Stuart Evans
Partner and Head of the Commercial Disputes Team, Commericial Litigation Law Firm of the Year (ACQ Law Awards 2011)
Direct telephone: +44 (0)1293 558525
Email: sevans@rawlisonbutler.com
Location: Gatwick office
Expertise
I specialise in commercial dispute resolution, dealing with a wide variety of disputes including engineering, IP, professional negligence, boardroom/partnership disputes and insolvency/fraud related disputes. Project managing large disputes is one of my key skills.
Profile
I trained at City firm Lovells, where I stayed on to progress my career in the international fraud and asset tracing department. This involved me working on some of the key international disputes in this field, including litigation arising out of the liquidation of BCCI. I then had a stint in the US, where I passed the bar exams and was admitted to practise. Having returned to the UK, I joined Rawlison Butler in 2000 as a partner in the Commercial Dispute Resolution team. I am a CEDR registered mediator. I now head up Litigation at Rawlison Butler, comprising commercial disputes, property disputes and civil litigation.
Memberships
Co-Chair, European Practice Groups, R3, International Network of Boutique Law Firms, Sweet & Maxwell’s Civil Procedure Panel.
Public profile
I am a regular speaker on the seminar circuit, in particular dealing with litigation funding and risk transfer, costs and topical mediation issues. I also contribute to both in-house and external publications. We were delighted to receive the ACQ Law Award for Commercial Litigation Law Firm of the Year 2011, which reflects great credit on my team.
What others say about me
Stuart has been consistently recognised as a leading individual in both the Legal 500 and Chambers directories, being described as "commercial", "down to earth" and “a superb litigator.” On LinkedIn, contacts have recommended Stuart as “a leading Partner in Rawlison Butler's Commercial Disputes Team which have resolved a number of tricky matters for our clients. Whilst technical skills are a given at this level Stuart has an impressive track record based on first class client relationships”; and “enthusiastic, diligent, likeable and commercially realistic. Just what you need in a legal advisor nowadays.”
In my spare time ...
I am a qualified rugby coach and work with the minis coaching team at Cobham RFC, stand on the touchline at Oxshott Royals FC, am a keen diarist and writer currently working on a children’s book with my daughter doing the illustrations, and follow Aston Villa FC and the Amlin Cup Winners, Harlequins RFC (for which I seek no sympathy).
What I said when I was asked …
How do you contribute to Corporate Social Responsibility?
Whilst as a firm we contribute on a number of fronts, from a personal perspective my most interesting community project was in association with Central Sussex College and Crawley Borough Council’s Arts & Business programme. Magali Nougarede and a team of young students participated in a residency at our Crawley office, observing and capturing, in a series of photographs, interesting aspects of the modern lawyer's environment. The results are in our reception and have been exhibited both at the College and the Hawth Theatre.
What has been the most memorable or challenging deal/case for you?
I spearheaded a multi million dollar international commercial fraud case, on behalf of the claimant, a large Russian corporation, where we took on some eighteen defendants represented by the cream of the City, both here and overseas. It took every ounce of resolve the team had, but we prevailed despite the occasional setback. I will always be very proud of what we achieved in such trying circumstances.
What is your strongest characteristic - how your colleagues describe you?
I always maintain a strong desire to help develop my team members into the best lawyers they can be, and to make the journey through their careers both challenging and fun.