Russell-Cooke has once again been recognised in The Legal 500 UK directory, achieving new and improved rankings across multiple practice areas in its 2026 edition.
The firm has been named as a Firm to Watch in the directory’s London Corporate restructuring & insolvency table for the first time, included as a Tier 2 firm in the new Family: Divorce and financial remedy table, and has seen promotions to their private client and agriculture and estates rankings:
- London Family: Children – promoted to Tier 1
- South East Personal tax, trusts and probate – promoted to Tier 1
- London Family: Divorce and financial remedy – included in Tier 2
- London Agriculture and estates – promoted to Tier 3
Overall, the firm has 30 ranked teams and 39 ranked individuals including 4 Hall of Fame, 14 Leading Partner, 10 Next Generation Partner and 9 Leading Associate rankings, with a number of individuals ranked in multiple categories.
Clients describe the firm’s lawyers as the “gold standard”, with “impressive depth of experience and knowledge”, and an “incredibly thoughtful” approach. Elsewhere they are described as “stellar”, “brilliant” and “commercially minded.”
Four of the firm’s lawyers are listed in the publication’s Hall of Fame: Jae Carwardine (crime); John Gould (regulatory); Andrew Studd (charities) and Fiona Read (family). The Hall of Fame identifies lawyers who have garnered consistent praise from their clients over a number of years.
We are delighted to see the continued recognition of our teams in The Legal 500 UK. These results highlight not only the expertise of our lawyers across a broad range of practice areas, but also our commitment to delivering outstanding client service. We are proud of the progress reflected in this year’s rankings and thank our clients and peers for their trust and support.
Russell-Cooke is ranked in the following categories:
- London > Corporate and commercial > M&A: Smaller Deals, £10m-£100m
- London > Crime, fraud and licensing > Crime: general
- London > Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: white-collar crime (advice to individuals)
- London > Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: mid-market
- London > Dispute resolution > Professional discipline
- London > Employment > Immigration: business
- London > Employment > Immigration: human rights
- London > Employment > Immigration: personal
- London > Employment > Senior executives
- London > Finance > Corporate restructuring & insolvency > Firms to watch
- London > Insurance > Clinical negligence: claimant
- London > Insurance > Personal injury: claimant
- London > Private client > Agriculture and estates
- London > Private client > Charities and not-for-profit
- London > Private client > Contentious trusts and probate
- London > Private client > Court of protection
- London > Private client > Family: children
- London > Private client > Family: divorce and financial remedy
- London > Private client > Family: mediation
- London > Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate
- London > Public sector > Administrative and public law
- London > Public sector > Education: individuals
- London > Real estate > Commercial property: corporate occupiers
- London > Real estate > Planning
- London > Real estate > Property litigation
- London > Real estate > Social housing: tenant
- London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Sport
- South East > Corporate and commercial > Corporate and commercial:
- Hampshire > Firms to watch
- South East > Private client > Family: Kent, Surrey, Sussex
- South East > Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate: Kent, Surrey, Sussex
The Legal 500 is an independent guide to legal services. Gathering research and feedback from clients, peers and referees, the publication compiles rankings and reviews of law firms and lawyers across specialist areas and geographic locations.
The firm's full rankings in The Legal 500 UK can be viewed on The Legal 500 website.
