Stephen has advised on and appeared in commercial disputes covering the full range of Commercial Court work and beyond. Recent instructions include a US$500 million civil fraud claim, a US$1bn dispute concerning Ukrainian industrial assets, a €50m oil and gas partners’ dispute and a £25m breach of directors’ duty claim.

Important Cases

• UBS AG v Fairfield Sentry Ltd [2019] UKPC 20
• Keymed Ltd v Hillman [2019] EWHC 485 (Ch)
• Bostani v Pieper [2019] EWHC 547 (Comm)
• Single Buoy Moorings Inc v Aspen Insurance UK Ltd [2018] EWHC 1763 (Comm)
• Nori Holding Ltd v PJSC Otkritie Bank [2018] EWHC 1343 (Comm)
• Triple 7 Ltd v Azman Air Services Ltd [2018] EWHC 1348 (Comm)
• Taylor v Van Dutch Marine Holding Ltd [2017] EWHC 636 (Ch)
• UBS AG v Kommunale Wasserwerke Leipzig [2017] EWCA Civ 1567
• Goldman Sachs v Novo Banco SA [2016] EWCA Civ 1092
• Hallman Holdings v Webster [2016] UKPC 3
• Anzen Ltd v Hermes One Ltd [2016] UKPC 1
• Blue Tropic v Chkhartishvili [2015] EWHC 3640 (Ch)
• Banque Cantonale de Genève v Polevent [2015] EWHC 1968 (Comm) 
• Young v Anglo-American South Africa Ltd [2014] EWCA Civ 1130
• Tokio Marine Europe v Novae Corporate Underwriting [2014] EWHC 2105
• Fairfield Sentry v Migani [2014] UKPC 9
• Edmond de Rothschild v Exillon Energy [2014] EWHC 2165 (Comm)
• Telenor East Holding v Altimo Holdings [2011] EWHC 85 (Comm)
• Alfa Petroleum v BP International Ltd (1 Feb 2011, Commercial Ct)
• Lehman Brothers Special Financing v Belmont (2011, UKSC)
• Satinland Finance v BNP Paribas [2010] EWHC 3062 (Ch)
• Yukos CIS Investments v Yukos Hydrocarbons BVIHC (Comm) No.85 of 2010
• National Transport Co-Operative Society v AG Jamaica [2009] UKPC 48
• Markel International Insurance Co v Higgins [2009] EWCA Civ 790
• Lexington Insurance v AGF Insurance [2009] UKHL 40
• Cavell USA v Seaton Insurance [2009] EWCA Civ 1363
• Equitas v Horace Holman [2008] EWHC 2287 (Comm)
• Yugraneft v Abramovich [2008] EWHC 2613 (Comm)
• Korea National Insurance v Allianz [2007] EWCA Civ 1066
• Markel International Insurance v Surety Guarantee Company [2009] Lloyd's Rep IR 77
• Wasa and AGF v Lexington Insurance [2007] EWHC 896 (Comm)
• EWS v E.ON [2007] EWHC 599 (Comm)
• Sibir Energy v Sibneft (2006) BVI HC 2005/174
• Transworld v Bluzwed (2005) BVI HCV 2003/179

Stephen's practice covers the full range of insurance and reinsurance disputes. Recent instructions range from a US$1.2 billion claim in respect of damage to a North Sea oil rig to a £1m claim under a professional indemnity insurance, with claims under policies covering hurricane damage, business interruption following flood, malicious hacking and patent infringement in between. He also regularly appears in insurance and reinsurance arbitrations under LCIA, ICC, UNCITRAL, ARIAS and Bermuda rules. Recent arbitrations include a $70m war risks claim, a $50m construction DSU dispute, a $50m Cat XL dispute in Bermuda, a $1m aviation coverage dispute and a £10m PA reinsurance coverage dispute.

Currently instructed on behalf of AerCap Ireland Ltd in its US$3 billion Commercial Court actions concerning insurance and reinsurance claims for aircraft lost in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, due for trial commencing in October 2024. See e.g.: AerCap Ireland Ltd v AIG Europe SA [2024] EWHC 144 (Comm) and [2023] 1 WLR 2448; Zephyrus Capital Aviation v Fidelis Underwriting Ltd [2024] EWHC 734 (Comm).

