GT Stewart Limited > Dartford, England > Firm Profile

GT Stewart Limited
35 ESSEX ROAD
DARTFORD
DA1 2AU
England

Crime, fraud and licensing > General crime and fraud Tier 3

Real estate > Social housing: tenant Tier 3

The ‘excellent‘ social housing team at GT Stewart Limited advises tenants on any type of social housing claim, including disrepair, anti-social behaviour, illegal evictions and service charge disputes, and frequently works closely with charities on housing matters. ‘Incredibly efficient litigator‘ Claire Wiles is experienced in acting for clients that lack capacity and James Garvey acts predominantly for leaseholders. Sarah Mossop has a specialism in disrepair claims and works ‘extremely hard to get the best outcome‘ for clients. Clients appreciate that the members of the team ‘are willing to go the extra mile‘ for them.

Practice head(s):

Claire Wiles; James Garvey

Other key lawyers:

Sarah Mossop; Michael McCrone; Denise Phillips; Susan Gronbach; Simeon Wilmore

Testimonials

‘I primarily dealt with Sarah Mossop: extremely knowledgeable and professional. Sarah was very efficient and worked extremely hard to get the best outcome. I felt she was prepared to try any approach, from conference meetings to reading recent case law and seeking advice from an expert barrister on one particular aspect of the case which clearly gave an advantage in further negotiations.’

‘We found Michael McCrone and Sarah Mossop had expert knowledge specific to our case and fully understood the issues and complexities it entailed, whilst being able to fully explain the legal implications to us as clients, throughout the duration of the case, at all stages.’

‘Simeon Wilmore is not only experienced; he is also a very creative and engaged social housing lawyer. That means he can not only handle complex cases of great importance to his clients, but also unusual cases, where a fresh or different perspective on the law is required in order to achieve a result for the tenant.’

‘The team are extremely committed, and have substantial experience in the social housing space. They show excellent client care skills – at times in very difficult situations.’

‘Claire Wiles – seriously competent and commercially sensible. Simeon Wilmore – always willing to go the extra mile for clients – similarly knowledgeable and practical.’

‘This is not a “stack ’em high” type of practice. They work really hard and tirelessly for their clients, developing individual and proportionate solutions, as well as fighting exceptionally hard for their interests. An outstanding firm, with outstanding individuals’

‘Claire Wiles is one of the top housing solicitors in England. Thorough, clever, and absolutely passionate about her clients.’

‘The team work tirelessly for their clients, going above and beyond many legal aid solicitors. They approach their cases with care and achieve fantastic results for their clients.’

Crime, fraud and licensing > Crime: general Tier 2

‘Fantastic, forward thinking firm’ GT Stewart Limited fields multiple dedicated teams to effectively cover all areas of criminal law. The department acts for both legal aid and private clients, and cover a broad range of work including murder, protest law, drugs offences and modern slavery. Greg Stewart heads the appeals team, and is co-managing partner alongside higher court advocate Melanie Krudy. Mel Stooks leads on youth crime, while ‘ top tier solicitor’ Will Russell heads up the private client and South East London teams. Sophie Smith leads the team for South West London, Claire Dissington covers the City of London, and Ronnie Manek is the key name for higher courts advocacy.

Practice head(s):

Greg Stewart; Mel Stooks; Claire Dissington; Will Russell; Sophie Smith; Ronnie Manek

Other key lawyers:

Edward Fenner; Jessica Gosling; Edward Caute

Testimonials

‘GT Stewart are a proper criminal defence firm of which there are now increasingly few. Any criminal client seeking their advice can be sure of sound, robust but realistic advice and representation.’

‘Mel Stooks is the undoubted expert when it comes to representing children and young people. Her depth of knowledge, calmness and compassion is evident in every case with which she deals.’

‘A fantastic, forward thinking firm, with client care very much at the forefront of their minds. Their attention to detail, skill set and knowledge is all exceptional.’

‘Will Russell – A top tier solicitor with unrvialled tactical skill and knoweldge. He is calm under the utmost pressure and circumstances, while maintaining the most realistic of approaches.’

‘GT Stewart goes the extra mile for its clients. There is no question of frequent visits and effective communication. The legal advice is sound and the quality of work produced excellent.’

