Private client team news and updates—June 2026

The recent success of the Artemis II mission, which carried astronauts around the Moon for the first time in over half a century, captured our attention and dominated headlines across the world. Beyond its scientific and symbolic importance, the mission is a powerful reminder of the value of long-term planning, precision, and preparedness. Much like a space mission, where even minor adjustments to course can have profound downstream effects, small changes in legislation and compliance can significantly alter the eventual tax exposure of an estate. Plans that were appropriate five or ten years ago may no longer achieve the intended outcome. It is no longer sufficient to assume that existing structures will continue to operate efficiently without periodic review. In this newsletter, our team explores the practicalities of using trusts, tax reporting, and dealing with cross border estate planning.

• Matthew Radcliffe joins the private client team in Bedford Row as partner.
• Isobel Rudge joins the private client team in Bedford Row as an associate.
• Sarah Mouhou joins the private client team in Putney as a French-qualified Avocate.
• Sharon Wilson-Dutin joins the private client team in Putney as a French-qualified Avocate.

We are proud to have been recognised for both our legal expertise and firm culture at leading industry awards in recent months. Most notably, Russell-Cooke was named Law Firm of the Year at the LexisNexis Legal Awards 2026, reflecting the strength of our work and the dedication of our people. Alongside this, we are delighted to have secured a place in the top 10 of RollOnFriday’s 2026 Best Law Firms to Work At survey for the third consecutive year, an achievement that speaks to the supportive, inclusive and high-performing environment we continue to build.

At Russell-Cooke, responsible business is integral to who we are and how we operate. Our newly published Responsible Business Report 2025–26 sets out how our values are translated into meaningful action across our legal work, workplace culture and community engagement. From providing access to justice through legal aid, to championing sustainability and wellbeing initiatives - including projects as diverse as rooftop beehives - the report offers a snapshot of how we are working to make a positive and lasting impact.