Sam Macdonald > Farrer & Co > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Farrer & Co is renowned in the education sector, serving a diverse client base that includes independent schools and associations, providing advice on the full range of issues, particularly regarding innovative guidance on safeguarding. The department is well-regarded for its experience dealing with parents and pupils, governance and institutional issues, as well as sensitive issues such as sexual assault and commercial matters such as school mergers and school closures. Maria Strauss‘ practice spans employment, education and safeguarding while the hugely experienced Jonathan Eley advises on parent, pupil and employee matters and on crisis management together with disciplinary investigation. Key members of the team are safeguarding expert David Smellie , commercial contracts specialist Paul Jones, and charity law specialist Sam Macdonald . Katie Fudakowski is valued for her County Court, Employment and Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunals expertise and ‘stand-out’ Alice Yandle is noted for her broad employment and education expertise.

The education practice at Farrer & Co advises universities and higher education sector bodies with the full-service offering, such as investment fund management, charity law, data protection, joint ventures, property and construction, employment and student disputes, as well as safeguarding and reputation management. The team is led by David Copping who handles IP and commercial work for universities. Kathleen Heycock is adept at employment and student matters, including student safeguarding and deals with Tribunal claims and higher education investigations. Sam Macdonald has vast experience in tax and charity law, supporting the establishment of charities and engagement with charitable sectors. Jeremy Isaacson assists universities and schools with IP, information law and consumer regulatory issues, while William Charrington covers contentious matters for the team’s higher education clients. Senior associate Alice Kendle is also noted.

Farrer & Co is ‘a class act’ with ‘a depth to the bench in terms of quality of juniors.’ Elizabeth Jones and James Maloney co-lead an ‘exceptional team’, which acts for some of the largest and best-known UK and international charitable organisations. Other noteworthy clients include major grant-making bodies and philanthropic charitable foundations, key corporate foundations, and donor-advised funds. The team covers the full spectrum of matters, from complex cross-border mandates, disputes, and safeguarding issues, to Royal Charter body work. It is also skilled at advising on innovative charity finance matters. The agile team advises on fundraising, grant making, and on major gifts to charities. Sam Macdonald acts for charities and not-for-profit institutions on all aspects of UK charity law and related tax law. Julian Smith is well-known for his work on charity investment, and for his representation of prominent charities in the cultural sphere. Laetitia Ransley was promoted to the partnership in May 2024.