Stephen's banking practice continues to include disputes arising out of the global financial crisis and the Madoff fraud as well as ordinary banking transaction disputes related to syndicated lending, derivative trading, mistaken payments and restitutionary claims. Stephen has advised in numerous cases involving ISDA and similar agreements including market standard form forward freight agreements and commodities trading agreements.

As well as appearing in commercial and insurance and reinsurance disputes that happen to be taking place in arbitration, Stephen regularly advises on technical and procedural aspects of arbitration law. Recent cases include a $150million dispute in the oil sector, an LCIA arbitration concerning damage to offshore drilling rigs, a dispute as to the applicability of an arbitration clause to a reinsurance dispute, and a claim to set aside a €70m arbitration award on the grounds of fraud. Stephen is also experienced in proceedings dealing with the enforcement of arbitral awards in the domestic courts, and sits as an LCIA and ICC arbitrator.

Stephen also acts and advises on international treaty arbitrations. Recent instructions include ICSID arbitrations against Ukraine, Uzbekistan and the UK involving alleged confiscation of investments.

Stephen has appeared and advised in numerous professional negligence claims in the Chancery Division and Commercial Court involving allegations of negligence by insurance brokers, solicitors, accountants, auditors and bankers.

A former teacher of European law, Stephen has advised and acted in a number of European and human rights law disputes including European Commission v Korea National Insurance Corporation (concerning the EU’s sanctions on North Korea), Northern Foods v DEFRA (the Melton Mowbray pork pies case) and Yukos v Russian Federation, a $98bn claim in the ECHR.

Qualifications

BA (Hons) Law (2000) (First Class), LLM Law (Commercial) (2001) (First Class), Bar Vocational Course (2002) (Outstanding)

Career

• Queen’s Counsel, 2017 –
• Barrister (Middle Temple), July 2002 -
• Sept 2001 - July 2002: Lecturer and examiner in contract and restitution, University of Cambridge; Supervisor in equity, Fitzwilliam and King's Colleges
• Aug 2000- July 2001: Research assistant to Richard Hooley, working chiefly on Modern Banking Law 3rd Ed and Encyclopedia of Banking Law

Further Information

• 'Insurance Junior of the Year' at the Chambers Bar Awards 2011
• Nominated in 2016 by Chambers & Partners as Insurance Law Junior of the Year.
• Selected as one of Legal Week's 'Stars at the Bar' 2010.
• Languages:
  French (A-level standard), Italian (conversational), German (GCSE standard)
• Called to the BVI Bar (2005)

• Competition Litigation (2010) (contributor)
• Butterworths' Banking Law Guide (2006) (contributor),
• The Aggregation of Claims Arising out of One Event (2007) Insurance Law Monthly Bulletin (July),
• After Etridge: The Endgame for Banks and Non-Commercial Sureties? (2002) Cambridge Restitution Online Resource
• Subrogation Finds some Well-Settled Principles [2003] L.M.C.L.Q.
• Causation, Loss and Double Recovery [2003] C.L.J. 23
• The Great Peace and Precedent (2003} 119 L.Q.R. 180,
• Non-disclosure and Material Rumours [2003] L.M.C.L.Q.
• Review of Anson's Law of Contract, 28th Edition [2003], L.M.C.L.Q.
• Cross Border Share Voting Practices ICGN Review (2002)

