After Grammar School in Leeds Stuart attended Trinity Hall, Cambridge (1974 - 1977) and then the College of Law, Chester

Admitted as a Solicitor in 1980. He transferred to the Bar in March 2007

Stuart was admitted as a solicitor in 1980, transferring to the Bar in 2007.

A member of the Law Society’s specialist Children Panel since 1985, he developed a substantial practice in public law Children Act work and associated fields.  For the thirteen years until 2007 Stuart was a sole practitioner doing the majority of his own advocacy at all levels.

 Stuart has wide experience acting for children, parents, local authorities and other parties to public law proceedings and has also represented the full range of parties in private law Children Act cases (including children in rule 9.5 cases) and adoption.

In addition, Stuart has run training courses for social workers and other professionals focusing in particular on Court skills and from time to time on new legislation. 

Stuart is a member of the Association of Lawyers for Children and of the FLBA.

Stuart's current caseload includes acting as junior counsel for the Appellant children in Re:B, in which in May this year the House of Lords will be asked to give consideration to how the Courts should assess risk in Care proceedings in cases where significant harm is found to be 'a real possibility' but has not been proved to the H&R standard.

Conversational French and German based on qualifications which are now 33 yeards old.

Stuart is a family man with three children, two of whom have 'flown the nest'. Apart from his family his interests include: Cricket, rugby league, music, and theatre.