Charles Russell's Varsity ruse

We don’t know if this is a sneaky attempt to get ahead of the milk round, but Charles Russell has just become the only law firm with an office in both Oxford and Cambridge. See story.

Charles Russell has had a presence in Oxford and the M40 corridor for a while, but this move from the spires to the flatlands puts it in a class of one.

It’s an interesting punt. There’s certainly some nice start-up tech work from university spin-outs.

However Cambridge is a lot more competitive market than Oxford. Instead of competing with Manches, Charles Russell will have to take on Eversheds, Hewitsons and Taylor Wessing among others.

But hats off to Charles Russell. The Varsity is certainly a step up from that old office in Swindon.