Russell-Cooke LLP

russell-cooke.co.uk

Eva Akins

Eva is a partner and Head of Education Law at Russell-Cooke. She is an expert in cases involving special educational needs and disability (SEND), Equality Act claims, admissions, exclusions, complaints and school governance in the independent and maintained sector. Identified as a leader in the field, Eva has specialist knowledge in neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD, autism, cerebral palsy, dyslexia and dyspraxia. She has a particular interest in cases involving ‘dual exceptionality’. It is Eva's personal experience of SEND and exclusion that fuels her passion for this area of law and informs her empathetic style of client care. Eva believes that the problem with trying to fit a ‘square peg’ child into the round hole of an education system is not that the hammering is hard work; rather you risk destroying the peg! Eva’s role is focused on squaring the circle and making the education system more fit for purpose. Where school is not appropriate, she secures comprehensive highly individualised education otherwise than at school.

Kieran Bowe

Kieran is a partner specialising in tax, estate and succession planning, often acting for high net worth individuals, entrepreneurs and business owners. Kieran advises in relation to the preparation of wills, estate and tax planning including business succession and wealth protection for future generations, probate, lifetime trusts, trusts for vulnerable and disabled individuals, lasting powers of attorney, enduring powers of attorney and Court of Protection matters

Hannah Field

Hannah is a partner in the family team. Hannah is an expert in a broad range of family law issues including relationship breakdown, cohabitation disputes, pre and post-nuptial agreements, domestic violence orders including non-molestation and occupation orders as well as private law children disputes including leave to remove children from this jurisdiction.

Samantha Little

Work undertaken: all complex children proceedings, including private law/public law care cases; adoption (including inter-country adoption); surrogacy and alternative family law. Advises and represents parents, children, children’s guardians and other family members. Conducts much of her own advocacy, including in the High Court.

Julie Man

Julie is a partner in the private client team, she advises on the full spectrum of private client matters including complex wills, estate planning, succession planning for business owners, domicile and cross-border issues for international clients, trusts and the administration of estates.

Sarah Richardson

Sarah is a partner in the children and education law team. She specialises in complex cases involving vulnerable adults and children during care proceedings and family disputes such as children spending time with and or living with one family member. In this changing world of how families develop and are formed, Sarah has the ability to adapt and change as well as take on new challenges to meet her clients changing needs. Sarah is particularly experienced in advising and representing children, parents and family members in difficult and sensitive cases which are often life changing for families - for example, where there are issues of parental drug and alcohol addiction, domestic violence and or a mental health difficulty. Sarah has a reputation for being able to tackle a difficult area in a case such as mental health without being phased by the added complexities. Many cases often involve allegations of sexual abuse or physical harm to children. She handles these highly emotional cases with sensitivity and kindness. Sarah is also experienced in international and domestic adoption and surrogacy and advising LGBTQ+ families.

Sarah Towler

Sarah is a partner in the personal injury and clinical negligence team advising clients on a wide range of claims, including cases involving misdiagnosis of symptoms, negligent operations, road traffic accidents, work accidents and tripping accidents. Particular areas of specialisation are claims against local authorities regarding failure to care for vulnerable adults and children. Sarah also represents bereaved families at inquests involving deaths in hospital and the workplace, road traffic accidents and suicides. Additionally, she manages four pro-bono personal injury and clinical negligence drop-in clinics at Croydon, Morden, Battersea and Roehampton.