Stuart has been recognised in the directories and legal journals for a number of years as one of the leading juniors in the fields of both employment and commercial litigation. Described in Chambers & Partners 2008 (UK and Global) as "the man you want in your corner if you have a case you need to win at all costs" Stuart is regularly engaged in leading, high-profile cases in the fields of both employment and commercial law.

The references in the leading legal directories over the past 3 years bear testimony to his reputation as adviser, advocate and for his hard-working, no-nonsense and user-friendly approach to litigation.

Adviser

"Cuts through the law and gives extremely commercial advice."
"Thinks extremely carefully and sticks to his guns."
"A demon with the paperwork"

Advocacy

"Well organised and gets straight to the point."
"Tenacious" and merits "nothing but praise for his skills as an advocate"

Approach to litigation

"unbelievably conscientious and thorough"
Admired by opponents for the "lack of flannelling that characterises his approach to litigation".
"completely with you throughout proceedings"

Stuart has a broad employment and commercial practice. It focuses, in particular, on the following areas:

Employment

Employment Injunctions (restraint of trade, garden leave, confidential information, team moves), Bonus Disputes, Director and Senior Employee Disputes (rights and obligations of senior employees and directors, breach of fiduciary duty and accessory claims).

Commercial

Business Sale and Contract Disputes, Commercial Agency, Franchising, Company law, Partnership.

EDUCATION

Stuart read Modern Languages (French and German) at Christ Church Oxford before taking the law conversion course (1993-1994). He won the Everard ver Heyden advocacy prize in the Bar Vocational Course (1994-1995) before undertaking pupillage at Brick Court Chambers (1995-1996).

He is a member of COMBAR, London Commercial and Common Law Bar Association (committee members), ELBA, PNBA. He is an accredited mediator, pupil supervisor and trains advocates for Middle Temple.

PERSONAL

Stuart also tries to acknowledge the existence of a world away from the Bar and the Law, in which he is a school governor, trustee and director of a number of charities. He is married. He is a keen pianist and organist, and, having once played golf to a good standard, continues to play erratically and infrequently as an outlet for the masochistic streak in his character.