About
Provided by Stewarts
We advise on complex, large-scale and often high-profile disputes in the UK and other jurisdictions.
We act for high net worth individuals, families, family offices, trustees, trust companies and charities. The work we undertake includes both onshore and offshore trust litigation, domestic and international probate disputes, as well as work in the Court of Protection.
The practice has earned an outstanding reputation and is led by Band 1 ranked James Price. The arrival of Geoff Kertesz adds further strength and depth to the team.
In addition to conducting litigation in the UK, our lawyers coordinate claims in overseas jurisdictions, when necessary working alongside specialist law firms and non-legal professionals around the world. We also have a range of language skills including French, Italian, Spanish, Mandarin, Polish, and Russian.
We have unrivalled experience in putting together innovative costs arrangements. The use of third party funding, after-the-event insurance and risk-sharing fee agreements enables our clients to manage risk and litigate from a position of financial strength.
The department collaborates frequently with the firm’s highly experienced Divorce and Family, Tax Litigation, Commercial Litigation and Arbitration departments.
Chambers Review
Stewarts 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.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Stewarts are a truly top outfit."
"The work they do is first-rate and top-tier."
"Stewarts is a very strong litigation firm with ability to handle complex and multi-jurisdictional matters."
"Stewarts are a truly top outfit."
"The work they do is first-rate and top-tier."
"Stewarts is a very strong litigation firm with ability to handle complex and multi-jurisdictional matters."
Notable Practitioners
James Price leads the trust and probate litigation practice at the firm. He regularly handles cases proceeding in offshore jurisdictions, as well as in England, and can bring experience of fraud asset tracing matters to trusts cases.
"James is able to provide clear and crisp solutions and has a high level of experience managing matters."
"I have nothing but praise for James Price. He is very sensible, always constructive and diligent."
"James is a great strategist and he has lots of very helpful experience. He sees things from different a perspective and is a very safe pair of hands. He is the sort of person clients want to hear from."
Geoffrey Kertesz is a dual-qualified lawyer in England & Wales and California. He regularly represents ultra-high net worth clients in disputes spanning various jurisdictions.
"Geoff Kertesz is very good at wearing his extensive legal knowledge lightly, so that it is comprehensible to the lay client."
"Geoff is technically very capable and very sensible. He is extremely impressive."
"Geoff is very proactive in running a matter. He reads very well what the client wants him to do and brings a lot of energy to it."
Emma Holland assists in various trust and estate disputes that often cover multiple jurisdictions. Her expertise includes matters concerning the validity of wills, capacity and Inheritance Act claims.
"Emma has strong organisation skills and is extremely responsive. Her thoughts are also clear and well analysed."
"Emma is extremely thorough and spots the issue very quickly. She has that nice balance between understanding commerciality and understanding the law, without being too far one way."
Luca del Panta is a senior associate in the firm's trust and probate litigation team. He has assisted on some of the firm's most significant trusts dispute work and regularly handles will and probate disputes involving claims of undue influence and lack of capacity.
"Luca del Panta is great and a very thorough, bright, hard-working litigator."
"He is a delight to work with. He's very academic, writes incredibly well, is liked by clients and is well organised."
Lavinia Randall advises protectors, as well as fiduciaries and beneficiaries on trusts disputes onshore and offshore. She also assists with will challenges and contentious estate administration matters.
"Lavinia is fantastically on top of matters and understands the strategy at every level."
"Lavinia is a great addition to the Stewarts team."
Ranked Individuals at
Stewarts
London (Firms)