18/12/2025
As we approach the end of another year, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on 2025, celebrate what we have achieved together, and look forward to the opportunities ahead in 2026.
It has been a year full of challenges and changes, but it has also been a year where our teams across the firm have been proud to support our clients, our community, and the local causes that matter most to us. From sponsoring youth football teams to supporting families who need extra help at Christmas, giving back to our local area remains at the heart of everything we do.
Thank You to Our Clients
First and foremost, the partners at Russell & Russell would like to thank all of our clients and connections for your continued support over the last 12 months.
As always there have been challenges for everybody in this ever-changing environment, and we are proud to have helped our clients navigate them throughout the year.
Supporting Our Local Community in 2025 and Beyond
Being at the heart of our local community is something we take very seriously. Throughout 2025, Russell & Russell has proudly supported sporting teams, local venues, schools, and charities across Bolton, Chester, and the wider North West.
Sports Teams and Sponsorships
At Russell & Russell we are passionate about supporting grassroots sport, and this year we have proudly backed various teams in our local areas. From netball and golf to football and horse riding, including supporting youth teams and beyond.
This year, we renewed and obtained new sponsorship deals with:
- Westhoughton Cricket Club
- Youth Challenge Secondary School
- Turton Golf Club
- Kelsall Hill Equestrian Centre
- Bolton Arena
One sponsorship we are particularly proud of is our partnership with Youth Challenge Secondary School. We have enabled their students to access Zumos, a mental health support website, free of charge for twelve months.
Declining mental health in young people continues to be a national crisis, and it is even more concerning for students who have experienced adverse childhood experiences. Sadly, many of the students at Youth Challenge fall into this category, and knowing they have free, anonymous support available to them at all times gives everyone involved real peace of mind.
Viki Sutton, Academy Lead at Youth Challenge, wrote to thank us, saying: "Your act of generosity has enabled our students to access support when they need it most. It's so reassuring to know they have this available to them."
Charities Supported by Russell & Russell
From our collective end-of-month Dress Down Day Fund to the annual Chester Duck Race, throughout 2025 we have been proud to support so many different charities in varying ways.
These have included:
- Hospice of the Good Shepherd
- Macmillan Cancer Research
- Lagans Foundation
- Bolton Hospice
- Bliss
- Brain Research UK
- Boot Out Breast Cancer
- The Countess of Chester Hospital Charity
Each of these causes matters deeply to members of our team, and Russell & Russell will continue to support them and others like them in 2026.
Awards and Recognition
It is always nice when hard work gets recognised, and we were thrilled when our Chester Branch was awarded Property and Conveyancing Team of the Year at the Cheshire Business Awards.
This is fantastic recognition for the team that reflects their continued hard work and dedication.
Events We Attended and Supported
Russell & Russell have been honoured to attend and support so many fantastic events during 2025.
Here are just a few highlights:
Chester Business Club 6-Mile Charity Walk
We proudly sponsored the orange juice stand at the annual Chester Business Club 6-mile Charity Walk once again. The sun shone for over 150 walkers who stopped by our stand for refreshments and a friendly chat. Supporting this event for more than 10 years has always been a highlight for our Chester team.
Bolton Law Society Annual Dinner
The firm was delighted to attend Bolton Law Society's annual dinner, with over 150 attendees joining for an evening of networking, celebration, and recognition. Our Conveyancing Partner and Director, David Kitchen, hosted the evening as President of the Law Society, a role he fulfilled throughout 2024 and 2025.
Manchester Law Society Football Tournament
The Russell & Russell team had a brilliant day at the annual Manchester Law Society Football Tournament. Our team put in a fantastic performance, making it through the group stages, winning our quarter-final, and only narrowly missing out in a closely fought semi-final, 2-1.
Bliss Charity Ball
November saw the Bliss Charity Ball take place, hosted by our own Elena Morgan. An evening where vital funds and awareness were raised for Bliss, and our team was proud to sponsor the welcome drinks for all guests. A big thank you to the members of our team who attended.
Chester Conveyancing End of Summer Social
Our Chester Conveyancing Team held an End of Summer Social event, welcoming our partners, the Chester Conveyancing team, local agents, and valued suppliers to the racecourse to connect and celebrate our relationships.