Chambers & Partners

Insurance

• "Stephen is a real rising star in insurance." (2025)
• "We call Stephen 'The Professor' because he never has an issue getting to the heart of the problem and advising with great clarity." (2025)
• "Stephen is an excellent advocate. He comes across as confident and has real authority before a tribunal." (2024)
• "Stephen is excellent and always responsive when needed. He is equally strong on the technical aspects of a case and resolution strategy, Stephen is masterful at distilling complex facts into clear, straightforward advice." (2024)
• "Stephen cuts though the detail to get to the heart of the matter." "He is accessible and down to earth with very good judgement." (2023)
• "He is excellent, clever and strategic." "He is always on top of the detail." (2022)
• "A very good and very calm counsel who's very knowledgeable on the subject." "He's a good insurance practitioner. He's a relatively junior silk but his practice is above his typical level." "He's a solid performer in court." (2021)
• "Absolutely brilliant at insurance. He seems to be able to take on and argue the impossible." "His attention to detail is excellent and he has a very nice manner when putting across difficult technical points." (2020)
• "Assiduous, bright and motivated. He has a very commercial eye for how to win difficult cases." (2019)
• Well-regarded barrister who has recently taken silk and is known for being "extraordinarily quick and decisive." His practice has a strong international element to it, and many of his cases originate abroad. He is particularly strong in the energy and banking spheres, and is experienced in matters involving allegations of fraud. "A class act, who is hard-working, modest, measured and very, very bright." "He is very user-friendly and has an incredible capacity to distil very complex points into very simple language." (2018)
• "A go-to junior with brilliant analytical capacity." "Hugely intelligent and able to cut straight to the key aspects of a matter. He has excellent turnaround times and is able to provide advice which hits the perfect level of detail and formality every time." (2017)
• "He has an extraordinarily rapid mind, and is a very good advocate with remarkable speed and grasp of the issues." (2016)
• "Extremely good and very bright. He is efficient, gets to the point and takes a balanced view of how to apply the law in a commercial setting." (2015)
• “Engages in a vast range of insurance matters, including Bermuda Form arbitrations and major reinsurance cases. He is highly respected by peers for his capabilities.” (2014)
• “One of the best. He's headed for great things.” “A go-to junior, with brilliant analytical capabilities.” (2014)
• "Stephen Midwinter is a "go-to junior with a brilliant analytical capacity." He recently acted in the case of Syndicate 990 v Reliance." (2013)
• "Stephen Midwinter was described as "one of the best juniors ever discovered" by one solicitor. Widely admired for his "spot-on insights, exemplary written work and excellent oral advocacy," he is seen as being "highly responsive and particularly effective in the way he deals with clients." Of late, he has been involved in a range of highly confidential, high-value arbitrations." (2012)
• "Stephen Midwinter is regarded as a "rising star" with "a brain the size of a planet." Commentators appreciate "the energy with which he attacks cases," as well as his analytical skills. His major work highlights include WASA and AGF v Lexington and Cavell v Seaton Insurance" (2011)
• "He takes most of the laurels here along with Stephen Midwinter, "one of the brightest prospects at the Commercial Bar," who has a dazzling future ahead of him. He has been particularly active in reinsurance matters, having played a key role in the Wasa v Lexington case." (2010)

Commercial Dispute Resolution

• "His submissions in court are outstanding." (2025)
• "Stephen gets to grips with the details of matters, while retaining a strong commercial and strategic overview. He is a powerful advocate, who also has a very clear and persuasive written style." (2025)
• "A very impressive advocate." (2025)
• "Stephen Midwinter is very bright and explains complicated things in a straightforward way." (2024)
• "Stephen is down-to-earth, accessible and someone with very good judgement." "He processes information at the speed of light, and always delivers advice which is clear, carefully thought through, commercially minded and user-friendly." (2023)
• "A brilliant lawyer and a leader in the insurance and reinsurance field. He is responsive, clear and great to work with." (2022)
• "A barrister who can say a lot in a very few words: he provides clear written advocacy and pleadings that are short and to the point. He is charming, easy to get on with and someone who can filter through a mass of details." (2021)
• "Stephen is extremely efficient and decisive." "He's terrifyingly clever and very client-friendly." (2020)
• "Calm and unflappable, he's softly spoken but has great gravitas." "Stephen Midwinter is extremely efficient and decisive." (2019)
• "He's excellent: responsive, down-to-earth and makes himself available." "He is very precise when drafting and articulating points for us, and is a real pleasure to work with." (2018)
• "He's very cerebral and very commercial. You just know that he's going to turn over every stone." "Extremely impressive and extremely bright." (2017)
• "He is very bright. His drafting and skeleton pleadings are excellent, and he's one of my favourite senior juniors." "A fantastically good technical barrister who is a very good advocate." (2016)
• "Exceptionally bright, efficient and also a very good advocate. He is a first-choice junior counsel, particularly on complex civil fraud matters." "A very, very able advocate, he really did wipe the floor with the opposition." (2015)
• “A first-class junior, who is calm and clear thinking in his advice. Extremely impressive.” “A supremely confident and effective advocate, punching well above his call.” (2014)
• "Stephen Midwinter also wins praise, with sources identifying him as a "highly intelligent, unflappable" junior who thrives on high-pressure legal conflicts. He is "able to explain complex legal points in a readily understandable way and knows how to persuade the court that he's on the right side of the argument."" (2013)
• "The career of Stephen Midwinter continues in the ascendant. Solicitors favour him as an "efficient and proactive" lawyer who is "a pleasure to work with." " (2012)
• "Stephen Midwinter is another up-and-coming member of the set. He has been involved in cases such as Moore Stephens v Stone & Rolls and Perpetual v Bank of New York" (2011)

