Charles Russell LLP
Encyclopedia
Charles Russell LLP is a top 50 City
legal practice
formed by the merger of three long established firms (Williams & James and Peake & Co - both founded in the 1760s - and Charles Russell and Co - founded 1893), with offices in London, Guildford, Cheltenham, Cambridge, Oxford, Geneva and Bahrain. Charles Russell became an LLP
on 1 May 2005.
and international businesses, FTSE
and AIM
-listed businesses, governments and not-for-profit bodies
. They also advise private individuals, trustee
s and intermediaries.
Expertise spans a wide range of industries, including media and communications, publishing, leisure, healthcare, pharmacy and medical, education, insurance and reinsurance, construction, real estate and finance. Services are integrated across eight offices: two in London
and also offices in Guildford
, Cheltenham
, Cambridge
, Oxford
, Geneva
and Bahrain
. The firm's managing partner James Holder
, explained the presence in the historical cities of Oxford and Cambridge by saying "We don't want to abandon our private client practice like other firms because it's very lucrative for us. We target the high-end, high-wealth sector and this is why we have offices in these locations." The firm's Oxford office, which also focuses on IT
, bioscience
, publishing
and higher education
, is headed by former partner Peter Elliott. Elliott left the firm in 1987 to set up the in-house legal function at English China Clays
, but returned to Charles Russell in 2004 to launch the Oxford practice.
On 2 April 2007 it was reported that the firm were successful in the high-profile case for the FA
in the Court of Appeal
against footballer Wayne Rooney's
agent Paul Stretford
. The ruling was well publicised because of its impact on particular rules in the FA's rulebook relating to disciplinary procedures. Other key clients include EasyJet
, JP Morgan Cazenove (jointly owned by JP Morgan and Cazenove), Canaccord Adams, the Forensic Science Service
, Arqiva
, the Trevor Osborne Property Group, Honda
GP, Wagamama
and ITN.
On 1 May 2007 James Holder was appointed Managing Partner of Charles Russell, taking over from Grant Howell, who had been Managing Partner for eight years. Holder qualified in 1978 and joined Charles Russell in 1987. He was Head of the Corporate Finance Group from 1997 to 2000, and Head of the Corporate and Commercial Service Group from 2000 to 2007.
Charles Russell is a member of two international non-exclusive associations: ALFA International (American Law Firm Association) and The Association of European Lawyers. Charles Russell were the first UK-based legal practice to have a dedicated British Virgin Islands
service, are founder members of the London Court of International Arbitration
(LCIA) and also members of both the International Chamber of Commerce
(ICC) which is based in Paris and Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution
(CEDR) which is based in the UK.
The firm also advises on related issues, including Charities/Not for profit, Technology, Media, Telecoms and Sports, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, corporate recovery & insolvency, EU and competition, reputation management, intellectual property, tax, UK and international trusts, landed estates and private property.
UK.
Charles Russell also support yachtswoman Helena Lucashttp://www.helenalucas.com/ in Team Great Britain’s Paralympic
squad by the provision of legal advice on commercial and sponsorship agreements to enable her to attend the 2008 Paralympics
in Beijing
, China
.
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
legal practice
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
formed by the merger of three long established firms (Williams & James and Peake & Co - both founded in the 1760s - and Charles Russell and Co - founded 1893), with offices in London, Guildford, Cheltenham, Cambridge, Oxford, Geneva and Bahrain. Charles Russell became an LLP
Limited liability partnership
A limited liability partnership is a partnership in which some or all partners have limited liability. It therefore exhibits elements of partnerships and corporations. In an LLP one partner is not responsible or liable for another partner's misconduct or negligence. This is an important...
on 1 May 2005.
Profile
Charles Russell provide a full range of services to UKUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and international businesses, FTSE
FTSE 100 Index
The FTSE 100 Index, also called FTSE 100, FTSE, or, informally, the footsie , is a share index of the 100 most highly capitalised UK companies listed on the London Stock Exchange....
and AIM
Alternative Investment Market
AIM is a sub-market of the London Stock Exchange, allowing smaller companies to float shares with a more flexible regulatory system than is applicable to the main market....
-listed businesses, governments and not-for-profit bodies
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
. They also advise private individuals, trustee
Trustee
Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
s and intermediaries.
Expertise spans a wide range of industries, including media and communications, publishing, leisure, healthcare, pharmacy and medical, education, insurance and reinsurance, construction, real estate and finance. Services are integrated across eight offices: two in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and also offices in Guildford
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
, Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
, Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
and Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
. The firm's managing partner James Holder
James Holder
James Holder is an Australian speedway rider currently riding for the Somerset Rebels in the British Premier League.-Career:...
, explained the presence in the historical cities of Oxford and Cambridge by saying "We don't want to abandon our private client practice like other firms because it's very lucrative for us. We target the high-end, high-wealth sector and this is why we have offices in these locations." The firm's Oxford office, which also focuses on IT
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
, bioscience
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
, publishing
Publishing
Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public...
and higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
, is headed by former partner Peter Elliott. Elliott left the firm in 1987 to set up the in-house legal function at English China Clays
English China Clays plc
English China Clays plc or ECC was a mining company involved in the extraction of china clay, based in St Austell, Cornwall. It was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index but in 1999 was acquired by Imetal.-History:...
