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Stephen Burns

Partner

Stephen is a highly experienced general commercial litigator who largely advises on High Court litigation, arbitrations and mediations.

stephen-burns

About

Stephen is a highly experienced general commercial litigator who largely advises on High Court litigation, arbitrations and mediations. He has been involved with many large-scale court cases and arbitrations, in particular contractual, shareholder and fraud disputes as well as corporate related litigation. He has coordinated litigation on a large scale such as a £35m dispute about the operability of a put option and a significant fraud case involving knowing receipt. He also successfully assisted a client to enforce its right to due process, transparency and access to adequate remedies under procurement rules.

Stephen often advises clients in the telecoms, technology and healthcare sectors in respect of contractual disputes. He also advises shareholders and directors in respect of shareholder disputes, drawing on his experience to provide contentious advice in respect of various aspects of corporate law including section 459 (now 994 of the Companies Act 2006) of the Companies Act 1985.

Stephen is admitted to practise in England and Wales.

Experience

  • Rapiscan Systems Limited v Commissioners of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customers EWHC 2067 (QB)

Recognition

  • stephen-burns-chambers-2026-UK
  • UK_Legal_500_Leading_partner_2026 v2
  • legal-500-leading-partner-2025
  • Chambers-2024-Stephen-Burns
  • uk-leading-individual-2024
  • uk-leading-individual-2022
  • chambers-2025-stephen-burn

Our thinking

  • Appointing a Director

    Stephen Burns

    Insights

    min read
  • Navigating International M&A Disputes: Insights and Strategies for 2025

    Stephen Burns

    Quick Reads

    min read
  • London International Disputes Week: Navigating International M&A Disputes: Insights and Strategies for 2025

    Stephen Burns

    Events

  • ESG Duties for Directors: Legal Obligations and Risks Under English Company Law

    Katie Bewick

    Insights

    min read
  • Stephen Burns and Katie Bewick write for Growth Business on the options available for appointing a new director after a company dispute

    Stephen Burns

    In The Press

    min read
  • Stephen Burns and Katie Bewick write for New Law Journal on shareholders’ rights after Zedra

    Stephen Burns

    In The Press

    min read
  • The rise in ESG reporting requirements for UK directors and of related shareholder activism

    Stephen Burns

    Insights

    min read
  • PART 36— A move towards greater flexibility?

    Stephen Burns

    Insights

    min read
  • Removal of Company Directors by Ordinary Resolution

    Stephen Burns

    Insights

    min read
  • Managing risk in property management companies – corporate governance and considerations for directors

    Stephen Burns

    Insights

    min read
  • Is summary judgment worth the gamble?

    Stephen Burns

    Quick Reads

    min read
  • Stephen Burns and Katie Bewick write for eprivateclient on the trials and tribulations of advising during a pandemic

    Stephen Burns

    In The Press

    min read
  • The end of LIBOR – a risk free change?

    Stephen Burns

    Insights

    min read
  • A roulette gamble that did not pay off

    Stephen Burns

    Quick Reads

    min read
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