Energy & Natural Resources

• "Stephen Midwinter cuts straight to the chase and his cross-examination skills are great." (2025)
• "Stephen Midwinter is outstanding and a very good advocate. He is very knowledgeable and composed, and his advocacy style is good for arbitration." (2024)
• "He is fantastically intelligent and a razor-sharp advocate." "He is hugely experienced and consistently superb." (2023)
• "He is extremely quick, clever and decisive and knows just what is required to win a difficult case. He is also a superb advocate, equally at home arguing technical points of law or cross-examining witnesses." "He is able to explain the most complex arguments in a straightforward, structured way." "He has a huge brain and is very good on complex legal issues." (2022)
• "His advocacy is fantastic, his written work is a thing of beauty and he is chilled out and does not flap around." (2021)
• "He is very down to earth and pragmatic. His written advocacy skills are very impressive in that he is able to distil complicated fact patterns and legal concepts. He has a brilliant way of reducing them to digestible information." "He is fantastic - a brain on a stick!" (2020)
• "He's very thorough and focuses on the good points while dropping the rubbish points." "Impresses with his knowledge, responsiveness and guidance." (2019)
• "He's got a really unusual ability to make complicated things really straightforward." "A man with a formidable mind." (2018)
• "He's one of the quickest juniors around. He has tremendous insurance knowledge and understands the energy business as well. He's an absolute pleasure to work with and his sheer speed of delivery is unsurpassed." (2017)
• "He carries a level of authority and performance that you would be happy with from a junior silk." (2016)
• "He is extremely impressive, and a bit like a thinking machine or a computer. He is an extremely logical and intellectually rigorous character who is destined to fo far." (2015)
• “I'm very impressed with his thoroughness and his lateral thinking.” “He is a very smart guy who expresses himself very persuasively on a page, and proves realistic about the strengths and weaknesses of a case.” (2014)
• "Stablemate Stephen Midwinter is highly regarded for his practice in commercial disputes. Sources say he is "very bright and extremely hard-working."" (2013)
• "Stephen Midwinter is "frighteningly bright, confident in his advice and a man of very good judgement." He was recently involved in Sierra Rutile v Reliance Insurance, a case concerning a USD40 million sunken dredger insurance claim." (2012)

International Arbitration: General Commercial and Insurance

• "Stephen is outstanding in sheer speed and inventiveness. His turnaround time is extremely quick." (2025)
• "Stephen Midwinter has a nice and direct style of advocacy that is compelling. He gets to the point, while being very forceful and concise." (2025)
• "Stephen is ridiculously clever and very well organised. He meets deadlines, produces an excellent product, and is also a rather pleasing and measured advocate." (2025)
• "Stephen is friendly and down to earth. He's really easy to talk to and he can fire off an email immediately." (2025)
• "He's a first-rate legal mind, decisive and unbelievably efficient." (2024)
• "He is really good - very able and just obviously a leading commercial silk." (2024)
• "He processes information at the speed of light, and always delivers advice which is clear, carefully thought through, commercially minded and user-friendly." "He's very concise and effective." (2023)
• "He has a really relaxed manner and a very sharp intellect." "He is immensely clever and a very meticulous cross-examiner." "He is incredibly quick - he just processes information like nothing you have seen before and he is all over the detail." (2022)
• "His advocacy is fantastic, his written work is a thing of beauty and the quality of drafting is brilliant." (2021)
• "A very tough advocate and intellectually rigorous." "A gentle assassin." (2020)
• "Impressive knowledge, responsiveness and guidance." (2019)
• "Very precise in his drafting and at articulating points for us. A real pleasure to work with." (2018)
• "Exceptionally strong in both litigation and arbitration." (2017)
• "He was fantastic. He was very, very mature and is clearly used to taking decisions by himself. He is able to identify the real points in an issue and he can draft documents in a convincing way." "He can take on a huge volume of material in a short amount of time and comes back with clear and concise arguments." (2016)
• "He's very flexible, very willing and takes an enourmous amount of time and trouble in his preparation. One of the stars of the future." (2015)
• “Impressively experienced junior whose handling of a wide range of commercial arbitrations and enforcement matters sees him singled out as a future star silk.” (2014)
• “His advice and pleadings are clear, commercial and thorough.” “He certainly has the experience needed for complex cases.” (2014)
• "Stephen Midwinter is a "go-to junior" who is considered to be "one of the brightest stars at the Commercial Bar at the moment." He offers particular expertise in insurance arbitration, and is also called to the British Virgin Islands Bar." (2013)

