Alex Verdan KC will join Stewarts’ pre-eminent Divorce and Family department as Head of its 13-strong team of specialist children’s lawyers.

In a first-of-its-kind move within the family law market, Stewarts’ clients will now benefit from receiving immediate KC input, strategic advice and advocacy from their first meeting right through to the complete resolution of their case. Long established as one of the leading advocates in international children’s disputes, Alex has acted in some of the most high-profile and significant children’s cases over the last few decades.

Alex will continue to sit as a deputy High Court judge. As one of the country’s foremost and most sought-after children’s arbitrators and mediators, he will significantly strengthen the team’s non-court dispute resolution options.

Alex comments: “Having worked closely with the Stewarts team whilst at 4PB, I am delighted to be joining them to head up their specialist children’s team. The rise of non-court dispute resolution, such as arbitration in particular, has put a premium on immediate, in-house strategic advice and advocacy. From the client’s perspective, having all expertise under one roof will offer more choices and options and ensure faster advice, consistent strategy and more efficient case progression.”

Head of Divorce and Family, Stephen Foster, comments: “Alex’s appointment represents a pivotal moment for our specialist children’s team. By combining the best of the bar with the leading divorce and family team in London, Stewarts will now offer clients a genuinely integrated, one-stop-shop model that delivers seamless counsel and solicitor services from case inception to conclusion. This simple but radical union of both sides of the profession under one roof will greatly enhance the services we offer to clients.”

Managing Partner Stuart Dench comments: “I am delighted to welcome Alex to the firm. This is an exciting appointment, which underlines our commitment to innovation and will enhance our ability to deliver sophisticated, comprehensive and seamless legal solutions for clients at every stage of complex legal matters.”

Stewarts’ award-winning Divorce and Family team is top ranked in the leading legal directories. The team consists of 15 partners and 26 associates who deal with all aspects of divorce and family work, from financial matters, children’s disputes and pre-nuptial agreements. Alex will join the team on 6 October.