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MOVERS & SHAKERS

James Ramsden QC & Nina Stewart FCA announce the launch of Astraea Group Ltd

James Ramsden QC and Nina Stewart FCA today announce the launch of Astraea Group Limited, an ABS law firm specialising in Commercial Dispute Resolution, Civil Fraud, Fintech & Cyber Fraud, Regulatory, Compliance and Public Law.

James Ramsden

Nina Stewart

Located in Down St, Mayfair, Astraea Group, which has been approved as an ABS by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), was co-founded by James and Nina. The firm aims to provide a unique approach to the handling of complex legal and business disputes by using this multi-disciplinary professional leadership. James and Nina believe that there is a gathering demandled transformation in the delivery of expert legal services and business support. Astraea has ambitions to provide a wide range of legal and non-legal services in the future, including financial and tax consultancy. Astraea Group is supported by a core team, who draw on other experienced professionals on a case by case basis to deliver a specialist, responsive, flexible and costeffective resource.

James has been consistently ranked as a leading Queen’s Counsel in Commercial Dispute Resolution and Civil Fraud by Chambers UK and Chambers Global. He is a committed and versatile advocate, known for leading cohesive and effective teams.

Nina is a chartered accountant and chartered tax adviser, with a successful background in professional services. The early years of her career were spent at a professional services firm where she provided international corporate tax advice to large businesses. She has since worked in finance and tax leadership roles across a range of sectors including oil & gas, financial services and the legal sector. Nina has served on a number of Boards and Audit Committees in both the private and charitable sectors.

Astraea Group act for national and international clients across all its principal disciplines. It has developed strong collaborations with other international consultancies specialising in asset recovery and intelligence.

James Ramsden QC comments: “Being an ABS provides us with the flexibility and responsiveness to meet the needs of our clients, whilst continuing to provide excellence in the delivery of our legal services. This is an attractive proposition providing a modern approach to supporting clients with their legal and wider business needs. This was, after all, what the introduction of the ABS was intended to achieve. We believe that the legal consumer now demands this new kind of delivery. Just as important to us is the departure this marks from traditional legal service providers which still impede social mobility and career flexibility. The legal profession, and the Bar in particular, still largely appoints in its own image. We will judge our success as much by how we manage to break that cycle, as by any other measure.”

Astraea Group is committed to mentoring and supporting those who would not ordinarily consider a career in law. The firm has hired a number of solicitors with strong backgrounds in commercial dispute resolution, who will all be on board in January 2021.

Astraea Group Limited are also pleased to announce that Robert Bedford has joined the firm as Legal Director, together with solicitors Matthew Allan and Morgan Wolfe.

Robert Bedford

Matthew Allan

Morgan Wolfe

Robert Bedford joins Astraea Group having previously worked for a leading global law firm in their litigation team. Robert brings extensive experience of complex and high-value international disputes and his clients include multi-nationals, global brands, state-owned entities, major banks, business founders and ultrahigh net worth individuals.

Robert’s current and recent instructions include working for: a Ukrainian investment bank pursuing a €230m claim for fraud and conspiracy against a network of related companies and individuals across Europe; a Cypriot company in a €900m investor treaty arbitration under the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce Rules; the Venezuelan state oil company arguing that obligations to repay US$80m under credit facilities were suspended as a result of US sanctions; a FTSE 100 company in a claim for breach of warranty following the acquisition of a business for US$160m; an European engineering group in a US$ multi-billion ad-hoc arbitration concerning delays to a major infrastructure project in the Middle East; and a US tech business in a US$250m arbitration under the DIFC-LCIA Rules concerning the break-up of a joint venture in the Middle East.

Matthew Allan joins the firm as a commercial litigation solicitor, with a particular interest in cross-border actions and international arbitration. He has experience of a broad range of commercial disputes. These include contractual and shareholder disputes, insolvency, debt recovery and property, focusing on complex high value matters. He has provided advice for corporates, multinational companies and states, including on public and private international law issues.

Matthew regularly contributes to legal publications and media. He is Vice President of Westminster & Holborn Law Society and sits on its International Committee. Before qualifying as a solicitor, he was elected as the only non-admitted solicitor representative for the Law Society of England and Wales Council, also sitting on the body’s Regulatory Affairs Board (now the Policy and Regulatory Affairs Committee). Matthew is also a member of the Young International Arbitration Group (YIAG) of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA).

Morgan Wolfe joins the firm as a commercial litigation solicitor. Prior to qualification, Morgan worked for the UN Refugee Agency in Russia where she interviewed asylum seekers and referred the most vulnerable for humanitarian resettlement to third countries. Morgan has also worked for several international NGOs on relief and development initiatives, including micro-lending and food security projects in Senegal, Mali and the Gambia.

Morgan has lived and worked in Senegal, Kenya, Morocco and France. A dual-national (British-American) and fluent French speaker, Morgan’s wealth of global experience lends value to her work at Astraea Group on cross-border disputes and other matters with an international angle. Morgan is regularly invited to speak about diversity, equality and inclusion in the workplace and was recently profiled in Career Management for Lawyers: Practical Strategies to Plan your Next Chapter. A passionate advocate for pro bono, Morgan has provided legal support to Citizens Advice and LawWorks (a member of the National Pro Bono Centre) and in 2017 was shortlisted for the prestigious Junior Lawyers Division Pro Bono Award.

Nina Stewart comments: “We are delighted to welcome Rob, Matt & Morgan to Astraea Group. Their diverse backgrounds bring a strong level of competence and experience to our existing team and we are confident they will be a huge asset to the firm.”

For further information on the firm’s offering and unique model, please go to www.astraea-group.com. ■