, but returned to Charles Russell in 2004 to launch the Oxford practice.
On 2 April 2007 it was reported that the firm were successful in the high-profile case for the FA
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
in the Court of Appeal
Appellate court
An appellate court, commonly called an appeals court or court of appeals or appeal court , is any court of law that is empowered to hear an appeal of a trial court or other lower tribunal...
against footballer Wayne Rooney's
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
agent Paul Stretford
Paul Stretford
Paul Stretford is an English football agent. In 1987 he founded Proactive Sports Management, renamed Formation Group in 2004, which went on to represent, amongst others, England footballer Wayne Rooney...
. The ruling was well publicised because of its impact on particular rules in the FA's rulebook relating to disciplinary procedures. Other key clients include EasyJet
EasyJet
EasyJet Airline Company Limited is a British airline headquartered at London Luton Airport. It carries more passengers than any other United Kingdom-based airline, operating domestic and international scheduled services on 500 routes between 118 European, North African, and West Asian airports...
, JP Morgan Cazenove (jointly owned by JP Morgan and Cazenove), Canaccord Adams, the Forensic Science Service
Forensic Science Service
The Forensic Science Service is a government-owned company in the United Kingdom which provides forensic science services to the police forces and government agencies of England and Wales, as well as other countries.-History:...
, Arqiva
Arqiva
Arqiva is a telecommunications company which provides infrastructure and broadcast transmission facilities in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. The present company, with headquarters located at Crawley Court in the village of Crawley, Hampshire, was formed by National Grid Wireless...
, the Trevor Osborne Property Group, Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
GP, Wagamama
Wagamama
Wagamama is a British-headquartered restaurant chain, serving pan-Asian food in the style of a modern Japanese Ramen bar.-History:Created by Alan Yau, who subsequently created the Chinese restaurants Hakkasan and Yauatcha in London, the first Wagamama opened in 1992 off Gower Street in...
and ITN.
On 1 May 2007 James Holder was appointed Managing Partner of Charles Russell, taking over from Grant Howell, who had been Managing Partner for eight years. Holder qualified in 1978 and joined Charles Russell in 1987. He was Head of the Corporate Finance Group from 1997 to 2000, and Head of the Corporate and Commercial Service Group from 2000 to 2007.
Charles Russell is a member of two international non-exclusive associations: ALFA International (American Law Firm Association) and The Association of European Lawyers. Charles Russell were the first UK-based legal practice to have a dedicated British Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands, often called the British Virgin Islands , is a British overseas territory and overseas territory of the European Union, located in the Caribbean to the east of Puerto Rico. The islands make up part of the Virgin Islands archipelago, the remaining islands constituting the U.S...
service, are founder members of the London Court of International Arbitration
London Court of International Arbitration
The London Court of International Arbitration is an institution based in London, United Kingdom providing the service of international arbitration....
(LCIA) and also members of both the International Chamber of Commerce
International Chamber of Commerce
The International Chamber of Commerce is the largest, most representative business organization in the world. Its hundreds of thousands of member companies in over 130 countries have interests spanning every sector of private enterprise....
(ICC) which is based in Paris and Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution
Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution
Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution is a London-based mediation and alternative dispute resolution body. It was founded as a non-profit organisation in 1990, with the support of The Confederation of British Industry and a number of British businesses and law firms, to encourage the...
(CEDR) which is based in the UK.
Main practice areas
The firm's main areas of practice are:- Corporate and Commercial
- Real Estate
- Litigation and Dispute Resolution
- Employment and Pensions
- Private Client
- Family
The firm also advises on related issues, including Charities/Not for profit, Technology, Media, Telecoms and Sports, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, corporate recovery & insolvency, EU and competition, reputation management, intellectual property, tax, UK and international trusts, landed estates and private property.
Pro Bono work
The Charles Russell Pro Bono work includes work for a children's hospice and a law centre as well as individual cases such as a landmark case on workplace age-discrimination. The Charles Russell Charity of the Year 2007/2008 is the Make-a-Wish FoundationMake-A-Wish Foundation
The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a 501 non-profit organization founded in the United States that grants wishes to children who have life-threatening medical conditions. The charity now operates in forty-seven countries around the world through thirty-six affiliate offices.The president & CEO of this...
UK.
Charles Russell also support yachtswoman Helena Lucashttp://www.helenalucas.com/ in Team Great Britain’s Paralympic
Paralympic Games
The Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event where athletes with a physical disability compete; this includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which are held immediately following their...
squad by the provision of legal advice on commercial and sponsorship agreements to enable her to attend the 2008 Paralympics
2008 Summer Paralympics
The 2008 Summer Paralympic Games, the thirteenth Paralympics, took place in Beijing, China from September 6 to September 17, 2008. As with the 2008 Summer Olympics, equestrian events were held in Hong Kong and sailing events in Qingdao....
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
External links
- Charles Russell LLP - Official site
- Vault.com report on Charles Russell
- Firm's rankings in Chambers UK and Chambers Global
- The Lawyer UK 200 - 21 September 2007
- Government names record 48 firms on super-panel - Legal Week
- RollOnFriday - inside info
- Charles Russell Profile - Legal Week
- ALFA International - Official site
- Association of European Lawyers - Official site