Russell-Cooke LLP > London, England > Firm Profile

‘RC is an exceptional firm in a highly competitive field. Effective communication between its members ensures that a client’s interests are always protected and promoted.’

‘Jacob Smyth is exceptional. He has a meticulous eye for detail and fearlessly protects his clients interests. He leaves no stone unturned when preparing cases and always goes the extra mile to ensure that their interests are best represented.’

‘Jae Carwardine and Martin Rackstraw are outstanding. They are highly conscientious and go the extra mile for their clients. They are widely regarded as being first-rate criminal solicitors.’

‘The people, work ethic and attention to detail set Russell Cooke apart as a firm.’

‘Jae Carwardine leads the team. She has an unrivalled commitment to her work and her clients.’

‘Russell Cooke has long been one of the best firms practising in crime. Their solicitors are first rate. They are both extremely knowledgeable and provide excellent client care.’

‘A broad range of solid operators.’

‘Martin Rackstraw is one of the most conscientious solicitors. No stone is left unturned for his private clients.’

‘One of the best professional discipline teams in London. Depth of experience across all professional regulatory bodies, from accountants to sports regulations, auditors, dentists, doctors, solicitors, insurance and banking.’

‘Over 35 years’ experience in both prosecuting and defending. The practice is diverse, employing a broad mix of people with complementary talents, and the experience of the firm in criminal cases assists with its defence work.’

‘Fights clients’ interests fearlessly, and provides that service in a cost-efficient manner.’

‘John Gould – the doyen of professional discipline who has seen it all.’

‘Matt Bosworth always has an eye to the reputation management aspects, and has no peer in ensuring cases go under the radar where possible.’

‘Michael Stacey is a standout partner in this field – huge experience, calm with clients, and a joy to work with.’

‘Legal counsel Tom Bradford – I particularly value his cost-effective and efficient client service.’

‘Sheetul Sowdagur is an up-and-coming senior associate.’

‘Janice Gardner is very experienced and hugely empathic. Sarah Towler is determined and tenacious. Teri Gauge-Klein is able and clever.’

‘Janice Gardner is the consummate professional with many years of experience, always deployed to good use. She is empathetic but always pragmatic and has a steely determination on behalf of her clients. I would trust her with any case no matter how complex or difficult the client. Sarah Towler is a very capable lawyer who is easy to work with and gets great results for her clients.’

‘Lucy Lawson works really hard for her clients and always has them onside. Ruth Roberts is an up-and-coming lawyer who is thoughtful, thorough and has a lovely manner with clients but will stand her ground with opponents. Claire Heneghan is a conscientious lawyer who works hard for her clients to get the best possible outcome. Teri Gauge-Klein is a capable and hard working lawyer, always calm and personable. Nimmisha Aslam is another up-and-coming lawyer who works really hard to pursue her client’s best interests and has excellent client handling skills.’

‘Janice Gardner at Russell-Cooke is a real fighter who stands her ground and gives realistic and proper advice to her clients in heavy duty cases. She is hugely experienced, has a lightness of touch and brings tactical nous to all her decisions.’

‘Bernadette McGhie is the lead solicitor for my daughter’s case. She is approachable, honest, flexible and I feel that she is in total control. Her wide knowledge of the nursing side of the case is excellent.’

‘Janice Gardner was the solicitor working with us and we couldn’t have asked for a more diligent and understanding person to help us. Janice kept us up to date every step of the way and made sure we were really well represented in every aspect of our case.’

‘Bernadette McGhie has a wealth of experience in clinical negligence. In addition, she was formerly a senior nurse and therefore brings a considerable knowledge of a range of hospital and medical specialties and treatment. Therefore, the team has a very clear understanding of the issues not only legal but those specific to the client in any claim that they deal with.’

‘The team that supported us during our litigation case were always efficient, caring and supportive. Particular strengths were attention to detail and a personal approach. We always felt really well informed and up to date with everything surrounding our case.’

