Russell-Cooke

Senior Partner: John Gould

Number of partners: 65

Number of lawyers: 120

Languages: Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish

Firm Overview:

Having worked for many years with individuals, families, entrepreneurs and professionals based both in the UK and internationally, the high net worth team at Russell-Cooke understands the wide range of legal, financial and emotional issues that can arise. They also recognise that your family, your business and your wealth are all inextricably linked and that any advice you receive should take them all into account. The unusually broad range of specialisms within Russell-Cooke means you can turn to a single team for the prompt informed guidance you and your family need. As well as helping you make the best-informed decisions and plan for the future, the close-knit team also has the experience to anticipate problems before they arise.

Main Areas of Practice:

Wealth & Succession Planning:

Often working closely with a family’s other advisers, the wealth and succession planning team offers guidance on all legal aspects of wealth planning and protection.

Succession Planning:

The team specialises in everything from wills, powers of attorney and estate administration to trusts and Family Investment Companies.

Cross-Border:

Where assets straddle multiple jurisdictions, the team works with the private international law team and firms in Russell-Cooke’s global network to provide practical advice.

Entrepreneurs & Family Businesses:

Key areas on which the firm offers guidance include business property relief and entrepreneurs’ relief.

Tax Advice:

The firm’s specialists are able to advise on all aspects of tax in relation to wealth and succession planning, including inheritance tax, capital gains tax and stamp duty.

Contact: Rebecca Fisher

Tel: +44 (0)20 8394 6218

Email:[email protected]

Real Estate (Residential):

Services range from simple conveyancing for high-value properties to managing the family estate and developing your investment portfolio.

Contact: Donall Murphy

Tel: +44 (0)20 8394 6512

Email: [email protected]

French Law & Property:

Russell-Cooke’s dual-qualified French team can advise on many aspects of French property law including sales and purchases and ownership structures. The team offers guidance on issues involving France and the EU Succession Regulation 650/12, estate planning, wills, cross-border tax advice, French probate and administration of successions. If you have complex cross-border issues, capacity issues, or issues involving French property and transfers of property following divorce, there are experts at Russell-Cooke who can help.

Contact: Nicole Gallop Mildon

Tel: +44 (0)20 8394 6234

Email:[email protected]

Contact: Patrick Delas

Tel: +44 (0)20 8394 6387

Email: [email protected]

Resolving Disputes:

It could be a disagreement over the way the family trust is being run, a threat to a trust or assets, or a challenge to the succession of an estate. Whatever the nature of the dispute, Russell-Cooke’s dedicated trust and estate disputes team can help to resolve it in the most sensitive and efficient way, whether through negotiation, mediation or hard-fought litigation.

Contact: Alison Regan

Tel: +44 (0)20 8394 6549

Email:[email protected]

Family Relationships:

For any family, relationship changes will often have significant immediate and long-term consequences – both emotionally and financially. Expert, empathetic advice is vital to ensure you are taking the right course and the process is sensitively and constructively handled. The family team’s services include drawing up prenuptial, post-nuptial and cohabitation agreements. They also advise on the end of relationships (whether married or not) and issues such as financial settlements and the arrangements for children after divorce or separation. Other specialisms include advising on family creation – including adoption and surrogacy – and all issues relating to education, from early years through to university and beyond.

Contact: James Carroll

Tel: +44 (0)20 7440 4839

Email:[email protected]

Reputation Management:

Russell-Cooke’s experienced team has been involved in providing advice and assistance in matters relating to reputation management and privacy for individuals and organisations with active public profiles through to private high-net-worth individuals and families. Over time the team has built up a network of crisis management, PR and associated specialist professionals to give our clients the very best of service whatever the situation.

Contact: Matt Bosworth

Tel: +44 (0)20 7440 4840

Email: [email protected]

Real Estate (Commercial):

Russell-Cooke’s real estate team advises on commercial property transactions for individuals and investors, many of whom are based overseas. Transactions include acquisitions and disposals, development and construction, funding, investment, secured lending, landlord and tenant, planning and portfolio management. The team has particular expertise in dealing with complex transactions and those that are time critical.

Contact: Matt Garrod

Tel: +44 (0)20 8440 4848

Email: [email protected]

Philanthropy:

To support any charitable giving activities, the firm’s philanthropy experts within its nationally-recognised charity team can help with matters such as establishing your own foundation or advising on your role as a trustee.

Contact: Pippa Garland

Tel: +44 (0)20 8394 6491

Email: [email protected]