Steven is co-head of the Banking and Finance Group and has over twenty five years' experience of handling complex disputes for investment and retail banks and other financial institutions. "Despite the enormous volume of work the Group undertakes it is always phenomenally on top of things - and always good on detail" (Chambers 2013).
Steven’s practice covers disputes involving investment products, mis-selling, derivatives, fraud and asset recoveries, breach of mandate, breach of trust, misrepresentation, breach of contract, mortgages, guarantees and other security issues, insolvency, secured and unsecured recoveries, trade finance, consumer credit, leasing finance, FOS investigations, professional indemnity, compliance and regulatory reviews.
In both Chambers and Legal 500, Steven has consistently been recognised as a leader in his field. In Chambers 2013 Steven is noted to be "vastly experienced and is a formidable force in this field who provides calm and sober judgement on every case". Sources also highlight him as a fantastic communicator: "He is brilliant with clients; he has an amazing rapport with individuals".
Steven's clients include Barclays Bank Plc, The Royal Bank of Scotland (including NatWest, Coutts, and Lombard), Allied Irish Bank, UBS, Woolwich, Barclaycard, National Australia Group, Investec (including Kensington Mortgages) and Santander (including Abbey National and Alliance & Leicester).
Steven has been a partner since 1991. He was managing partner between 1999 and 2006 and elected as the first Chair of Matthew Arnold & Baldwin on its incorporation in April 2009 and re-elected in 2011 and 2013. He also sits on the Management Board.
Steven lectures and produces articles and bulletins on banking and financial issues.
Steven is a member of the Centre of Alternative Dispute Resolution, Institute of Directors, R3 – The Association of Business Recovery Professionals, and, through the firm, the FLA, BBA and CML.
By section 101 of the Law of Property Act 1925 (“the Act”), a mortgagee has certain powers by implication of law, which do not need to be set out in the mortgage deed itself. One of the powers includes a power of sale. This power is exercisable only once the mortgage monies have become due… Learn more
Where a judgment creditor obtains a charging order, which is then registered at the Land Registry by way of notice, it is often assumed that this will give the judgment creditor priority over other equitable charges which have not been so registered. If there are competing equitable interests, however, determining which interests should have priority… Learn more
Costs budgeting is certainly all the rage. Jackson LJ has drafted rules and practice directions which will introduce costs management in all but heavy Commercial Court cases in April 2013. So this case concerning the Defamation Proceedings Costs Management Scheme ,which operated from 1 October 2011 to 30 September 2012, is something practitioners of all… Learn more
This case concerned a dispute relating to the composition of the so-called board of management of the unincorporated association known as Shree Swaminarayan Satsang (“the Organisation”) which centres around a temple in Stanmore, Middlesex. According to the Judge, they were hostile proceedings brought by one group of people who were all members of the board… Learn more
Even where parties intend to create legal relations, it does not necessarily follow that a legally enforceable agreement is created. This Court of Appeal case demonstrates that where a side letter amounts to a mere agreement to agree or that its terms are uncertain; this will not create a legally enforceable contract. If parties are… Learn more
The decision whether to agree to mediation can be a difficult one. If a party considers that it has a water-tight case it may not wish to incur the unnecessary expense of attending a mediation since it may reasonably take the view that there is no reason to concede any of the issues, but on… Learn more
When a party makes a request to adjourn a trial on medical grounds it can be difficult to determine whether it is genuine or simply a delaying tactic. This case gives clear guidance on the principles the court will adopt when considering whether to agree to an adjournment, lays out the type of medical evidence… Learn more
One of the questions that the courts have been vexed with is how much loss a claimant is entitled to recover in relation to a breach of trust claim against its solicitors. In this case, solicitors acting for the claimant bank, AIB Group (UK) Plc (“AIB”) and the borrowers in connection with a remortgage advance… Learn more
This is a Court of Appeal judgment involving a debt of £5,000 owed by Mr Brandon in respect of his credit card with Amex. On 19 June 2007, Amex issued a Default Notice asserting a breach of the agreement requiring remedial action in accordance with section 87(1) of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (“the Act”). … Learn more
This dispute centred on the meaning of a loan agreement and is an example of how a court will approach the question of construction of a loan agreement. The purpose of the loan was to provide the claimant solicitor with funds to enable him to pay disbursements including the premiums due under after-the-event (ATE) insurance… Learn more