‘Great support and knowledge. Rapid engagement and strategic advice. Great people people. Very approachable, supportive and advice has been great’.

‘Gareth Roy. Provided us with excellent charity law advice but also commercial advice. He understands the needs of the client, is pragmatic, keeps an eye on costs, and inspires confidence from our senior management team’.

‘Russell-Cooke provided practical, commercial advice. They were attentive, available and flexible and understood the specific needs of our organisation. The team made the process incredibly clear and easy to follow and ensured that all the necessary pieces were handled’.

‘We really valued Andrew Studd for his down to earth nature and ability to explain complex charity law issues to a range of non-experts’.

‘Each team member we have worked with has shown to have a friendly and approachable manner, which is of great importance when dealing with legal sensitivities, particularly to work in a manner that allows laymen to understand some complexities behind the legal ask. This provides a sense of trust that we are receiving the best advice’.

‘Professional, quick to respond, excellent advice and support’.

‘Having used Russell-Cooke for a number of years, we can comment on the following strengths-wide range of legal services, well-suited to our global business; resourcefulness, international law and ability of the team to advise on the local code of practice abroad; high-quality advice’.

‘The team members are very experienced in and advised us on various challenges related to the charity law. The team takes a very detailed and structured approach to the issues we have undergone and communicates extremely well about expected timelines, follow-up meetings and any legal documents (outcomes). Cannot recommend enough!’.

‘This is the London firm I recommend to friends and family for estates and trusts disputes. Everyone in the team is capable and reliable. The support from the partners guides matters beautifully while keeping costs proportionate to the issues and sums at stake’.

‘Alison Regan – a real name who is very well respected. Really experienced and deeply effective as a result. Also a super-nice person. Tom Deely – a rising star who manages his own caseload, it can’t be long before he’s made partner. Strategically very astute’.

‘Alison Regan is a leading light in contentious estates and trusts work. Her leadership has been recognised by her elevation to be joint managing partner of what is a large and diverse multi-services firm. Tom Deely is calm, compassionate and reassuring with clients and steely and dignified with opponents’.

‘I have worked regularly for almost 4 years with Tom Deely, a senior associate whose courtesy and competence are simply stellar. His style provides an unusual balance between advisory and collaborative, making him strategically effective yet pleasant and easy to work with’.

‘I have been very impressed by Russell-Cooke in terms of overall client experience. Firstly my matter has been dealt with expertly, but also I have been billed transparently and in my view fairly for the work executed. Communication from Russell-Cooke has been clear, complete and timely throughout the three years I have been dealing with this team.’

‘I have had a very positive experience dealing with Andrew Morgan in all matters relating to my case. He has always approached matters extremely conscientiously and the result achieved recently in negotiating a settlement exceeded what I had thought possible at points during the proceedings’.

‘A very experienced and capable team, going from strength to strength. Alison Regan – At the top of the field.  Gareth Ledsham – A leader in this area of law, would highly recommend. Tom Deely – Perfect client manner and technical knowledge. Andrew Morgan – Incredible attention to detail and tenacity. A go-to person for tricky matters’.

‘Russell Cooke has a particular reputation for estates disputes with a cross border element, but actually its expertise is excellent across the range of this type of work. Alison Regan is now managing partner but continues to practise. Gareth Ledsham is a superstar, with excellent judgment and good client manner’.

‘Very personable, always available to answer any questions. Understanding of the situation and very patient’.

‘Rita Bhargava is excellent’.

‘What makes this team is the leadership of Rita Bhargava. Rita has specialised in Private Client work of all kinds, but Court of Protection and Capacity issues in particular, for many years. Her specialist knowledge is second to none’.

‘Rita Bhargava’s hands on approach and ability to get things done mean you can have no one better in your corner and for those who are vulnerable or who are unable to manage their own affairs – they can have no one better advocating on their behalf’.

