Russell-Cooke is delighted to announce that it has joined the Institute of Legacy Management (ILM) as a Corporate Partner.
The ILM is the leading professional body for charity legacy officers and managers, supporting over 700 members who oversee gifts left to charity.
This partnership reflects Russell-Cooke’s deepening commitment to the legacy sector, building on the firm’s work with charities of all sizes, from nationally recognised organisations to smaller charities developing their first legacy programmes.
The firm has a strong specialism in contentious legacy matters and a growing team. We help charities throughout the legacy lifecycle and have a holistic approach: securing gifts, preventing disputes, and responding effectively when complex issues arise.
As a Corporate Partner, Russell-Cooke - led by Sarah Arnold (contentious disputes specialist), James Cook (trusts and estates specialist) and Chris Rowse (charity law specialist) - will work closely with ILM members, sharing expertise, contributing to training, and participating in industry events. The firm also aims to introduce more of its charity clients, particularly emerging “acorn to oak” legacy teams, to the benefits of ILM membership.
Supporting legacy teams is genuinely important to me. Early in my career I worked as a legacy officer, and I’ve also served as a charity trustee, so I understand the realities of legacy administration firsthand: protecting donor intent, navigating sensitive conversations with families, and meeting trustee and Charity Commission expectations. We are proud to partner with the ILM, an organisation that shares our commitment to promoting high standards in legacy giving. We look forward to contributing to training and helping strengthen the legacy community as a whole.
I draw on my experience advising individuals and families on estate planning, philanthropy, and succession, and helping structure gifts to protect charitable wishes and minimise future disputes, to support new and growing legacy teams in establishing best-practice processes, helping them build secure and effective functions. Having served nearly 15 years as a trustee of a free legal advice charity, I understand how vital legacy income is to charitable missions and how important it is for legacy teams to receive practical, clear guidance.
Having worked with hundreds of charity clients, including on numerous legacy matters, I know the pressures charity leaders and legacy teams face. Legacy matters often involve sensitive circumstances and heightened scrutiny, and I work closely with clients to protect both charitable assets and reputations. By combining charity law expertise with practical experience, I help charities make well-informed decisions and steward legacy income responsibly.
This partnership reinforces Russell-Cooke’s broader commitment to the charity sector. With one of the UK’s largest dedicated charity teams, the firm brings extensive expertise across philanthropy, governance, and trust and estate disputes, supporting charities throughout the full legacy journey with integrity, technical excellence, and collaboration.
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