‘GT Stewart are not afraid to take on a challenge to make sure that the law is being upheld. They provide unwavering strong support and demonstrate real compassion and care when it comes to the service that they provide their families.’

‘Mel Stooks, font of all knowledge when it comes to youth law. She ensures that she is up to date with all relevant changes and educates others to ensure that all children are provided with a high level of service.’

‘An excellent team who always go the extra mile as standard.’

Work highlights

Represented young defendant in a multi handed murder trial.
Represented client MP in a four handed trial charged with criminal damage following a Black Lives Matter protest.
Represented client who was charged with possession of a bladed article. The decision of the lower court was appealed by way of case stated.

Crime, fraud and licensing > General crime and fraud Tier 2

Expertise at GT Stewart Limited encompasses youth crime, sexual offences, criminal appeals, driving offences, extradition and prison law. The practice is headed by Patricia Walker, who is also active on criminal damage and murder proceedings.

Leading Individuals

Patricia Walker - GT Stewart Limited

Practice head(s):

Patricia Walker

Other key lawyers:

Greg Stewart; Philip Mahoney; Michelle Stewart; Graham Whittingham

Testimonials

‘This practice goes the extra mile for their clients and tirelessly works to ensure effective case management and efficiency. They handle difficult clients exceptionally well and it is understandable that clients return to their services time and time again.’

‘The client care is incredible and in a system where legal aid fees are being squeezed and many competitors are looking for ways of saving money, these individuals are going the extra mile for their clients.’

‘Patricia Walker’s engagement, commitment and quality continue to be exceptional. She is also a supervisory solicitor and I am confident that she is passing on those skills to the next generation of solicitors within the practice.’

Work highlights

GT Stewart Solicitors & Advocates is a leading multi-service UK firm specialising in criminal defence, family and civil rights law. It has a national presence across ten offices – Ashford, Birmingham, City of London, Croydon, Dartford, East Dulwich, Hammersmith, Leeds Manchester and Peterborough. It provides 24 hour emergency advice to anyone who has been arrested.

GT Stewart has earned a reputation in the courts for fighting tenaciously and fairly for all clients. We keep to our strapline ‘every client matters’. The recent addition of the crime and family teams at FMW Law in Hammersmith has enhanced that reputation.

GT Stewart is on the approved and recommended list of solicitors for the National Autistic Society (NAS) and we have contributed to the Rook Working Group for Advocacy Training which produced the Advocacy and Vulnerable Training Programme. The founder and driving force behind the success of the firm, Greg Stewart, has been involved in many high profile and sensitive cases in the Crown Courts and Court of Appeal. He is the co-author of the Criminal Appeals Handbook (Bloomsbury Professional 2nd edition). He regularly contributes to consultations and discussions of criminal justice and recently appeared on Unreliable Evidence on Radio 4 discussing anti-social behaviour. In May 2019 he and the head of our Youth Court team, Mel Stooks, were jointly awarded the Youth Champions Outstanding Achievement Award at the annual Youth Summit at Kings College London. The firm has a first class in-house advocacy team, consisting of in-house barristers and solicitor advocates. They can be found on the firm’s website www.gtstewart.co.uk

Types of work undertaken
Criminal defence: GT Stewart Solicitors & Advocates provide a wide range of legal services to both individuals and businesses on a private or legal aid basis. The criminal defence team represent clients who are arrested and/or charged with a variety of serious criminal offences from the police station through to the Court of Appeal. The team comprises barristers and solicitor advocates. The team defend actions by the prosecuting agencies such as the Crown Prosecution Services (CPS), SFO, FCA, HMRC, HSE and the Office of Fair Trading. The firm is a member of the LAA Very High Cost Cases panel. The firm represents professionals facing prosecution and/or regulatory complaints. The firm has successfully challenged many decisions to prosecute by the CPS. They regularly challenge refusals of the police to vary or discharge ancillary criminal orders and DBS certificates. They have experience opposing and appealing Criminal Behaviour Orders and Gang Injunction applications.

Motoring offences: GT Stewart Solicitors & Advocates has skilled and experienced solicitors able to defend clients facing allegations such as causing death by dangerous or careless driving, driving whilst unfit or under the influence of drugs, driving without a licence or speeding.

