Russell-Cooke
Corporate Partner
Key Contacts
Sarah Arnold | Partner
+44(0)20 7440 4877
I specialise in resolving trust and estate disputes, and at the start of my career I worked as a legacy officer – experience that shaped my approach and continues to guide me. I’ve also served as a charity trustee, so I understand the realities of legacy administration from the inside: the need to protect donor intent, navigate sensitive conversations with families, and meet trustee and Charity Commission expectations. Supporting legacy teams is genuinely important to me. I know how vital legacy income is to charitable missions and how challenging the work can be when disputes arise. I work closely with charities to secure gifts, resolve issues pragmatically, and uphold the values that underpin legacy giving. Along with James, I also help new and growing legacy teams set up best-practice processes.
James Cook | Partner
+44(0)20 7440 4817
+44 (0)7387 091 461
[email protected]
I advise individuals and families on estate planning, philanthropy and succession, helping them structure gifts in a way that protects charitable wishes and minimises future disputes. With nearly 15 years’ experience as a trustee of a free legal advice charity, I understand how significant legacy income is for charitable work and how important it is for charity teams to receive clear, practical advice.
I sit on Remember A Charity’s Wealth Advisory Committee. The Private Client Advisory Committee for Legacy Giving, brings advisers together to help grow high-value legacy giving and better support donors. I also contributed to Remember A Charity’s wider research into how the advisory community can strengthen philanthropic journeys and collaborate more effectively with charities. I regularly assist charities with legacy governance and donor strategy, and alongside Sarah, I help build secure, well-prepared legacy functions in start-up and growing charity teams.
Chris Rowse | Partner
+44(0)20 8394 6438
+44 (0)7721 129 396
I advise charities and philanthropists on governance, regulation, fundraising and structures. Having been a trustee and worked in house (covering the General Counsel role at the British Museum for five months), I have sat on both sides of the table and understand the pressures charity leaders and legacy teams face – from safeguarding donor intent and managing public accountability to meeting regulatory requirements.
Legacy matters often involve sensitive circumstances and heightened scrutiny, and I work closely with clients to protect both their charitable assets and their reputations. My approach is pragmatic and collaborative. By drawing on my charity law expertise and practical experience, and working along charity legacy disputes specialists, I can help charities make well-informed, confident decisions and steward legacy income responsibly.
About Russell-Cooke
At Russell-Cooke, we ‘do the right thing’. It’s not just a slogan – it’s how we work. We are a top-100 firm with one of the largest dedicated charity teams in the UK, supported by a leading private client practice and a growing trust and estate disputes team. Together, we provide a comprehensive legacy service grounded in deep technical expertise and a genuine commitment to the charitable sector.
Our clients include national household-name charities and local community organisations, as well as philanthropists and trustees. Several of our lawyers have worked inside charities as legacy officers or trustees, so we understand the challenges legacy teams face – from managing complex beneficiaries to responding sensitively to family concerns, reporting to boards, and navigating the Charity Commission.
Our contested legacy experts regularly act for charities and private individuals, drawing on specialists across governance, regulation, philanthropy, estate administration, tax, serious incident support, reputation management, and, where necessary, our criminal team. This breadth means we can support charities through every stage of the legacy journey; securing gifts, preventing disputes and responding effectively when challenges arise.
We also pride ourselves on a genuinely collaborative culture. Our lawyers work across teams, referring matters to the right expert, ensuring every client receives the best advice quickly and efficiently. With 100+ lawyers ranked across 48 categories in Chambers and Legal 500, support is always on hand.
Our purpose is clear: to safeguard the legacy income charities depend on, and to do so with integrity, empathy and technical excellence.
Testimonials
‘The firm has one of the best charity teams in the business, with an impressive depth of experience and knowledge of the sector. On top of this, the firm has experts in a wide range of specialisations on which they can call when necessary.’
— Legal 500 2026
‘Sarah Arnold was outstanding. Demonstrating significant expertise, Sarah was exceptional with her care & consideration. I have rarely come across a professional who puts the care of her client to the absolute forefront of her work. She is role model.’
— Legal 500 2026
‘The Team has multi-jurisdictional expertise, a holistic approach, and specialised knowledge in handling complex cases. They draw on various departments within the firm to find innovative solutions tailored to each situation.’
— Legal 500 2026
‘Russell-Cooke distinguishes themselves from the others by always going the extra mile to make it work. Their “out of the box” approach is fascinating and they are very responsive.’
— Charities respondent, Chambers & Partners UK 2026
‘Russell-Cooke is incredibly knowledgeable about charity law. The team is able to provide bespoke, timely and helpful advice on all aspects of the matter as well as support and reassurance.’
— Charities respondent, Chambers & Partners UK 2026