Fraud: Civil

• "He is very pleasant and very personable but also extremely smart. His submissions are very elegant and he builds an excellent rapport with judges." (2025)
• "Stephen has good judgement and gets to the important points quickly." (2025)
• "Stephen is absolutely brilliant. He is incredible with fraud cases and cross-examination." (2024)
• "Stephen has impressive judgement and a calm presence." (2024)
• "Stephen is extremely cerebral." (2023)
• "He is a brain on a stick and extraordinarily bright." "He is extremely smart and very fast at finding the key points." (2022)
• "He has an incredibly sharp mind." "He is terribly bright and is able to draft long, complex documents at the speed of light." (2021)
• "Technically excellent, strategically savvy and very good to work with." "Excellent on paper and works fantastically fast." (2020)
• "His written arguments are a joy to read and his advocacy is fluent, patient and probing." "A real intellect." (2019)
• "Extremely efficient and decisive." "Very hard-working and very proactive." (2018)
• "He's excellent and has a very good manner about him. He picks really good points and really hammers home on them." (2017)
• "No-nonsense and unflappable. He deals with difficult points with confidence." (2016)
• "He's top-drawer, no doubt. He gives silk-quality advice even though he's a junior." "He has great turnaround times and is user-friendly." (2015)
• “Praised for his incisive advocacy. He is well placed to advise on civil fraud issues in the financial sector.” (2014)
• “Quick, incisive and efficient.” “He has excellent judgement and a beautiful writing style.” (2014)
• "Stephen Midwinter is a lawyer with an international practice who is much in demand. He has been handling work both on the Madoff-related cases and for high net worth individuals in the ex-Soviet bloc. He was described by interviewees as "a genuinely brilliant barrister who is loved by solicitors." " (2013)

Banking & Finance

• "He is fabulous, a genius." (2025)
• "Stephen is very clever and direct, sees the big picture and is able to cut through a lot of the noise to focus on what is really important." (2024)
• "He's very bright and explains complicated things in a straightforward way." (2024)
• "His qualities include super efficiency and really good written advocacy that is clear and concise. He is very good on his feet." "His advocacy was very measured and authoritative." (2023)
• "He is excellent - a very polished and solid performer." (2022)
• "He is a very clever, excellent advocate." "Stephen has a very good sense for commercial litigation and an understanding for financial law." (2021)
• "Terrifyingly clever but very client-friendly, he's a very commercially minded barrister." (2020)
• "Incredibly bright and able to turn his mind to virtually any area of law. He displays excellent judgement, he absorbs new matters at great speed and he's unflappable. He is great value for money." (2019)
• "He is exceptionally bright, efficient and a very good advocate." (2018)
• "He has a high speed of delivery without compromising on quality. He just produces excellent pieces of work in a very short space of time. He's incredibly good value to use as a result." "Midwinter is absolute class as a senior junior. You do not want him on the other side. He is very lean, very strong and very direct, very effective." (2017)
• "Extremely efficient and robust." " He's super-clver and very quick, which you need to handle the volume of paperwork in fast-moving litigation." (2016)
• "He's exceptionally bright, efficient and a very good advocate. A first-class junior counsel, particularly for complex, civil fraud matters." "He is clever, incisive and gets to the point in a very concise way." (2015)
• “He works across a range of practice areas and impresses peers with his practical approach and excellent written work. He has notable experience in insurance and professional negligence claims.” (2014)
• “A really good junior. He's very swift, deals with clients well, sees the points and sets them out succinctly and practically.”  “He produces very lean, focused and strategically astute pleadings, quickly boils down complex issues, and is clear and compelling on his feet.” (2014)

