Stewarts has achieved rankings in more disputes areas than ever before, achieving 22 rankings across our categories. Our lawyers have secured 80 individual rankings within the guide, including 12 new rankings and 22 promotions.
Chambers is recognised as one of the leading independent directories of legal services. The guide ranks law firms and practitioners based on their case successes, market positioning and feedback from peers and clients.
Our Personal Injury department is top-ranked in London and Leeds, with the guide saying: “Stewarts’ extensive knowledge and expertise was evident, and their proactive communication and meticulous organisation ensured no detail was overlooked.” One client says: “Stewarts are professional but also personal and keep you fully informed with progress. They make you feel like you are not just a case to them but that they genuinely want to do the best for you.” The group holds 18 individual rankings, with Anna Wiseman being newly ranked this year.
Our Aviation team is ranked Band 1 in the UK-wide category and is described as being “widely regarded as the go-to firm for claimants in aviation litigation”. One commentator says: “I was struck by Peter Neenan and Sarah Stewart’s calmness and empathy, and their passion to get the right outcome for the client.” Rebecca Smith is described as “a tough and determined solicitor who fights hard for her clients”.
Our International Injury department also maintains its top ranking. One commentator says: “Their knowledge, expertise and attention to detail sets them apart. They are not insecure in their approach and know how to use the law to their advantage.” The team is the only specialist overseas injury team to have all its partners ranked within the guide. Cheryl Palmer-Hughes is promoted to Band 1 this year.
Our Medical Negligence department is ranked Band 1 in Leeds and ranked in London. The guide says: “Stewarts stands out for its extensive expertise in the sector and its engagement and empathy with its client.” The team boasts 14 individual rankings across both offices, including newly ranked Nadia Krueger-Young, Katherine Fitter and Emily Goddard.
Our Divorce and Family department continues to lead in the London category, maintaining its top ranking. One commentator remarks: “Stewarts is a very strong team with fabulous lawyers.” Another says: “The Stewarts team were at all times strategically astute, ten steps ahead of the opposition, creative in their thinking, solution-focused and highly responsive.” The team has 15 lawyers ranked in this year’s guide.
The team in London is also ranked once again in the children category, with its specialist expertise recognised as being “quick to respond, very efficient and knowledgeable”. Stewarts recently hired Alex Verdan KC as the new Head of the Children team, with one commentator saying of him: “He commands great authority by the depth and level of knowledge in the family law field. His manner is impeccably measured and thoughtful.”
Our Divorce and Family department in Leeds is once again top-ranked. One commentator says: “Stewarts can provide the extremely high standard of service for which they have become well known because they have a strong team of very bright lawyers.”
Stewarts also proudly enters Band 1 for Dispute Resolution Specialist Firms, a newly ranked category. The team is described as having “a considerable presence in the UK’s disputes market” and being renowned for “its capabilities in commercial litigation, arbitration and group action”. The team advises institutional investors, major companies and high net worth individuals.
Our Leeds-based Litigation team retains its top-ranked status. One commentator notes: “Strategy is always key at Stewarts, and they have it at the forefront of their minds with every piece of advice.” Mo Bhaskaran is described as “thorough, dedicated and practical, and he looks at every side of the issue. He has a good understanding of the complexities.” Nick Haworth is described as being “calm and assured in his work” and as having “excellent knowledge of the case”.
Our Policyholder Disputes department is promoted to Band 2 in the UK-wide category. The team is celebrated as having “a very strong team of insurance experts with proven track records”. The guide continues: “The lawyers are very accessible and easy to work with, and they are prominent thought leaders.” One client says: “We have complete trust in their ability to handle the most complex insurance matters.” All of its partners are now recognised in this category.
Our Insolvency and Asset Recovery team is newly ranked in Band 2, with one commentator saying: “From senior partners down to associates, the Stewarts team is incredibly bright and experienced in dealing with complex and sophisticated cross-border matters.” The team, led by Alex Jay, newly ranked in Band 1, is hailed as being “a really, really strong team who work well together”. Tim Symes is also newly ranked this year in Band 3.
Competition Litigation maintains its Band 2 ranking. “The Stewarts team really thinks through things carefully and works through avenues very collaboratively,” says one commentator. Another says: “The lawyers are very experienced, commercial, and know how to resolve complex high-value litigation.” Partner Stuart Carson is newly ranked this year.
Stewarts also maintains its Band 2 ranking for the UK-wide Group Litigation: Claimant category. One commentator remarks: “They’re incredibly strong and very good strategists. They are a firm that do not need to rush to settle. They will litigate to get as strong a compensation as possible for claimants.” The team is co-led by Keith Thomas, ranked Band 1 and David Pickstone, ranked Band 2, with Harry McGowan also ranked.
Our Banking team is again ranked in Band 2 in the UK-wide category. The team is championed for managing “hostile, complex litigation against well-resourced firms”, with one commentator saying: “I have full confidence in its ability to compete in this space.”
Our Tax Litigation and Resolution team is promoted to Band 3 in the UK-wide category. The team is praised as “an experienced team of tax lawyers” offering “excellent strategic insight and [having] extensive experience of litigating complex and sophisticated tax disputes”. David Pickstone and Giles Salmond are both ranked.
Our Professional Negligence team is also promoted to Band 3 this year. The team is highly regarded as being “on top of the detail of the material but [doesn’t] lose sight of the bigger picture”. One commentator says: “Stewarts managed a case for which the level of sophistication necessary was above and beyond what most law firms are able to handle. Stewarts did an incredible job.” James Le Gallais is ranked in Band 2 this year.
Our Commercial Litigation department maintains its Band 3 ranking. One quote says: “Stewarts is very responsive and very sharp when issuing advice and analysis,” with another praising them as providing “excellent legal analysis of the possible heads of claim, and their various pros and cons, alongside timely responses”. Co-head of the department Lucy Ward is ranked in the guide and described as being “responsive and astute”.
Our Fraud team’s UK-wide Band 3 ranking is maintained for another year. The team is described as having “a strong team of civil fraud partners in both London and Leeds,” with another praising them as being “a high performing team that manages complex litigation”. Pia Mithani is ranked in the guide this year and described as “a real superstar. She is lovely to work with and super smart. She is very sophisticated even on the most technical legal points.”
Our International Arbitration department maintains its ranking in this year’s guide. One commentator says about the team: “This department stands out for its effective multidisciplinary collaboration and relentless focus on client satisfaction and quality,” They are praised as being “astute in both commercial and legal terms” and being distinguished by their “entrepreneurial mindset”. All four of its partners are ranked in the guide this year, including their newest hire, Rovine Chandrasekera, who joined in September.”
Our Employment department maintains its ranking. One commentator says: “They are straight talking, offer clear advice and have good strategy,” with another praising them as “compassionate, empathetic and responsive”. Another says: “The team at Stewarts offer a highly personalised and engaged approach to matters. The level of knowledge and skill felt unmatched.” Partners Joseph Lappin and Charlie Thompson are both ranked in the guide.
Our full departmental and individual rankings in the Chambers UK Guide 2026 can be found here.
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