Stephen Ruttle KC

Practice Areas

Stephen has practised at Brick Court Chambers since 1978 and has worked full-time as a commercial mediator for the past 23 years. By June 2025, he had mediated over 2,000 business, legal, and governmental disputes of every kind, including some of the largest and most sensitive in the UK and internationally. In 2019, he co-mediated the landmark Group Litigation between Sub Postmasters and Post Office, and during the 2020–21 lockdowns conducted nearly 100 virtual mediations. While based in London, he regularly mediates across the UK and abroad, often involving sums exceeding £1bn.

Stephen is consistently ranked as a leading commercial mediator in The Legal 500 and Chambers. For three years he was listed among the top 10 commercial mediators worldwide by WWL, which in 2018 also named him one of 15 global “Thought Leaders” in mediation. He has since been appointed to The Legal 500’s “Hall of Fame” for mediators of the highest excellence.

Beyond his professional practice, Stephen founded Wandsworth Mediation Service in 2004, serving as chair of trustees from 2007 to 2024. The charity provides community mediation, trains local mediators, and promotes peace initiatives, and in 2024 was awarded the inaugural King’s Award for Voluntary Service. He is also developing a pilot project for a national community peace service.

Over the past eight years, Stephen has increasingly mediated disputes within the church and between faith groups. He works closely with the Archbishop of Canterbury’s reconciliation team and contributed to the 2013 Faith in Conflict conference at Coventry Cathedral.