Legal 500

Commercial Litigation

• "A ferocious and tenacious cross-examiner, as well as a first-rate advocate, Stephen is the leading KC of his generation. He is excellent for any commercial or fraud dispute." (2025)
• "Excellent command of the facts, and unflappable, understated court manner that goes down well with the Commercial Court." (2024)
• "Stephen’s cross-examination is devastating. He effortlessly extracts winning points from witnesses without leaving them anywhere to hide. His low key manner hides a ruthlessly efficient fraud silk who is an equal to many of the great names at the bar." (2023)
• "A very highly rated junior commercial silk who is clearly going places." (2018-19)
• "A very strong, up-and-coming silk." (2017)
• "One of the outstanding senior juniors at the commercial Bar." (2016)
• "He is decisive and concise, producing clear and commercially aware guidance." (2015)
• “Exceptionally bright, efficient and also a very good advocate.” (2014)
• 'first rate' (2008)

Insurance/Reinsurance

• "Stephen has always been excellent on his feet. All his written work is punchy. His greatest asset is a very quick brain. Plus, he is very down-to-earth and responsive." (2025)
• "A succinct and confident advocate." (2024)
• "Stephen is incredibly quick to assimilate material and form a clear view.  He is pragmatic and gets to the heart of the issues. Tremendous insurance knowledge and the first barrister we seek out for difficult claims." (2023)
• "A go-to choice for anything big, technical or complicated. Stephen has an exceptional ability to see the wood for the trees, and always delivers pithy, practical, usable advice in a straightforward way that clients can follow." (2022)
• "Impressive for financial institutions-related coverage disputes. (2021)
• "Should be designated an AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Brains), which he combines with pithy, practical and commercial advice." (2018-19)
• "A forceful and indomitable advocate, whose star continues to rise." (2017)
• "A top-notch advocate." (2016)
• "A top-class insurance lawyer who is extremely approachable." (2015)
• “Excellent.” (2014)
• “the ‘very bright’ Stephen Midwinter” (2013)
• "‘All-round top-notch junior' Stephen Midwinter's advice is ‘punchy and practical'" (2012)
• "Calver led Stephen Midwinter, praised for his drafting of pleadings." (2009)
• 'thorough' (2008)

Fraud: Civil

•  "A ferocious cross-examiner and a go-to silk for complex civil fraud cases." (2025)
• "Stephen’s written advocacy is exceptional – he makes excellent use of parallels that convince people that he must, of course, be right." (2024)
• "Stephen’s cross-examination is devastating. He effortlessly extracts winning points from witnesses without leaving them anywhere to hide. His low key manner hides a ruthlessly efficient fraud silk who is an equal to many of the great names at the bar." (2023)
• "Stephen has an exceptionally forensic mind and cuts through cases to identify the real issues with frightening speed and efficiency. A very strong cross-examiner who extracts winning points from witnesses without them even realising it." (2022)
• "Supremely smart, erudite and clear in his views, he is also economical and insightful in his drafting." (2018-19)
• "Exceptionally bright, efficient and also a very good advocate." (2017)
• "He commands a high level of confidence and is a great addition to any team." (2016)
• "A top senior junior." (2015)
• “Exceptionally clever.” (2014)
• “The ‘commercially aware’ Stephen Midwinter” (2013)
• "‘Powerful and persuasive advocate' Stephen Midwinter acted in the $80m Naftrans v Bonde Nielsen case" (2011)

Banking & Finance

• "Stephen's advocacy is superb: concise, direct and always focused laser-like on the issue that matters." (2025)
• "Stephen is excellent." (2024)
• "Unfailingly courteous and very helpful, a star in the making." (2018-19)
• "A first-choice new silk, particularly on complex banking matters." (2017)
• "He is extremely bright and able, and works at incredible speed." (2016)
• "He has a brilliant mind and is a great advocate destined for silk." (2015)
• “A star of the future, who is thorough, persuasive, confident and reliable.” (2014)
• “Stephen Midwinter is ‘a tremendous junior’, and is praised for his ‘very lean, focused, and strategically astute pleadings’.” (2013)

