England - London • Dispute resolution

Russell-Cooke LLP

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'At the forefront of regulatory law and professional discipline for at least the last 30 years', Russell-Cooke LLP is consistently instructed by the SRA, particularly in relation to insurance disputes and the Compensation Fund; and the team routinely advises major city firms and individual partners on misconduct allegations. The practice also acts for the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy, along with several other professional bodies. The track record of senior partner John Gould includes several high-profile disciplinary proceedings; Matt Bosworth is 'hugely experienced'; and Michael Stacey specialises in regulatory advice and litigation, in relation to legal services, architects, accountants, and charity trustees. The second line of key advisers includes consultant and former partner, Peter Cadman, who is regularly mandated by regulatory bodies and individual members of professions; legal counsel and barrister Tom Bradford, who also maintains a professional discipline practice; and the 'extremely hardworking' senior associate Sheetul Sowdagur.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Fantastic team - vast experience, pragmatic and down-to-earth.’

  • ‘Michael Stacey is incredibly experienced, and with excellent judgment and a good manner with clients.’

  • ‘A broad base of experience, prosecuting and defending in front of a wealth of different regulators (and sports bodies), and with the nous and experience to transition seamlessly if the matters become criminal or there are civil proceedings that spin off.’

  • ‘John Gould brings vast amount of experience, wisdom and intellect to bear on cases.'

  • ‘Matt Bosworth - 24 hour availability and tough as nails when he needs to be, and charming when that's the best tack. Hugely experienced with a client base many rivals would give their right arm for.’

  • ‘The firm is prepared to adapt fee strategies to meet the needs of the client, and has extensive marketing strategies which leads it to acquire new business with ease.’

  • ‘Sheetul Sowdagur is extremely hardworking, makes herself available, and is client focused.’

  • ‘The team has been at the forefront of regulatory law and professional discipline for at least the last 30 years.’

Key clients

  • British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
  • CILEx Regulation
  • Solicitors Regulation Authority

Work highlights

  • Challenged the sanction placed on a doctor’s practice via a High Court Appeal.
  • Defended a solicitor accused by the Solicitors Regulation Authority of breaching his duties as certificate provider for a lasting power of attorney.
  • Successfully defended CILEX Regulation in judicial review proceedings.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame

The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.

John Gould

John Gould

Hall of fameRussell-Cooke LLP

Senior Partner 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.

Next Generation Partners

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

John Gould, Matt Bosworth

Other key lawyers

Michael Stacey, Peter Cadman, Tom Bradford, Sheetul Sowdagur