“What struck me most was what a cohesive, dynamic and enthusiastic team they were and I wanted to be part of that,” he says. “I also felt that CooperBurnett shared my ethos when it comes to being a corporate lawyer. It isn’t simply about advising on the law, that’s the easy part. What’s important and what I particularly enjoy is becoming a client’s trusted adviser and part of their team.”
Adds Partner and Head of Corporate & Commercial Services, Victoria Sampson: “We’ve known each other for many years and I recognised Russell would be a perfect fit for our team. We’re happy that he’s on the right side of the table now and excited about the positive contribution he’ll make to both our firm and our clients.”
Russell gets involved with a broad spectrum of corporate and commercial law, from corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions (M&A), to advising clients on aspects of commercial law that affect their businesses. Russell has also worked with numerous start-ups from both the UK and abroad.
“What I like is when a client calls for advice about a certain situation they are facing and I can draw on my experience of what other clients have been through,” Russell says. “I also find that the best client relationships are built when we’re not focusing on law. Sometimes we’ll talk about cars for a bit and then we’ll move onto the work. Being the owner of a business or part of a senior management team can be a lonely place, where everyone expects you to have the answers. I like to be there as a sounding board and, through this, add value for the clients we work with.”
Russell was in the sixth form when he realised he wanted to be a lawyer.
“I shouldn’t really admit this, but I wasn’t always that focused at school,” he explains. “However, in law I found something which genuinely interested me and I started applying myself.”
From the outset, Russell had an interest in business and decided that he wanted to concentrate on corporate and commercial law.
“I like working closely with business owners and I enjoy the variety which corporate law offers – no transaction or problem that a client might be facing is ever the same,” he explains.
In his spare time, Russell likes to be outdoors – whether that’s enjoying the countryside with his young family or taking out his ‘mid-life crisis’ car for a spin on warmer days.