‘Rita Bhargava goes above and beyond what is required, she has a real empathy with her clients and looks out for them, so that (whether in care homes or in hospital) they are being properly cared for. This requires not only legal skills but kindness, compassion and a real desire to help those in need’.

‘A lovely team of lawyers who are very knowledgeable and experts in their field. Gareth Ledsham is an excellent lawyer. He has a lovely way about him and is a pleasure to work with’.

‘Samantha Little is a stand out solicitor within family law as a whole. She deals with extremely complex cases and is always able to get to grips with very complex medical evidence quickly. She is also regularly sought after in difficult wardship proceedings which are heard in the High Court. She has a superb reputation for hard work and sensitivity which is well deserved’.

‘Sarah Richardson is a delight to work with; there is nothing she does not know about public law children work. One of the most experienced solicitors in her field. Jade Quirke has an impressive niche practice in surrogacy, complex adoption and difficult modern family parenting issues. She impresses as being very capable , she is extremely tenacious as well as highly efficient‘.

‘The person I have worked closely with recently is Hannah Minty, whom I regard very highly. She has very good judgment, great client skills and is altogether a pleasure to work with’.

‘The sheer excellence and experience of the Russell-Cooke family team is worth having on your side. The team works well together to cover each other’s cases so that no client ever feels unsupported. Miranda Green is a brilliant and experienced family solicitor who I would pick every time. She knows the law and writes brilliant letters. She is solution-focused and confident’.

‘A full service family dept with some outstanding people. Fiona Read – assured, sensible and a safe pair of hands for legal work or mediation. Also James Carroll is exceptionally talented’.

‘There is depth in the RC offering and they have a great next generation in development. Fiona Read, James Carroll, Sam Little , Jemma Pollock, Camilla Thornton. They are properly focused on the family’s future (rather than their own!) see children as a central part of their work (not all family lawyers seem to) and are experienced in non-court dispute resolution processes‘.

‘Sam Little is one of the top two or three children solicitors in the jurisdiction (and probably leads that group) and there are top tier mediators on the team too. Hannah Field is calm and friendly with clients which puts them at ease. She is solution focused and grasps the challenges quickly’.

‘James Carroll is a power house. He handles complex family law cases in all processes from mediation through to litigation and he is a star every time. Kate Hamilton is brilliant. Always constructive and solution focused’.

‘I had first rate advice from senior associate, Suzanne Mynors. She provided clear and concise advice, draft documents accurately reflecting instructions and all at a very reasonable price well within the original estimate. She is articulate, responsive and very clear in her advice as well as draft documents which were provided promptly. I was originally referred to Rebecca Fisher who suggested that Suzanne was well equipped to advise in circumstances which were not entirely straightforward, and so she proved to be’.

‘This firm dealt competently with a large and complex estate. They were self-propelled and did not need to be driven every inch of the way. They had a grasp of the issues that only comes with experience. I dealt with Andrew Godfrey. He seemed to have a command of his subject and delivered the service described above’.

‘I have always been given sound advice. Communication is very good. Suzanne Mynors has been excellent with my trust and complex probate work which has been very complex’.

‘An excellent firm with a proven track record in this niche area.’

‘Eva Akins and Lenka Wall both stand out in this field as highly dedicated expert practitioners; they prepare cases thoroughly with a strategic overview and are excellent in their approach to client care.’

‘Russell-Cooke are well established as one of the foremost firms acting for parents or students seeking to secure better education provision. The firm runs very efficiently with excellent solicitors.’

‘Eva Akins is a very well known lawyer in education. She is a go to for parents who can provide clear and pragmatic advice and is able to mould the best possible legal case.’

‘Hugely supportive and knowledgeable team with unparalleled insight of education law matters and the practical realities of SEND in school and as the issues impact home life.’

‘Eva Akins – uniquely qualified to advise SEND parents given her own insights and experience. Practical and tough – exactly what you need when navigating the complexities of dealing with Local Authorities and independent schools in particular.’

