegiate approach is also mentioned, with one commentator saying “… the team is able to keep caseloads usually low, allowing team members to get completely on top of their cases.”

Also top ranked in both London and Leeds, our Divorce and Family team are described as “the top team in the country for financial remedies work. They have several big hitting partners and strength in depth at all levels.” Twelve lawyers from the team receive individual rankings.

Our Trust and Probate Litigation maintains its tier one ranking. One commentator describes the team as having gone “…from strength to strength and they are the clear lead specialist litigation team in London. They have one of the most impressive partner teams and some talented associates coming up the ranks.”

Ranked together in the Travel category, our Aviation and International Injury teams are again top-ranked by The Legal 500. The team is described as “The indisputable pinnacle of aviation and travel solicitors. They cannot be matched for experience, knowledge and reach. There is no matter too complex and no opponent too troublesome for Stewarts.” Every partner is now ranked as either Hall of Fame or a Leading Partner.

Our Commercial Litigation team remains top-ranked in Leeds and included in the Premium category in London. One commentator says “In a very competitive environment, like the English legal market, Stewarts Commercial Litigation team stands out for their strategic approach to the case and consideration of the client’s needs…” They are also praised for their “excellent international know-how.”

Stewarts also maintains a top ranking for claimant-side work on Group Litigation. The guide says “Stewarts have consistently been at the forefront of group litigation for a number of years with excellent credentials in securities, competition and tax cases. They are at the top of the market for high value and complex group litigation. They are very knowledgeable about litigation funding and ATE insurance which they use in their cases.” David Pickstone and Kate Pollock join Keith Thomas as individually ranked Leading Partners for this category; Elisa Wahnon is listed as a Leading Associate.

Moving up to Tier 2 this year, our Competition team is praised as being “One of the preeminent claimant firms for competition litigation…” and is noted for having “strong in-house competition economist expertise.” The team is also described as “Passionate, bright, and a total delight to work with, not least as they work so well with each other. Promising stars rise early.”

Also progressing to Tier 2, our Policyholder Disputes team rises through the ranks in its second year of eligibility for The Legal 500. They are described as being “…one of the leading policyholder teams in the country”, having a “combination of true deep technical expertise and commercial understanding.” The guide continues “The team is on top of all cutting-edge areas of the law and provides clients with the support needed to bring about a positive outcome.” All three of the team’s partners now receive individual rankings.

Additional commercial disputes rankings include Tier 2 spots in Fraud and Banking Litigation (including recognising our Securities Litigation team). They are described as “A dynamic team in which the partners and associates work well together. Partners are particularly adept at drawing on the skills of specialist colleagues in other departments (or indeed at firms in other jurisdictions), to deliver sophisticated and well-considered advice.” One commentator praises them as having “…genuine and deep industry knowledge…” and another says “…They are one of the most tactically astute firms I have come across.”

Our Tax Litigation and Resolution practice is in Tier 3. The team is described as “very responsive, very intelligent, carefully and comprehensively considered…” as well as being “…focussed on the issues, attentive and concise with explanations and a business like attitude to addressing the task at hand.” Stewarts is also listed as a ‘firm to watch’ for VAT and indirect tax work, and Giles Salmond is acknowledged as a Leading Partner in this area.

Rising to Tier 4, our International Arbitration team also scores a Tier 3 ranking in Public International Law for the first time. The team is described as “A go-to firm for complex, cross-border disputes worldwide.” The praise continues with one commentator describing the team as “a highly sophisticated disputes practice, with people with real expertise in arbitration law and practice. Highly responsive and truly international in its approach.”

Our Employment team maintains its Tier 4 ranking for Senior Executives work. Joe Lappin is described as “…an excellent partner. His tactical nous sets him apart, as well as the ease with which he deals with clients.” Meanwhile Charlie Thompson is described as “…clever, dynamic, creative and hard-working” with advice being given in “a thoughtful, collaborative and thoroughly professional way.”

Listed for the second consecutive year, our Insolvency and Asset Recovery team are listed as a leading firm. Alex Jay leads the team and is supported by Tim Symes.

Stewarts is also ranked for Professional Negligence work, encompassing our Commercial and Tax Litigation teams. They are described as “a great team. They are very commercial, hugely experienced, and smart.” Alex Lerner and David Pickstone are individually ranked in the category.

Our full departmental and individual rankings in The Legal 500 can be found here.

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