The Legal 500

Within Partnership Partnership

Within Crime, Russell Jones and Walker part of Slater and Gordon Lawyers is a second tier firm,

Russell Jones & Walker is acting for a number of high-profile individuals, in relation to some of the most newsworthy cases of 2010. Highlights included advising police officers involved in the Rothbury incident involving Raoul Moat. Practice head Scott Ingram is experienced in police shooting cases.

Within Fraud: civil Leading individuals

Within Fraud: corporate crime, Russell Jones and Walker part of Slater and Gordon Lawyers is a second tier firm,

Russell Jones & Walker has a strong track record in this area. In 2010, the team succeeded in negotiating the termination of several investigations, including for Indiclaim in an SFO investigation regarding the administration of the world’s biggest compensation scheme. Rod Fletcher and Jeremy Summers are highly recommended.

Within Fraud: white-collar crime , Russell Jones and Walker part of Slater and Gordon Lawyers is a first tier firm,

Rod Fletcher at Russell Jones & Walker is ‘excellent in all areas: extremely supportive during difficult periods, and makes the whole process more bearable’. Fletcher is advising a senior manager of a large automotive company in two major investigations by the European Commission and the OFT; and Jeremy Summers is representing two former senior members of Innospec Limited regarding the SFO’s investigation into the UN Oil for Food Programme.

Within Defamation and privacy, Russell Jones and Walker part of Slater and Gordon Lawyers is a third tier firm,

Russell Jones & Walker is known as the firm of choice for defamation work for the Police Federation, but also has a strong practice advising private clients. It advised a Dyfed Powys police officer in a successful libel action against ITV Wales/S4C, after the officer was identified in error as the subject of criminal proceedings. Team head Jeremy Clarke-Williams is ‘sensitive to the needs of clients’. The firm recently suffered a blow with the departure of joint practice head Sarah Webb to Payne Hicks Beach.

Within Professional discipline, Russell Jones and Walker part of Slater and Gordon Lawyers is a third tier firm,

The ‘first-rate’ Rosemary Rollason heads the team at Russell Jones & Walker, whose clients include the General Optical Council and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. It is currently instructed by numerous families in relation to the coroner’s inquests into the 7/7 London bombings. Rod Fletcher is also recommended.

Within Employment Leading individuals

Within Employment: employee/union firms, Russell Jones and Walker part of Slater and Gordon Lawyers is a first tier firm,

Russell Jones & Walker provides ‘startlingly good value for money’, advising senior executives, employees and unions. Recent highlights include the public sector sex discrimination case Lynford v Sussex Police; human rights case Home Office v Tariq; and acting for some 2,500 British Airways crew in an indirect race discrimination matter. ‘Rising star’ Samantha Mangwana, who was promoted to partner in May 2011, led on the Fawcett Society’s innovative challenge to the government’s 2010 budget. Each member of the team is ‘an expert in their field’; senior executive specialist Clive Howard ‘accurately assesses the merits of a case, then gets his client the best deal’; Paul Daniels ‘fights for his clients every inch of the way’; and Julie Morris’ ‘charm conceals great intellect and a stubborn insistence on standing up for her client’s rights’. Other recommended practitioners include ‘excellent strategist’ Edward Cooper and discrimination specialists Emma Hawksworth and Arpita Dutt. Trade union specialist Alison Humphry joined in 2011 from Thompsons Solicitors LLP.

Within Health and safety, Russell Jones and Walker part of Slater and Gordon Lawyers is a third tier firm,

Russell Jones & Walker is instructed by individuals, unions and other organisations. It recently advised in relation to investigations into the activities of government bodies and senior scientists; and a fire in council property. It also acted in the defence of manslaughter charges relating to the Hatfield train derailment. James Carlton is ‘a strategic thinker, energetic, and extremely competent’.

Within Overview,

One area which has continued to show a high level of activity is litigation, in both the High Court and the employment tribunals. The number of trials relating to team moves, restrictive covenants, bonus schemes, and all kinds of discrimination has increased, with employees striving to maintain scarce jobs, and employers taking action to stem the flood of claims. Firms such as Linklaters LLP; McDermott Will & Emery UK LLP; Herbert Smith LLP; Farrer & Co; Fox Williams LLP and Simmons & Simmons have been at the forefront for finance houses and executives, and have witnessed the development of a new thread of litigation – data breaches and privacy issues in defections to competitors. Discrimination in all its forms has also been in the spotlight, with notable cases being fought by Leigh Day & Co; Bindmans LLP; and Russell Jones & Walker.

Within Clinical negligence: claimant, Russell Jones and Walker part of Slater and Gordon Lawyers is a third tier firm,

Russell Jones & Walker attracts high-profile cases, for private and publicly funded clients. Paul Sankey is an ‘absolutely brilliant’ lawyer, ‘utterly professional’, and with ‘a wide range of knowledge within the medical negligence area’. Practice head James Bell is also recommended.

Within Personal injury: claimant, Russell Jones and Walker part of Slater and Gordon Lawyers is a second tier firm,

Russell Jones & Walker’s growing team is ‘going from strength to strength’ and ‘produces work of a high standard’. Its expertise includes employers’ liability, disease, catastrophic injury claims, cycle accidents and road traffic claims. Practice head Paul Kitson has ‘good client-handling skills’, and is ‘unflappable, with excellent judgement’. Liz Dux is ‘efficient, organised and methodical’. The ‘thoughtful’ Alison Kerr is also recommended, along with Tristan Hallam, who ‘attends to detail, achieving excellent results’, and Kimberley Owen and Richard Geraghty.

Within Personal injury: defendant Leading individuals

Within Product liability: claimant, Russell Jones and Walker part of Slater and Gordon Lawyers is a second tier firm,

Russell Jones & Walker’s practice is led by Birmingham-based Richard Langton, and was recently involved in the high-profile ‘toxic sofa’ litigation, acting as lead adviser in the GLO and for 90% of the injured claimants. It also acted for over 80 victims of hand injuries caused by buggies, reaching a settlement with McLaren and its insurers.

Within Administrative and public law, tier 6

Russell Jones & Walker handles gender equality cases and police judicial reviews; Edward Cooper is ‘deeply impressive’.

Within Public affairs, Russell Jones and Walker part of Slater and Gordon Lawyers is a third tier firm,

Russell Jones & Walker’s team acts primarily for trade unions and other membership organisations. Representative work included providing advice in relation to the ‘Justice for Jane’ campaign, and assisting The Law Society on the new Financial Services Bill. Fraser Whitehead heads the team.

Within Commercial property, tier 7

Russell Jones & Walker’s Peter Klim is ‘extremely knowledgeable, and efficient in turning work around’. Clients include the TUC and Police Federation.

Within Sport, tier 6

Paul Daniels, head of Russell Jones & Walker’s ‘excellent’ team, is well regarded for his work representing football managers. The ‘tenacious, dedicated, smart and commercially switched-on’ Tracey Benson advises on sports injuries. The team also advises various sports associations.