The latest edition of Chambers High Net Worth again recognises our Divorce and Family and Trust and Probate Litigation teams as market leaders with Band 1 rankings, while 19 lawyers earn individual rankings.

At the recent Chambers High Net Worth Awards 2024, our Trust and Probate Litigation team was recognised as Contentious Trusts and Estates Team of the Year. Our Divorce and Family team has 14 individuals ranked this year, more than any other firm listed for family law and a new record for Stewarts.

Chambers High Net Worth “differentiates the best professional advisers for international private wealth by identifying and ranking law firms, lawyers and a range of other professional advisers globally,” according to the guide.

 

Divorce and Family

Our team is top-ranked in the Family/Matrimonial Finance: 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.” Clients say the “unrivalled” team has “huge experience in big cases.”

Head of Divorce and Family Stephen Foster and partners Debbie Chism and Richard Hogwood are all top ranked in the guide. “Stephen is not only a brilliant leader of the team but also has a hugely busy practice himself,” Chambers’ sources say. “He is just a master tactician and brings very clever insight into cases… Stephen’s judgement is unsurpassed.”

Debbie Chism “is pre-eminent among her peers,” the guide says. “She has an amazing feeling for how people will come across in evidence and how vulnerabilities will come across to the other side. Debbie is a brilliant lawyer with excellent strategic and tactical experience.”

Noted for his experience in both divorces and nuptial agreements, Richard Hogwood “is well versed and knowledgeable on international trusts and wealth protection, which feeds into his wide ranging prenup practice. Richard has phenomenal experience and knowledge couched in an excellent bedside manner.”

Listed as a Star Individual, Emma Hatley “is widely admired as a leading practitioner for complex domestic and international family matters.” Interviewees say she is “an absolutely stellar family lawyer – recognised to be top of the tree. Brilliant on the technical side of the law as well as negotiating highly sophisticated settlements.”

Following his recent success as the lead partner in the landmark Standish v Standish case, Sam Longworth moves up to Band 2 in 2024. “Sam is absolutely first class, very solution-focused and imaginative,” interviewees say. “[He strikes a] good balance between commercial awareness and getting things done.”

Also listed in Band 2, Matthew Humphries “is very aware of tactical issues and very good at foresight. He plans out where the end should be; a lot of thought goes into it. Matthew is an astute litigator, very affable, and clients like him.”

Toby Atkinson is ranked in Band 3. “Toby’s forte is combining legal knowledge about companies and matrimonial finance; to bring that together is very difficult,” one source said. “He is a passionate family lawyer who will always go the extra mile for the client.”

Listed in Band 4, Carly Kinch “has the ability to grasp the most complicated financial structures and to cut right through to the heart of any matter” according to interviewees. “She really is a star in the making.”

Previously recognised as an Up and Coming partner, Lucy Stewart-Gould rises to the numbered rankings this year in Band 5: “Lucy has a brain the size of a planet. She is a tough litigator, and because she has that brain she remembers everything in the case and brings that perspective to litigation that others might miss.”

Sophie Chapman is also in Band 5 and is praised for “her great attention to detail and working tirelessly and very effectively for her clients.” Sophie’s “broad” practice encompasses divorce, nuptial agreements and children matters.

Having made partner in 2023 and 2024 respectively, Voirrey Ward and Jenny Duggan are newly listed as Up and Coming partners by Chambers. “Jenny is ferociously bright. She gets the law and the angle of the case in a way that is really impressive to see,” sources report. “Jenny is indomitable in the face of adversity.”

Voirrey was also recognised as the Rising Star of the Year at the Chambers High Net Worth Awards 2024. “Voirrey is incredible. She’s all over the detail and the numbers, and she keeps everybody on their toes. She has a feel for where things are and doesn’t let things drop.”

Sarah Havers is again listed as an Associate to Watch, and is described as “another of the rising stars in the strong Stewarts associate cohort who is developing considerable international experience.”

Helen Ward is recognised as a Senior Statesperson and “a highly regarded figure within the matrimonial market.”

 

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 guide says. “The firm’s purely litigation model ensures that partners are well placed to handle significant private wealth disputes, including those with offshore elements.” A client describes Stewarts as “a fantastic firm that has strength in depth, and they are a pleasure to deal with.”

Head of Trust and Probate Litigation James Price is again ranked in Band 1. Sources says he “has a great deal of gravitas. He’s very clever, very articulate and robust. He’s a deep thinker and also very sensible.” The guide notes he regularly handles cases proceeding in offshore jurisdictions as well as in England, “and can bring experience of fraud and asset tracing matters to trusts cases.”

Dual-qualified in England & Wales and California, Geoff Kertesz is in Band 2. “He is an impressive operator – sharp and bright.” sources say. “He is very well liked, well respected and client-friendly.”

Emma Holland rises to Band 3 this year. Described by market commentators as “excellent to work with,” Emma is “really super bright and responsive, and gets to the heart of the legal and practical difficulties very quickly” according to once source.

Having joined Stewarts in October 2022, Marcus Parker has added depth to the team with his “previous experience as a professional fiduciary to complex cases”. He is ranked in Band 4 by Chambers in 2024: “Marcus is an exceptional private client practitioner with a network of clients that is enviable and an ability to solve their problems that is matched only by his commercial acumen.”

 

Tax Litigation and Resolution

Head of Tax Litigation and Resolution David Pickstone is again ranked in Band 2 based on his “considerable experience advising high net worth clients on complex tax disputes with HMRC.” Interviewees highlighted his “great interpersonal skills; he is a nice person and good with his clients, with a good bedside manner.”

 


 

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