Litigation-only firm Stewarts Law has launched an international arbitration practice with the hire of Mayer Brown partner Philippa Charles to head the new team.

Charles (pictured), whose practice focuses on disputes arising out of cross-border contracts, joined Mayer Brown in 1997 and made partner in 2007, the same year she qualified as a CEDR accredited mediator.

While at Mayer Brown she has worked on claims in relation to a variety of corporate transactions, including claims involving oil and gas industry support services, the food packaging industry and a web-based trading platform.

Stewarts said Charles, who starts her new role today (18 February), would soon be joined by other "highly regarded" City lawyers.

Stewarts managing partner John Cahill said: "Our strategy has been to hire only the very best lawyers to meet the needs of our clients. Philippa, with her particular expertise in international arbitration, is a very welcome addition to the firm."

Stewarts, which was founded in 1990, currently lists litigation expertise in aviation and travel, clinical negligence, commercial, competition, divorce and family, employment, investor protection and personal injury.

Last year, the firm doubled its number of offices by opening in New York and Delaware, amid a 22.5% turnover increase to £34.9m. The litigation specialist claims it is one of the few UK law firms to be "conflict free".