Twenty of our lawyers have been recognised in the latest edition of Chambers High Net Worth, more than in any previous year. Our Divorce and Family and Trust and Probate Litigation departments have maintained their Band 1 rankings in the 2025 guide.

With 14 family lawyers listed, Stewarts scores more rankings in the Family/Matrimonial Finance: Ultra High Net Worth category than any other firm. Five lawyers (including all four partners) from our Trust and Probate team are recognised, a rise on last year and demonstration of the team’s continued success and growth. Both teams are previous multi-time recipients of Chambers High Net Worth Awards in their respective fields. David Pickstone, Head of  Tax Litigation and Resolution is also ranked once again in the new guide.

“The firms and individuals ranked in Chambers High Net Worth understand the complex needs of high net worth individuals and provide specialist advice,” the guide’s introduction states. “These extensive and market-leading recommendations, rankings and insights are based on the in-depth analysis carried out by our dedicated team of experienced researchers.”

Divorce and Family

Our team maintains its top ranking in the Ultra High Net Worth category. Chambers says: “Stewarts is highly sought after by ultra high net worth individuals to advise on complex matrimonial finance matters. The Stewarts team is particularly widely praised for its bench strength.” A client told the guide: “The Stewarts team were at all times strategically astute, ten steps ahead of the opposition, creative in their thinking, solution-focused and highly responsive.”

Head of Divorce and Family Stephen Foster is again one of three Band 1-ranked Stewarts partners in the 2025 guide. “Stephen Foster combines immense charm and a great skill at developing a plan. He’s peerless at that,” a source told Chambers.

Emma Hatley retains her ranking as a Star Individual, an above-and-beyond status “given to lawyers with exceptional recommendations in their field”. The guide reports that “Emma is a standout partner with an extremely quick mind and takes a strategic approach to solving clients’ issues. She’s a joy to work with.”

Top-ranked Debbie Chism “is approachable, astute and has lots of experience. Tactical positioning is her great skill and she’s really good at judging and creating creative structures and outcomes.”

Richard Hogwood is also listed in Band 1. Recognised by Chambers as holding “considerable experience handling international divorce proceedings and drafting nuptial agreements,” testimonials reported he “is really technical and really bright, probably the brightest of his generation.”

Sam Longworth was the lead partner in the recent precedent-setting Standish v Standish Supreme Court judgment, and is equally acknowledged as an “excellent strategist. He’s very good at settling cases and comes up with really good solutions.”

Matthew Humphries “is a top matrimonial litigator. His knowledge of the procedural rules is second to none, his understanding of clients’ needs is brilliant, and his case strategy is brilliant.” Sources reported he is “rapidly building in profile and reputation.”

Chambers says Toby Atkinson is “adept at handling all aspects of family law”, as the new guide states he “has got exactly the right temperament to deal with the high emotions.”

Carly Kinch “is particularly skilled at dealing with complex financial remedy proceedings”, and is recognised as a “phenomenal worker”.

Lucy Stewart-Gould also acted in the Standish v Standish landmark case. “Lucy has a brain the size of a planet”, a source comments. “[She] is super smart, very driven, and very focused on results for her clients.”

Sophie Chapman is recognised for her work on divorce, nuptial agreements and children matters. “Sophie orchestrated an extremely well-thought-through strategy and had a phenomenal eye on the detail while keeping a keen focus on the broader picture and my strategic goals,” a client reported.

Voirrey Ward is again listed as an Up and Coming partner. Recognised by Chambers as a “well-regarded partner”, she is described as “very intelligent, astute and highly effective. She’s really polished.”

Also in the Up and Coming category, Jenny Duggan “advises on complex matrimonial finance matters, including nuptial agreements.”

Sarah Havers is recognised as an Associate to Watch: “Sarah is extremely good at client management and at getting into the detail of a case.”

Helen Ward is also listed as a Senior Statesperson.

Trust and Probate Litigation

Top-ranked by Chambers in the Private Wealth Disputes section, our Trusts team “continues to impress the private client market. The firm’s purely litigation model ensures that partners are well placed to handle significant private wealth disputes, including those with offshore elements.” One testimonial says: “The calibre and exceptional talent of the team across the board stands out. Their pragmatic nature, commercial awareness and ability to simply win is second to none.”

Head of Trust and Probate Litigation James Price is again ranked in Band 1. Sources say James “is superbly well positioned to deal with complex and long-running cases because he remembers every detail. [He] has a really strong grasp of clients’ needs, and is decisive and efficient.”

Partner Geoff Kertesz “is brilliant”, a Chambers interviewee summarises. “He brings great insight to cases and is so energetic. He is always on the circuit, very knowledgeable and well known in the space.”

Emma Holland is in equal parts “very calm and unflappable under pressure with clients”, and “an impressive technical lawyer. Emma is all over the issues and detail from the word go; she is very proactive at working out long-term strategy for litigation.”

Bringing his “previous experience as a professional fiduciary to complex cases”, Marcus Parker “is an understated genius. His expertise, attention to detail, and proactive approach were incredibly helpful in navigating the situation,” a client says.

Newly ranked by Chambers in 2025, Jemma Goddard is listed as an Associate to Watch. The guide says: “Jemma is extremely well organised, gets work done to a high standard and does it quickly. Clients love her. She is a good all-rounder.”

Tax Litigation and Resolution

Head of  Tax Litigation and Resolution David Pickstone “has considerable experience advising high net worth clients on complex tax disputes with HMRC”, Chambers notes. He is recognised for his work on the Ingenious and Eclipse litigation acting for large numbers of claimants on claims arising from investments in tax-efficient investment vehicles.

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