Your worst nightmare, 700 lawyers and no lightbulb

by Fast Track Sailing on 21 May 2008
The Solent was a protest free zone last weekend - the fees would have bankrupted anyone raising a flag - With over 700 lawyers competing in the racing top yacht racing crew, Charles Russell LLP secured fourth overall at the Manches Cup 2008 onboard the J109 High Tension.

Charles Russell LLP already has close links to sailing – through sponsorship of Beijing-bound Paralympic sailor Helena Lucas and the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, demonstrating its commitment to the development of the UK’s most successful Olympic medal sport.

Over the weekend of May 17/18 two races were completed in testing tidal Solent conditions. The crew started the event with a fifth place and lifted their game to finish fourth place in the deciding race.

The crew, consisting of people at various levels and from different offices across the practice, worked incredibly well together during some tight mark rounding manoeuvres.

Patrick Russell, Senior Partner, commented, ‘as a firm we are actively involved in the sports sector doing all kinds of legal work but it is particularly gratifying to take part in a race like this and do so well. With over 700 lawyers competing in the racing Charles Russell raced to an excellent standard’.

One Charles Russell crew member was London-based solicitor Charlie Marlow, 25. In 2009 / 2010, Charlie will be taking part in the Atlantic Rowing Race, together with rowing partner Matthew Mackaness (a 26 year-old chartered surveyor).

They will race from La Gomera, Canary Islands to Antigua, West Indies – a distance of 3,000 miles - raising money for charities Brain Tumour UK and Shrewsbury House. Charles Russell are one of the main sponsors behind their entry.

The full crew included: James Baker, solicitor; Jack Marriott, Consultant; Patrick Gearon, Partner; Michael Cover, Partner; Charlie Marlow, Solicitor; Stephen Critchley, Associate; Margrielle Blake, Solicitor; Carolyn Bigg, Solicitor; Jane Bartlett, Legal Assistant; and Paul Worswick (skipper) from Budding Entrepreneur, a client of the legal firm.

The firm has offices throughout the UK and in Europe, with a recently opened branch in the Middle East. It already has close links to sailing – through sponsorship of Beijing-bound Paralympic sailor Helena Lucas and the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy demonstrating its commitment to the development of the UK’s most successful Olympic medal sport.