Law firm Russell-Cooke has appointed renowned residential property lawyer Simon Mapstone. He will head a team including Senior Associate Sarah Reynolds, and Associate Lara Murrell.

Simon brings with him over four decades of experience advising on prime London real estate deals, with a particular focus on prestigious residential properties in the Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster markets. Over the course of his career, he has earned a reputation as one of the leading advisers on high-end residential property transactions and investments in west London, and has built up an extensive client and contact base of high and ultra-high net worth individuals, including high-profile figures, based both domestically in the UK and overseas.

Simon qualified as a solicitor in 1983 and recently served as Partner and one of the Managing Partners at a London law firm. He is ranked Band 1 for Real Estate: High Value Residential, in the 2021 edition of the Chambers UK High Net Worth guide, in which he is recognised for being "renowned within the industry" and possessing "an extreme depth of knowledge and insight."

Sarah Reynolds, who joins as part of Simon's team as a Senior Associate, is an experienced residential property lawyer specialising in the prime London real estate market. They are supported by Associate Lara Murrell. Both Sarah and Lara have worked with Simon since they first qualified. The team will be based in Russell-Cooke's Bedford Row office.

These latest arrivals continue Russell-Cooke's recent expansion of its capabilities with property-related matters, following the appointment of Simon Catt in the Real Estate team in December 2021. Simon has over 40 years of experience advising on all aspects of commercial real estate, with a particular expertise in commercial landlord and tenant issues. He served as Senior Partner at his previous firm before joining Russell-Cooke.

John Gould, Senior Partner at Russell-Cooke, comments:

"Simon Mapstone and his team represent valuable additions to our Real Estate and property offering. They bring with them strong ties and unrivalled experience with a very significant element of the London residential property market centred around Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster, which stands out internationally as a prime investment and lifestyle destination.

"We look forward to working with them to continue building the firm's reputation in this space and helping clients navigate the challenges of buying and selling high-end property, in a manner that is private, pragmatic, and proficient."

Simon Mapstone, Consultant at Russell-Cooke, added:

"The high-end London property market has demonstrated a marked resilience to the challenges brought by the pandemic and is now experiencing a pronounced rebound, with interested parties from the UK and around the world looking for a dependable and timeless location to invest their money and secure a desirable bolthole. I am delighted to be joining Russell-Cooke and collaborating with the exceptional talent within the wider Real Estate practice to help our clients capture the enormous opportunities within the London residential market."