Kathleen Russ

Travers SmithSenior Partner

In 2019, Travers Smith did something unprecedented: it elected its first-ever female senior partner. For many outsiders it was a highly symbolic move as Kathleen Russ was seen as personifying Travers’ increasingly progressive culture.

Indeed, her election marks out Travers from its silver circle peers Slaughter and May and Macfarlanes.

Yet for insiders, she was an obvious candidate. Russ is by background a tax specialist, where she built up an exceptionally strong practice advising a slew of private equity clients and corporations such as Zoopla and TA Associates. She has been an influential management figure in the firm for a decade, both as a long-serving head of the group and as a member of the partnership board.

While tax is rarely a breeding ground for radical management figures, Russ has made it clear on taking the role of senior partner that one of her priorities will be diversity, particularly on BAME representation within the law. Russ’s first external event as senior partner was a BAME Allies event, and in 2020 she will be scrutinising and encouraging the active recruitment, retention and promotion of talent from the BAME community.