Stewarts Law LLP has an ‘excellent practice in banking class actions and litigation’, covering an impressive range of complex disputes for financial institutions. Members of the team are particularly commended for their securities’ litigation knowledge. Mo Bhaskaran and Lucy Ward lead the ’highly focussed group of litigators’, which includes ‘quick, bright, and highly experienced’ Sophie Lalor-Harbord, and Keith Thomas, who has ’great strategic sense’. Laura Jenkins is key to the team, with a notable shareholder disputes practice, while Harry McGowan is noted for his s90 FSMA expertise. Elaina Bailes focuses on fraud and asset recovery matters, while Lorraine Lanceley has extensive class action expertise.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The team is exceptionally good; Sophie Lalor-Harbord is an exceptional team leader and combines high intelligence with real commercial experience and pragmatism.'
- ‘Sophie Lalor-Harbord is quick, bright, and highly experienced. She has excellent judgment, is a pleasure to work with and manages her team with great effectiveness.'
- ‘Stewarts is a specialist litigation firm which large enough to be sufficiently resourced for disputes of any size and complexity, but at the same is small enough to be nimble and flexible. ’
- ‘Sophie Lalor-Harbord is one of the leaders in the group. She has really excellent people management skills, bringing out the best in everyone. Sophie also has excellent matter management skills and is able to handle complex and high value matters.’
- ‘Stewarts' banking litigation group is a highly focussed group of litigators with a great deal of industry knowledge. The team brings together a number of people with complementary skill sets.’
- 'Elaina Bailes is a formidable partner driving forward the case in the most effective way day-to-day. Joe Mitchell has a calm and focussed style which yields great results in an efficient manner. ’
- ‘Keith Thomas is a highly experienced partner with a great strategic sense. Harry McGowan has an incredible grasp of the detail, both factual and legal.'
- ‘Universally acknowledged as a market leader, Stewarts has an excellent practice in banking class actions and litigation.’
- 'Very strong team of partners and associates who provide a premium quality service in all areas. Always very responsive and proactive. A pleasure to deal with.'
- 'Sophie Lalor-Harbord is an exceptional team leader and combines high intelligence with real commercial experience and pragmatism. She commands respect from clients and co-counsel.'
Key clients
- Public Institution for Social Security (Kuwait)
- Tavira Monaco SAM (“Tavira”) based in Monaco
- Arena Television Limited, Arena Aviation Limited, and Arena Holdings Limited (All in Liquidation) (together the Companies). Benjamin Wiles and Robert Armstrong of Kroll Advisory Limited in their capacity as joint liquidators of the Companies.
- Kijani Resources Limited (in liquidation) and Ratio Limited (in liquidation) both acting by their joint liquidators Simon Conway and Edgar Lavarello of PwC.
Work highlights
Representing the Public Institution for Social Security, Kuwait in a claim against the estate of its former Director General and multiple accessory defendants regarding alleged bribery, quantified in excess of circa $2bn plus interest.
Acting for Tavira, in relation to a complex and high value banking fraud claim, in excess of $275m.
Acting for the joint liquidators to pursue claims in negligence against Bank of Scotland plc and Lloyds Bank plc (‘the Banks’) in respect of the banking services provided to the Companies from around 2002. This involves a very significant fraud perpetrated by directors of the Companies which on their collapse has left creditors owed around £280 million.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Mo Bhaskaran; Lucy Ward
Other key lawyers
Sophie Lalor-Harbord; Keith Thomas; Laura Jenkins; Harry McGowan; Elaina Bailes; Lorraine Lanceley; Joe Mitchell