‘Lenka Wall – goes above and beyond to assist in getting results for parents and children. Builds up knowledge of a child’s complex needs and experiences and then effectively uses that information to successfully facilitate results.’

‘The team response is always very good, their advice is clear, concise and devoid of legal jargon. They are very practical in their advice, offering good solutions to complex issues.’

‘The firm is very responsive from the first contact and clear about time frames and providing preliminary advice pending greater investigation into the issue.’

‘The innate and underlying knowledge and experience regarding nationality, residence conditions, related documentation etc. are self-evident and unusually well established and readily imported on a client-facing basis.’

‘Ed Wanambwa is brilliant with clients, extremely calm and measured, a real expert and someone who inspires complete confidence. They handle things seamlessly and I rate them very highly indeed.’

‘Nisha Patel was sensitive to our case and all the ensuing possibilities; she dealt with it all very fast and efficiently.’

‘My main point of contact is Bhavneeta Limbachia, she is incredibly professional, very responsive, extremely practical and pragmatic with her advice, which is always very clear, and concise.’

‘Excellent client focus and professional services with the team members.’

‘A local practice and team members were really helpful offering a personal confidential service. Timely on responses and great interaction.’

‘Russell-Cooke provide top level service at a local level . It is a winning formula.’

‘Excellent knowledge of Commercial and Leasehold Residential Property and Employment law. The partners and team have been in place a long time and continuity of client contact is particularly strong.’

‘I worked with Alex Bearman. He was approachable, just the right balance of formality and friendliness and completely put me at ease.’

‘Reason for them and the team being highly recommended are their availability and client care; they are happy to discuss matters and think of commercial solutions.’

‘Excellent speed of response, knowledge and pragmatism.’

‘Jason Hunter and Paul Greatholder are both excellent in understanding the issues quickly and seeking to resolve wherever possible.’

‘They are not merely clever problem solvers – they are also fun, and great to work with. I commend particularly: Paul Greatholder, Ed Cracknell and Jason Hunter.’

‘Fantastic team that offer a first rate service at a surprisingly affordable price for London.’

‘Ed Cracknell: Very solid and reliable. Good in dilaps and boundary disputes.’

‘Stephen Small – previously unsung hero; very, very reliable and sound judgement.’

‘This is a very strong property litigation practice, with a loyal client following, which acts for the full range of clients. The team is led by some very strong partners and is high quality at all levels. Clients get a very good service and are in very safe hands.’

‘Paul Greatholder is exceptionally good. He is a first class lawyer: bright, diligent, tactically astute, sensible, responsive and client-focused. He has a very loyal client following and is highly respected by his peers. When I am asked to recommend good solicitors, he is always on my list.’

‘A uniquely young and determined housing team with excellent knowledge and client focus.’

‘Caroline Brosnan and Jodie Green are two of the best lawyers I have worked with.’

‘Excellent team. One of the things that makes this team stand out is in the access that the team has to expertise in property law, including complex trust arrangements or proprietary estoppels. Therefore, when social housing cases raise those issues, there is the expertise in house to deal with them.’

‘Caroline Brosnan is well known in social housing, and is not only committed to her work and to her clients, but is adept at negotiating and good to work with.’

‘They are able to advise in some of the more complex cases which may involve leasehold disputes. The team is led by Caroline Brosnan who has huge experience in this field and has a reputation for leaving no stone unturned in her cases, her attention to the detail of the case is second to none, and being a Executive member of the Housing Law Practitioner Association she is always up to date with new issues arising in this sector.’

‘Matilda Rubens was exceptionally professional handling our case. She is a knowledgeable and experienced solicitor one can fully trust.’

‘The practice demonstrates a high role of working standards with friendly staff members to communicate with. You are treated with respect on all occasions and kept up to date through out your casework.’

