Russell joins from Matheson LLP, and brings more than two decades of experience as an international employment law specialist. He began his career at A&L Goodbody in Dublin and went on to spend several years in private practice in London with Capsticks LLP.
Russell acts for employers in a wide range of sectors, in particular technology, retail, life sciences, financial services and energy, many of which operate in innovative and brand-sensitive environments. His practice covers sensitive and complex employment disputes and litigation, including class actions, whistleblowing claims and High Court injunctions. He also advises on large-scale change programmes, collective redundancies, and on the employment aspects of domestic and cross-border transactions.
Qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales as well as Ireland, Russell brings extensive cross-jurisdictional experience. Having practised in the UK for many years, he regularly advises UK-based clients operating in Ireland on the differences between the Irish and UK employment law regimes.
With Russell's arrival, Lewis Silkin's Irish employment practice (covering Dublin and Belfast) now comprises ten partners, and a total of 40 lawyers.
Síobhra Rush, Partner and Head of Lewis Silkin's Dublin office, said:
"Russell's appointment is a significant milestone for our Dublin team. He combines a strong reputation in the Irish market with deep experience of UK employment law, which is exactly what our clients increasingly need as they manage workforces on both sides of the Irish Sea. His experience in high-stakes litigation and complex transactions will add real depth to the practice as we continue to grow and we are really excited to welcome him to the team."
Russell Rochford, Partner at Lewis Silkin, said:
"I'm delighted to be joining Lewis Silkin, a firm whose employment practice has an outstanding reputation in Ireland and the UK. Employers here face a fast-changing landscape, from pay transparency to whistleblowing, and I look forward to working with the team to help clients handle these challenges pragmatically and with confidence."
