Stewarts stands out from the legal crowd as a litigation-only firm, acting for both corporate and individual clients. Established in 1990, it has more than 390 staff, including more than 70 partners, at offices in London and Leeds.

Its caseload encompasses personal injury disputes, clinical negligence, divorce, commercial and competition litigation, tax and international arbitration. This enables its staff to develop a wide range of expertise and experience.

The business is guided by core values of teamwork, innovation, manners and excellence to provide a supportive atmosphere for its employees, who include paralegals and IT experts.

A key message for new recruits, who are provided with the tools that allow them to excel, is that everyone is capable of making progress at Stewarts.

It has a diversity and inclusion strategy enhanced by a committee made up of a cross-section of staff, which is responsible for implementing initiatives that embed inclusion into the firm's activities and actions. They are supplemented by diversity champions who organise events and raise awareness.

A milestone in the firm's history was the incorporation of the Stewarts Foundation in 2010, which was set up to formalise its charitable giving. In the 10 years that followed, it donated a total of £6.1m to more than 180 charities.

John Cahill, the Managing Partner, believes it is important “that our business goes beyond our day-to-day professional duties and engages in the cares and concerns of society”.