Law firm Russell-Cooke has announced four new senior associate promotions effective from 1 July 2021.

As a reflection of the breadth and diversity of the firm’s practice, the new promotions span advisory and contentious work across four different practice areas acting for private individuals, charities and businesses.

The new senior associates are:

Anouksha Patel, private client

Anouksha advises individuals on a wide range of domestic and cross-border issues including drafting of wills incorporating trusts (including business, literary and digital assets); advising on the preparation of LPAs; administering estates, and dealing with probate, general estate planning and wealth protection with particular focus on IHT and CGT advice and advising on the creation, administration and winding up of trusts. Anouksha is an accredited member of STEP with involvement in its special interest group for digital assets and business families. She is currently working towards the ATT to further her expertise as a tax technician.

Gareth Roy, charities and social businesses

Gareth advises a wide range of charities and not-for-profit organisations. He's advised some of the largest and well-known charities in the country, but he also regularly deals with small and medium sized organisations. He specialises in assisting with governance issues, fundraising, mergers, incorporations, collaborations and commercial contracts. Gareth joined Russell-Cooke as a trainee in 2013, qualifying into the charity and social business team in 2015. He enjoys getting to know his clients, hearing about their mission and then helping them deliver it. Gareth is a trustee of the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute.

Jeremy Coy, employment

Jeremy advises large institutional clients, start-ups and small to medium businesses as well as employees and senior executives on disciplinary matters, grievances, redundancy, unfair dismissal and whistleblowing. He has particular experience in advising on settlement agreements and negotiating favourable severance payments for employees, but also has a strong track record in handling sensitive issues such as restrictive covenants, discrimination and pay-related disputes. Since joining the firm in 2017, Jeremy has frequently appeared in the national and sector-specific press to comment on developments in employment law.

Ricky Cella, commercial litigation

Ricky sits in the commercial litigation team where he represents individuals, charities and businesses in a wide range of disputes. Since joining Russell-Cooke as a trainee in 2013 and qualifying in March 2015, Ricky has developed strong specialisms in construction and intellectual property disputes. Ricky has taken conduct of matters in the Technology and Construction Court, other branches of the High Court, the County Court and specialist tribunals. In addition, he regularly acts for clients in adjudication proceedings. Ricky is also well versed in alternative dispute resolution methods, such as mediation.

Partner and senior associate cohort lead Janice Gardner said: Our senior associates play a crucial role in supporting the partnership while mentoring our more junior fee-earners. Anouksha, Gareth, Jeremy and Ricky represent the range of work and skills Russell-Cooke offers that have helped so many disparate clients during these challenging times. We are delighted to see them take this next step in their careers and wish them all the very best of luck in the coming years.”