Bolton Lads and Girls Club Football Tournament
The Russell & Russell football team had another outing, this time to the Bolton Lads and Girls Club football tournament at Hacken Lane. While we didn't take home the trophy, we had a fantastic time competing and ended the day on a high note with a win in our final group game.
Chester Duck Race
Our Chester team joined in the fun at the annual Chester Duck Race again this year, helping raise funds for The Countess of Chester Hospital. Let's just say our Claudia Winkleman-inspired duck's race performance might not have turned heads... but her Traitor-inspired look certainly did!
Accreditations and Professional Standards
Quality and professionalism remain at the core of everything we do. In 2025, we retained our important accreditations, including Lexcel, the Law Society's Wills and Inheritance Quality Scheme (WIQS), the Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS), and Cyber Essentials.
Celebrating Our Team
Our people are what make Russell & Russell special, and 2025 saw some well-deserved promotions and recognition across the practice.
We introduced new Salaried Partner and Associate roles, a significant step in recognising the talent and commitment of our people:
- Alexander Korko – Promoted to Salaried Partner, Conveyancing Department
- Richard Thomas – Promoted to Salaried Partner, Crime Department
- Shannon Wood – Promoted to Associate Solicitor, Wills and Probate Department
- Melissa Billington – Promoted to Associate Solicitor, Family Department
- Natasha Cairns – Promoted to Associate Conveyancer, Conveyancing Department
- Catherine Egan – Promoted to Associate Conveyancer, Conveyancing Department
- Michael Costello – Promoted to IT Manager at Associate level
- Emma Hughes – HR Manager, awarded the Associate level package
We are also incredibly proud of Natasha Harford from our Family Department for winning Trainee Lawyer of the Year at the Bolton Law Society annual dinner.
Spreading Christmas Cheer
Christmas is a time for giving, and we love getting involved with festive charity initiatives. Here are a few things we've been proud to take part in this December:
Urban Outreach Appeals
Through supporting the Urban Outreach Christmas Dinner Appeal and the Terry’s Chocolate Orange Appeal, we helped spread Christmas cheer to families who need extra support and to key workers who give so much all year round.
Collectively, we donated 107 Christmas puddings and 45 Terry’s Chocolate Oranges. Those puddings went directly into Urban Outreach hampers, helping families create a proper celebratory Christmas meal. The chocolate oranges were distributed to hospital workers nationwide, continuing a beautiful tradition started in memory of young Elliott.
West Cheshire Foodbank Reverse Advent Calendar
While our Greater Manchester branches were doing their Chocolate Orange and Christmas Pudding appeals, our Chester office took part in West Cheshire Foodbank’s Reverse Advent Calendar Appeal, donating a fantastic 50kg to the foodbank.
Festive Sponsorships
During the festive season, we have also:
- Sponsored a Christmas tree for Chester Cathedral's Christmas Tree Festival (this year's theme was "Christmas around the World")
- Sponsored a bauble on Bolton Lads and Girls Club's "Tree of Hope" in their main reception
- On behalf of Chester Grosvenor Round Table, sponsored their Santa Float in Christleton and Waverton, with funds raised going to Christleton Primary School PTA
Looking Ahead to 2026
As we head into the new year, we are excited about what is ahead. In March, you will see us exhibiting at the Cheshire Business Exhibition at The Racecourse. We are proudly sponsoring this event, and with this sponsorship, you will see us featured on the digital board on the Axis Tower in Manchester.
A Final Message from the Partners
As we head into 2026, we are proud to continue with our sponsorships for local charities, events, venues, and teams, as it goes to the core of our ethos as a firm. We are looking forward to the new opportunities that will no doubt appear in 2026, which we will embrace with our usual professional expertise and confidence.
Thank you for being part of our 2025 story. We look forward to supporting you in 2026 and beyond.
From everyone at Russell & Russell, we wish you and your loved ones a wonderful festive season and a happy, healthy New Year.
Please note that this article is meant as general guidance and not intended as legal or professional advice. Updates to the law may have changed since this article was published.