header-logo header-logo

01 February 2021
Categories: Movers & Shakers , Profession
printer mail-detail

Jonathan Thornton—Russell-Cooke

Russell-Cooke elects Deputy Senior Partner & Joint Managing Partners

 

Russell-Cooke has announced that Jonathan Thornton (pictured) has been elected as the firm’s Deputy Senior Partner, while Alison Regan and James Carroll have been elected as Joint Managing Partners.

They take up their new posts as of 1 February 2021 and will serve for a three-year term.

Jonathan Thornton is a partner in the firm’s corporate and commercial team and has been the firm’s Managing Partner since 2015. Alison Regan is a partner in the trust and estate disputes department while James Carroll is a partner in the family team.

Senior Partner John Gould, who is Chair of the Board, remains in post.

The three newly elected office holders will sit on the firm’s Board, alongside five annually elected Board members at partner level, and three non-lawyer directors. The other elected Board members are partners Matt Garrod, Rebecca Fisher, Kate Hamilton and Sarah Towler. The three directors are Wendy Watson (Business Development Director), Anu Kapila (Director for People, Risk and Standards), and Sam Allen (Director for Finance, Technology and Facilities). They were appointed after a reorganisation of the firm’s Business Services Group in 2020.

Taken together, the new appointments see more than 50% of Russell-Cooke’s Board positions occupied by women.

Alison Regan, Joint Managing Partner at Russell-Cooke, comments: “I have worked at Russell-Cooke my entire career and have seen the firm grow and prosper whilst still retaining both its heart and moral backbone. I am proud to work with colleagues who are both leaders in their fields and strong principled lawyers and am delighted to be able to play a part in planning for the future. There is no doubt that there is a bumpy road ahead and we are all facing challenging times, but our strong and steady approach and our commitment to the success of our clients and the wellbeing of our colleagues will stand us in good stead. I look forward to being able to contribute.”

James Carroll, Joint Managing Partner at Russell-Cooke, comments: “Russell-Cooke is often referred to as “the lawyer’s lawyer”. It’s been that way for our 140-year existence. That history demonstrates success, stability and resilience: we have weathered many a storm. Taking up a senior management position at a time when the world is in crisis brings challenges, but more so, emphasises a sense of responsibility to our clients, colleagues and referrers. It’s a great place to work – and I am excited to build upon our past and help steer us into our future.”

John Gould, Senior Partner at Russell-Cooke, comments: “I have worked with Jonathan, Alison and James for many years and know them to be lawyers of the highest quality as well as people of energy and vision with a real commitment to the firm and its people. We have a strong and balanced management team who know what the firm is about and have the ability to assure its continuing success.”  

 

 

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Newcastle & North of England Law Society—Lesley Fairclough

Newcastle & North of England Law Society—Lesley Fairclough

Ward Hadaway partner becomes bicentennial president following regional merger

Devonshires—four promotions

Devonshires—four promotions

Firm promotes four senior associates to partner in annual round

Fieldfisher—John McElroy & Daniel Hayward

Fieldfisher—John McElroy & Daniel Hayward

Co-heads of dispute resolution practice appointed alongside partner promotions

NEWS

From blockbuster judgments to procedural shake-ups, the courts are busy reshaping litigation practice. Writing in NLJ this week, Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School hails the Court of Appeal's 'exquisite judgment’ in Mazur restoring the role of supervised non-qualified staff, and highlights a ‘mammoth’ damages ruling likened to War and Peace, alongside guidance on medical reporting fees, where a pragmatic 25% uplift was imposed

Momentum is building behind proposals to restrict children’s access to social media—but the legal and practical challenges are formidable. In NLJ this week, Nick Smallwood of Mills & Reeve examines global moves, including Australia’s under-16 ban and the UK's consultation
Reforms designed to rebalance landlord-tenant relations may instead penalise leaseholders themselves. In this week's NLJ, Mike Somekh of The Freehold Collective warns that the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 risks creating an ‘underclass’ of resident-controlled freehold companies
Timing is everything—and the Court of Appeal has delivered clarity on when proceedings are ‘brought’. In his latest 'Civil way' column for NLJ, Stephen Gold explains that a claim is issued for limitation purposes when the claim form is delivered to the court, even if fees are underpaid
The traditional ‘single, intensive day’ of financial dispute resolution (FDR) may be due for a rethink. Writing in NLJ this week, Rachel Frost-Smith and Lauren Guiler of Birketts propose a ‘split FDR’ model, separating judicial evaluation from negotiation
back-to-top-scroll