STEWART LEECH

Call: 1992

Practice profile
Stewart specialises in ancillary relief and cohabitee disputes, generally involving significant wealth and complex financial arrangements. His cases often have an international dimension and frequently involve jurisdictional disputes. He is bilingual in French and English and has a particular interest in cross-channel cases. He is regularly pitted against silks and is rated in Legal Experts, the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners as one of the leading juniors at the family bar. He has been described in Chambers & Partners 2010 as '..."very clever, very calm, fantastic with clients and good with judges". Recent editions describe him as ' a late starter at the Bar after a successful teaching career with a maturity and confidence that allows him to bring a dash of theatricality into his expertly prepared addressess', 'excellent', a "fierce advocate" adding that he 'continues to amass a huge following among solicitors due to his superb judgment.' He prides himself on being approachable and user-friendly.

Interesting cases
H v H (pensions) [2009] EWHC 3739, [2010] Fam Law 575, 2 FLR (forthcoming)
M v V (Art 23 Brussels 1) [2010] EWHC 1453 (Fam) (23 June 2010) (available at www.bailii.org)
Judge v Judge [2008] EWCA Civ 1458
Mahon v Mahon [2008] EWCA Civ 901
CR v CR [2008] 1 FLR 323
Moore v Moore [2007]2 FLR 339
Sulaiman v Juffali [2002] 1 FLR 479
Khreino v Khreino (No 2) [2000] 1 FCR 80
Joseph v Joseph, Independent Law Reports, 14.12.98

Lectures and publications
Stewart is a seasoned and popular choice as a speaker.  He has lectured extensively on family and human rights law, and on the law relating to same-sex partners.  He was heavily involved in training the judiciary, the bar, solicitors, and the LCD on the Human Rights Act when it first came into force.

He has written numerous reviews and articles including:
"Palm Tree Justice": The Distribution of Chattels on the Breakdown of a Marriage, Christie's Bulletin for Professional Advisers (1996)
"With All my Worldly Goods I Thee Endow"? The Status of Pre-Nuptial Agreements in England and Wales, Family Law Quarterly (American Bar Association), (2000) vol 34
Marriage, Divorce and Ancillary Relief under the Human Rights Act 1998: An Introduction, European Human Rights Law Review [2001] issue 3

Appointments and Memberships
Stewart is a member of the FLBA and was a Committee member for many years.
In February 2009 he was appointed by the Attorney General as Junior Counsel to the Crown (A Panel).