Stewarts is a leading policyholder disputes practice, acting exclusively for businesses in complex, high-value insurance coverage disputes arising from major losses.

We represent domestic and multinational businesses across a broad range of sectors, including:

• hospitality
• construction
• financial services
• sport
• energy
• infrastructure.

Many of the disputes we handle involve losses spanning multiple jurisdictions, layers of insurance and complex international programmes requiring coordinated recovery strategies.

Clients turn to us when an insured event creates significant financial exposure, operational disruption and reputational pressure, requiring clear advice and decisive action.

International insurance disputes

Many of our matters involve multinational businesses, international insurance programmes and losses spanning multiple jurisdictions.

We are experienced in coordinating complex disputes involving insurers, brokers and advisers across different markets, ensuring a consistent strategy and clear oversight throughout. This international perspective is particularly valuable in large-scale losses where coverage issues, stakeholder interests and recovery efforts extend beyond a single jurisdiction.

Responding to major losses

Insurance disputes often arise at moments of significant commercial pressure. Businesses may be facing operational disruption, financial uncertainty and urgent decisions about continuity and recovery. We move quickly to assess coverage, establish the insurer’s position and develop a clear strategy for resolution.

Our experience enables us to bring structure and certainty to fast-moving situations, helping clients stabilise their position while pursuing the recovery to which they are entitled.

Deep expertise across all lines of commercial insurance

We advise on disputes across all major classes of commercial insurance, including:

• Business interruption
• Directors’ and officers’ liability
• Professional indemnity
• Cyber
• Construction
• Energy
• Political risk
• Trade credit.

This breadth of experience allows us to identify key coverage issues quickly and develop strategies that reflect both the legal framework and our clients’ commercial realities.

A dedicated policyholder practice

We act exclusively for policyholders and do not represent insurers. This gives our clients confidence that our interests are fully aligned with theirs and allows us to pursue claims against the insurance market without the conflicts that can arise for firms acting on both sides of the market.

Our sole focus is securing the best possible outcome for policyholders.

Leading complex and market-wide claims

We are recognised for leading large-scale and systemic disputes that have implications beyond an individual policyholder.

Our experience includes market-wide test cases that have clarified disputed policy wordings and established important coverage principles, unlocking recovery opportunities for policyholders across entire sectors.

This combination of technical expertise and strategic vision enables us to address not only individual disputes but also the broader issues affecting entire markets.

Trial-ready and strategically focused

Our reputation for success in litigation strengthens our position throughout every dispute.

We prepare cases thoroughly from the outset and are experienced in taking complex insurance disputes through to trial where necessary. Insurers know that we are prepared to litigate decisive points, which frequently creates leverage during negotiations and increases the likelihood of early settlement.

The majority of our matters resolve favourably for clients or result in success at trial, reflecting the strength of our preparation and strategic approach.

Flexible routes to resolution

Every dispute requires a strategy tailored to the client’s commercial objectives and circumstances.

We are equally experienced in litigation, arbitration, mediation and negotiated resolution, allowing us to pursue the route most likely to achieve an effective and efficient outcome.

Our focus is always on maximising recovery while minimising unnecessary cost, disruption and delay.

Working closely with brokers and stakeholders

We work closely with brokers, loss adjusters and other advisers to strengthen claims presentation and improve settlement dynamics.

By coordinating effectively with all relevant stakeholders, we help clients present clear, well-supported claims and maintain momentum throughout the dispute process.

This collaborative approach often plays an important role in securing successful outcomes.

Supporting clients under financial pressure

Major insured losses can place businesses under significant financial strain.

We understand those pressures and offer flexible funding arrangements where appropriate, including contingent and risk-sharing structures that enable clients to pursue claims while managing financial exposure.

This approach ensures businesses can continue to protect their interests even in the most challenging circumstances.