‘Jodie Green was excellent and the worked she had done gave us a positive outcome and we are always satisfied with her communication.’

‘Russell-Cooke understood what was needed and engaged well with all parties. They were pragmatic and always looked for solutions.’

‘Russell-Cooke are a highly responsive, pragmatic and capable organisation. Not only are they legally highly competent but are also skilled at explaining opportunities, risks and impacts with respect to different courses of action. We highly recommend working with them.’

‘Their attention to detail, and clarity of information was greatly appreciated by us, as we are a very small company with no previous experience of management buyouts, and we never felt talked down to, and were always given the attention and detail that we required. We felt in very safe hands throughout the whole process.’

‘The ability to balance objective legal advice with participation in round table discussions in ways that weren’t overly formal or legalistic. An affable style that assisted when matters became difficult. Willingness to think tactically and to use the strength of their relationships with the other lawyer to provide options that diffused potentially disastrous situations. The tenacity to maintain momentum through apparent deadlock and to see the end goal as achievable.’

‘Along with the high level of professionalism and wealth of knowledge, the firm shows a level of engagement which provides for their integration with the business. This results in a way of working based on a partnership approach.’

‘We are lucky to have Jonathan Thornton as our main corporate partner. Very easy to get on with and a good sense of humour yet unbelievably knowledgeable. A rarity in his field, he never turns up with an ego and so whilst he tends to have very good practical ideas he is not immune to alternatives. He intellectually adores what he does which makes it easier for him to be consistently up to the challenge.’

‘David Webster really stood out for us. He always explained everything very clearly, and made us feel supported, and important. He was always available, even at short notice, and even though we must be a small client, we never felt undervalued, or taken for granted.’

‘The team is very commercial and sensible, and attuned to client needs – amazing value for such an able group of solicitors.’

‘The team at Russell-Cooke is technically very good – impressive knowledge of the insolvency legislation and how best to use it to the client’s advantage.’

‘Mark Fletcher is particularly good. Always available and responds very quickly to any query.’

‘Mark Fletcher – sound lawyer and good tactician – full of common sense.’

‘Elliot Elsey – very calm and considered, and gives great practical advice. He is pragmatic when he needs to be, and really puts himself in the client’s position.‘

‘Elliot Elsey is really great – knows which points to push and how to make progress.’

‘Emily Mitcheson is a very hands-on senior associate and one to watch. She spots issues early and gets on top of the detail. She is also a good communicator.’

‘Senior associate Ricky Cella is particularly strong.‘

‘Janice Gardner is hardworking, responsive, kind, professional, organised.’

‘Lucy Lawson is my absolute rock through the hardest time in my life! Without her help and constant support I wouldn’t be where I am today that’s for sure! She means the world to both me and my partner and is a credit to the firm.’

‘Janice Gardner combines integrity, a sense of fun and a laser focus on her client’s interests with real attention to detail and a great commercial sense of what is and is not possible. I cannot praise her highly enough.’

‘Grant Incles is quite exceptional. He is a very intelligent solicitor with a great grasp of the law. He is extremely astute when it comes to tactics and his ‘bedside manner’ when dealing with terribly injured clients and/or their families is not, in my experience, surpassed. If I was badly injured, he’s the solicitor I would turn to.’

‘When I am asked for a recommendation in London or the South East, I always start with Russell-Cooke. They are excellent at what they do and they have a size where I can guarantee that any case sent to them will be dealt with excellently by someone in their team.’

‘Dominic Fairclough is a tactical and strategic master. Sees the wood for the trees right from the outset.’

‘Sarah Towler is fantastic at client care – a hardworking lawyer that gets results for her clients efficiently and in good time.’

‘Grant Incles is a top-drawer claimant personal injury lawyer – incredibly efficient and tactically astute. A formidable litigator, but approachable and courteous. He operates at the the very highest level in the claimant personal injury market.’

‘A fantastic team of people with good commercial experience and knowledge of regulatory law.’