Energy

• "An incredibly bright silk with an understated advocacy style." (2025)
• "Stephen is a phenomenally quick silk with a huge depth of knowledge." (2024)
• "He has great judgment and intellect, and he is a very strong writer and a savvy advocate." (2023)
• "Utterly unflappable, calm and capable of dealing with the slings and arrows of litigation and arbitration in a way that immediately instils confidence." (2022)
• "He provides excellent, swift, focused and practical advice, and he is unflappable in court and his advocacy is calm and incisive." (2021)
• "Level-headed, calm and incredibly bright, he has first-class drafting and analysis skills." (2020)
• "Fantastic; very user friendly and a strong up-and-comer." (2018-19)
• "A pleasure to work with." (2017)
• "He does not sit on the fence." (2016)
• "A decisive, commercially aware and refreshingly concise junior." (2015)
• “Measured in his delivery.” (2014)
• “Fellow junior Stephen Midwinter is also recommended” (2013)

International Arbitration: Counsel

• "Stephen combines exceptionally forensic attention to detail with powerful advocacy." (2025)
• "He is unflustered and a problem solver, always on hand to give a clear and unflustered view. As an advocate he is measured, prepared and personable – he attacks by forensic analysis rather than forceful aggression and is all the more appealing to a tribunal as a result." (2023)
• "A fantastic young silk; very user friendly." (2018-19)
• "High-level intellect combined with pithy, practical and decisive advice." (2017)
• "A truly excellent junior – first-class legal knowledge and analysis, and good on his feet too." (2016)
• "A go-to junior who is straightforward and cerebral." (2015)

Professional Negligence

• "A strong advocate." (2018-19)
• "Thorough and able." (2017)
• "Exceptionally bright." (2016)
• "Highly skilled." (2015)

Aviation

• "Fantastic young silk; he has great intellect." (2018-19)

Offshore

• "Stephen is a superb commercial silk. He is an extremely able barrister, and while he can think laterally when appropriate, he is excellent and distilling and arguing his main points in an attractive, concise and persuasive style." (2025)
• "Incredibly bright and able to absorb new matters at great speed. Excellent judgment, unflappable, great value for money and a pleasure to work with." (2024)
• "Incredibly bright and able to turn his mind to virtually any area of law.  Excellent strategic and tactical judgment, incisive analysis, unflappable, absorbs new matters at great speed and strong written and oral advocacy." (2023)
• "Stephen is outstanding and provides excellent, swift, focused and practical advice." (2022)
• "Unflappable in court, his advocacy is calm and incisive." (2021)
• "Incredibly bright and able to turn his mind to virtually any area of law." (2020)
• "A new London silk also called to the BVI Bar." (2018-19)

Who's Who Legal

Banking & Finance

• Stephen Midwinter is “excellent” having been involved in some of the leading cases arising out of the global financial crisis. He is known in the industry as someone who “works phenomenally hard”. (2017)

Energy & Natural Resources

• Stephen Midwinter KC is a “wonderful” advocate across an array of fields, with particular expertise in significant oil and gas disputes. (2020)
• Stephen Midwinter KC is a well-regarded figure among fellow advocates who commend his excellent work handling large energy disputes in the domestic courts. (2019)
• Stephen Midwinter KC is “highly rated” by peers, who commend his impressive advocacy in energy disputes. (2018)
• "Stephen Midwinter KC is frequently called on to handle high-value energy litigation. A source is particularly effusive: “Stephen is a fantastic senior junior who can churn out wonderful work at the drop of a hat”." (2017)

Insurance & Reinsurance

• Stephen Midwinter KC is a “remarkably efficient advocate”, well known for his impressive arbitration work under various rules including LCIA, ICC and UNCITRAL. (2020)
• Stephen Midwinter KC is “a very effective advocate” who is well versed in handling insurance-related disputes in both litigation and arbitration proceedings. (2019)
• Stephen Midwinter KC is an “authoritative” and “very impressive” trial lawyer, highly sought after by clients who commend his “cutting-edge advice”. (2018)
• "Before recently taking silk, Stephen Midwinter KC was considered “a sensible choice for the best insurance barrister at the junior Bar”. He has acted both led and unled in a wide range of big-ticket insurance and reinsurance disputes." (2017)