Russell-Cooke LLP

Administrative and public law; professional discipline and regulation

Chair John Gould's area of particular expertise is regulation and public law. He specialises in the analysis and solution of complex regulatory problems, advising regulators, government departments, law enforcement agencies, charities and statutory and professional bodies.

One of John's particular areas of interest is complex financial schemes. He has played a leading part in investigations relating to investment, tax and pension schemes, international financial frauds, money laundering, organised criminality and the corruption of public officials. He has been appointed as an 'expert person' under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA), a court appointed partnership receiver and a court appointed supervisor of search and freezing orders. He has advised and served as an expert witness for, among others, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), the Financial Services Authority (FSA), the Magistrates Association (MA) and the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) in a variety of courts and tribunals including the Old Bailey. He holds rights of audience in the higher civil courts.

John provides advice on and drafts legal structures, statutory powers, royal charters and professional rules. He is Board Solicitor to the Architects Registration Board. He prepares independent reports for organisations where things have gone wrong including on governance and related issues. He has advised more than 40 sets of barristers' chambers on structures, mergers, dissolutions and disputes, and has advised in relation to political donations and expenses at the highest level. Many of his cases have attracted significant media interest. He often advises and reports in relation to situations which involve both legal and reputational issues for organisations.

Trained Russell-Cooke, Potter & Chapman; qualified 1980; partner 1982.

Member of the Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers (ARDL) Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) John has published numerous articles in journals including as a standing contributor to the New Law Journal John is the author of The Law of Legal Services (in its second edition). The book has been described as authoritative by Lord Neuberger, then President of the Supreme Court.

He is currently re-writing the Solicitors volume of the EFP published by Lexis Nexis.

Bristol GS and Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge (Evan Lewis Thomas Law Student)