‘Michael Stacey is a new partner with bags of experience, common sense and legal knowledge.’

‘Russell-Cooke are a very good firm with broad expertise in judicial review and regulatory matters.’

‘Lauren Cormack is very knowledgeable with a good eye for detail.’

‘A young and very committed group of highly determined and intelligent lawyers. Fantastic to work with.’

‘Extremely professional, with deep knowledge in the area which I hired them to help me with. Very committed with excellent contacts to professionals outside of the practice to help with the case (used the services of an exceptional barrister).’

‘John Webster. Very dedicated to the case. Extremely knowledgeable. Was always very flexible to accommodate my busy schedule, which included calls out of normal office hours. Always made sure to respond as soon as possible to inquiries or requests. Always made sure to guide in the correct direction trying to take out the emotional side in my decision making.’

‘Michael Stacey is outstanding. Not only does he go above and beyond for clients, responding to urgent matters on evenings and weekends, but he also brings a wide range of cross-sector experience that is particularly useful in complex cases. His work is always of the highest standard and he listens carefully to clients working closely with them to understand their individual needs.’

‘The team at Russell-Cooke were excellent when acting for us in relation to our office relocation in London.’

‘A very solid, all-round team with sensible fees.’

‘Russell-Cooke are a breath of fresh air. Their communication is regular, with a clear wealth of experience. We have utilised both commercial property litigation and commercial property conveyancing services.’

‘Chris Barkley is extremely capable, professional and commercial and I would recommend his services to anyone seeking sound legal advice in this area.’

‘Pieter Boodt has real attention to detail.’

‘It felt that I had a team of support, instead of a person. That any question could be asked and discussed and would be answered by the appropriate professional but fed back and filtered through my solicitor so that he could be part of the process.’

‘Jacob Smyth, was brilliant. He kept me on track, focused our conversation to understand the situation better and took advice when he didn’t know the answer. There were some questions that needed a employment law specialist.’

‘RC is an exceptional firm in a highly competitive field. Effective communication between its members ensures that a client’s interests are always protected and promoted.’

‘Jacob Smyth (Associate) is exceptional. He has a meticulous eye for detail and fearlessly protects his clients interests. He leaves no stone unturned when preparing cases and always goes the extra mile to ensure that their interests are best represented.’

‘Jacob Smyth is utterly devoted to his clients and able to magic an acquittal out of the most unpromising facts.’

‘This is a particular area of expertise for the firm. they have considerable experience and expertise and are able to cover any case however complex or large.’

‘Jae Carwardine is hardworking and able to manage the largest cases.’

‘Jae Cardwardine and Martin Rackstraw are outstanding. They are highly conscientious and go the extra mile for their clients. They are widely regarded as first-rate criminal solicitors and are at the top of the tree.’

‘Russell Cooke have acted for me and my colleagues for more than 40 years. They have always provided an excellent service. Whenever there has been an “issue” it has been handled with complete integrity which is a refreshing change.’

‘Alex Ground is a very good planning lawyer. She is knowledgeable, approachable and likeable, and has a clear grasp of both planning and commercial matters.’

‘This is a practice which builds genuine and successful relationships with clients and other professionals. Its culture is open and collaborative, to the great benefit of client outcomes.’

‘Alex Ground is an astute, careful and committed lawyer with a good eye for detail.’

‘John Webster – Excellent technical skills but presented in a clear and understandable fashion and used to the greater advantage of the client.’

‘The firm don’t brag about work in the sector – they just get it done and keep it confidential.’

‘Good on disciplinary and regulatory matters.’

‘Matt Bosworth is superb in understanding client’s product offering, market place and strategic objectives.’

‘A leader in protecting intellectual property rights for live sports events.’

‘Matt Bosworth really provides a first class service to his clients. His knowledge and experience in intellectual property rights for live sporting events has been key in the brand protection of our business.’