James Stewart

Practice Areas

James Stewart is the Managing Partner of Howard Kennedy. James is responsible for driving the overall strategic direction and performance of the firm.

Prior to taking on this role, James was Head of Real Estate, a full-service department of eight teams and 160 people which covers development, landlord and tenant, construction and planning and as well as advising clients on asset management, banking and real estate finance (including Islamic finance), investment and residential development sales and specialist real estate disputes. He has been a member of Howard Kennedy's board since 2023.

James is a construction lawyer with particular expertise in development and development finance, advising on residential, commercial and mixed-use schemes where he has advised clients on a broad mix of contentious and non-contentious construction and development work. His work spans the full lifecycle of a project, from initial structuring and funding through to completion and post-completion disputes. He advises on professional appointments, bonds, warranties, and construction contracts, as well as the construction elements of development agreements.

He acts for a range of clients including developers, funders, consultants, and specialist sub-contractors. His advice covers the entire project journey, with a focus on risk mitigation and commercial outcomes. He continues to work closely with clients to navigate the increasingly complex legal and commercial challenges of the built environment.