Stewart Irvine - Partner

Expert profile

Stewart has been with Muckle LLP since September 1996 and is the head of commercial dispute resolution team. Stewart initially joined the firm as a trainee, stayed with the firm on qualification and was promoted to associate in 2000, and then partner in 2006. He has a wealth of experience, particularly in the areas of general commercial and contractual disputes, shareholder and partnership disputes, professional negligence claims and contentious insolvency.  
Stewart also leads the firm's graduate recruitment team and is mentor to the firm's trainees, an ideal candidate for the role, having been a former trainee himself.

Stewart's specialisms:

• Commercial dispute resolution
• Contentious insolvency
  

In the hot seat...

How would you describe your team?
In one word, fantastic!  Each of them is a real team player with a genuinely dynamic and enthusiastic approach to the way they work.  What really impresses me, and our clients, is their dedication to 'getting the job done'.   This, together with their commercial focus, provides us with a great platform from which we can continue to go from strength to strength.

What has been the most challenging legal deal you've been involved in?
Working with disputes means, by their very nature, each and every case is challenging. When you have two opposing parties, each with competing interests, both can't be right!
The diversity of my caseload; shareholder disputes, million pound contract disputes, professional negligence claims, or contentious boundary disputes; that's the real challenge and I'm constantly being tested.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
Achieving a successful result in every case I work on, both for the client, and for me personally.  It's rewarding to ensure that our clients' expectations are exceeded.   

Describe how you live your life in 3 words.
To the full!

Are you a morning or evening person?
Without a doubt, I'm an evening person.

Who or what makes you laugh?
Matt Lucas and David Walliams are top of my list, although I'm also a fan of American sitcoms.

What's the last CD you bought?
I'm always buying music and listen to everything, save thrash metal!

What do you most enjoy about living in the North East?
As it's where I've called home for the last 25 years, there's a lot I enjoy.  I love the variety Newcastle city centre has to offer, the nightlife, the theatre, art galleries, pubs and great restaurants which are some of the best in the country.  The fact that the coast and the countryside still aren't far away also means there is time to relax and unwind away from the hectic working life.  It's a great combination that I just don't think you could find anywhere else in the country.      

What's your biggest extravagance?
By far my biggest extravagance is annual holidays.  I love travelling and experiencing new places and cultures. I've travelled to places as diverse as Poland, Japan, China, Peru, Uzbekistan, Cambodia, India, Laas, Russia and Vietnam.  Each throws up its own surprises, so you never really know what to expect until you're there, although that's half the fun of travelling! My next port of call is Oman.   

Which 4 famous people dead or alive would you most like to take to dinner?
Richard Branson, Oprah Winfrey, Prince Charles and for the entertainment Catherine Tate.  I'm sure that combination would provide for a very interesting evening! 

Direct line: 0191 211 7935
Email Stewart