Education and social welfare: GT Stewart Solicitors & Advocates has been awarded a contract by the Legal Aid Agency to offer advice and assistance in education law in London and North of England. The team provide the full range of services including appealing admission and exclusion decisions, enforcing provisions for Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) pupils, Education Health and Care Plans and judicially reviewing local authorities’ education related decisions. The specialist members of the team have experience representing children with a spectrum of disabilities and special needs bringing judicial review proceedings on behalf of advocates, campaign organisations and charities.

Prison law: GT Stewart Solicitors has a team of solicitors specialising in all areas of prison law. They hold a LAA contract to accept publicly funded prison law work. They can represent clients at adjudications, Parole Board Hearings and advise across the full range of prison law related matters includes IPPs, life sentence reviews and where necessary challenging decisions on behalf of clients by way of judicial review. If public funded is not available they can provide competitively priced private cost estimates.

Family: GT Stewart Solicitors has a large team of solicitors specialising in all areas of family law including divorce, Children Act issues, abduction, domestic abuse, care proceedings and private children’s law. Several of the team are members of Resolution and the Children’s Panel. They can provide affordable competitive private quotes for those who do not qualify for legal aid.

Civil liberties, human rights and actions against the state: the team has exceptional experience pursuing remedies for clients or their families when they have suffered wrongs at the hands of the State or their agents including the police, prison officers, local authorities and public bodies who need access to justice. These include article 2 and 8 HRA cases involving suspicious deaths in custody.

Department	Name	Email	Telephone
Criminal Defence	Greg Stewart	g.stewart@gtstewart.co.uk	0208 299 6000
Criminal Defence	Melanie Krudy	m.krudy@gtstewart.co.uk	0208 299 6000
Criminal Defence	Julie Ann Boyle	j.boyle@gtstewart.co.uk	0208 299 6000
Criminal Defence	Philip Mahoney	p.mahoney@gtstewart.co.uk	0113 222 4888
Criminal Defence	Ronnie Manek	r.manek@gtstewart.co.uk	0208 299 6000
Criminal Defence	Sophie Smith	s.smith@gtstewart.co.uk	0208 299 6000
Criminal Defence	Mel Stooks	m.stooks@gtstewart.co.uk	0208 299 6000
Criminal Defence	Will Russell	w.russell@gtstewart.co.uk	0208 299 6000
Criminal Defence	Patricia Walker	p.walker@gtstewart.co.uk	0113 222 4888
Prison Law	Len Hodkin	l.hodkin@gtstewart.co.uk	0208 299 6000
Prison Law	Dr Laura Janes	l.janes@gtstewart.co.uk	0208 299 6000
Prison Law	Rikki Garg	r.garg@gtstewart.co.uk	0208 299 6000
Family Law	Geoffrey Costello	g.costello@gtstewart.co.uk	020 299 6000
Family Law	Nancy Freeman	n.freeman@gtstewart.co.uk	020 299 6000
Family Law	Rachel Wood	r.wood@gtstewart.co.uk	0208 299 6000
Housing Law	Denise Phillips	d.phillips@gtstewart.co.uk	0208 299 6000
Housing Law	Susan Gronbach	s.gronbach@gtstewart.co.uk	0208 299 6000
Housing Law	Claire Wiles	c.wiles@gtstewart.co.uk	0208 299 6000
Civil Liberties	Bhaskar Banerjee	b.banerjee@gtstewart.co.uk	0208 299 6000
Community Care	Rebecca Hill	r.hill@gtstewart.co.uk	0208 299 6000
Actions Against the State	Bhaskar Banerjee	b.banerjee@gtstewart.co.uk	0208 299 6000
Education Law	Rebecca Hill	r.hill@gtstewart.co.uk	0208 299 6000
Motoring Law	Greg Stewart	g.stewart@gtstewart.co.uk	0208 299 6000
Motoring Law	Julie Ann Boyle	j.boyle@gtstewart.co.uk	0208 299 6000
Motoring Law	Philip Mahoney	p.mahoney@gtstewart.co.uk	0113 222 4888
Motoring Law	Sophie Smith	s.smith@gtstewart.co.uk	0208 299 6000
Motoring Law	Will Russell	w.russell@gtstewart.co.uk	0208 299 6000