Katie Fudakowski

Katie advises her school and education business clients on all issues involving pupils, parents and staff. On the employment side, Katie has successfully represented schools facing serious allegations of whistleblowing detriment and discrimination as well as ordinary unfair or constructive dismissal claims. She can advise clients on how to stay out of the employment tribunal through adopting rigorous and fair grievance, capability and disciplinary procedures. In pure education law, Katie has expertise in relation to exclusions and special educational needs and also covers the contractual side of education, advising on parental complaints and breach of contract claims. Katie has considerable expertise in safeguarding crisis management, whether involving non recent allegations or live cases, Katie guides her clients through the internal investigation and disciplinary proceedings and the regulatory reporting to the statutory agencies, the charity commission, the Disclosure and barring service (DBS) and the Teaching regulatory authority (TRA).

Katie advises every type of sports club and their governing bodies in safeguarding and employment matters. Her clients include premiership football clubs and national sports governing bodies, for example advised Chelsea football club in relation to their major reviews of non-recent child sexual abuse.

Katie works with churches and faith-based organisations providing safeguarding and employment advice on past and present claims as well as practical guidance on PR, communications and reputation management. She has experience of the Church of England’s Clergy Disciplinary Measure and has represented a number of organisations called to give evidence before the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).