Leading independent law firm Farrer & Co has advised the University of Cambridge on a record-breaking philanthropic gift from investor Chris Rokos to establish and endow the Rokos School of Government, which will prepare tomorrow’s leaders to tackle the world’s biggest problems.
The gift, expected to total £190 million, will also fund the design, planning and construction of a landmark building to house the School, and involved a complex framework of legal and governance arrangements. This included structuring the donation through a US/UK dual-qualified charity, incorporating an element of match-funding and advising on the long-term funding and operation of the School.
The firm acted for the University to ensure that the structure of the gift aligned with the donor’s wishes, while also providing the University with the flexibility and stability required to support the School’s long-term success.
Laetitia Ransley, Charity Partner at Farrer & Co, said:
“This is a landmark gift for one of the world’s leading academic institutions and an important commitment to the study of public leadership and global problem‑solving. We worked closely with the University, the donor’s team and other stakeholders to design a robust and flexible framework for funding the School which reflects the shared vision of the donor and the University and supports its long-term success. We are enormously proud to have advised Cambridge on a matter of this scale and significance.”
This mandate underscores Farrer & Co’s expertise in advising on large-scale philanthropic giving with a cross-border dimension, combining technical excellence with a nuanced understanding of the priorities of both donors and leading institutions.
The Farrer & Co team was led by charity partner Laetitia Ransley, working closely with Cambridge University relationship partner Sam Macdonald, Henry Stevens (Partner – Property), Jeremy Isaacson (Partner – Intellectual Property), Verity Collins (Associate – Charities) and Laura Monaghan (Associate – IP).
© Farrer & Co LLP, April 2026
