We understand the need to balance the increasing pressure of regulation with the everyday challenges of providing a public service.   We provide those running not-for-profit organisations with a balanced combination of specialist charity law advice, and sector-informed general advice relating to everyday business issues. 

Our charity clients range individual philanthropists, charitable incorporated organisations and charitable trusts to national and international organisations.  We also advise on the establishment of alternative structures in instances where charitable status may not be appropriate, such as community interest companies.  

We work closely with other teams across the firm including Corporate, Commercial and Real Estate drawing upon their expertise as appropriate. 
 

We can advise on: 

• appropriate legal structure  

• charity registration  

• reviewing, updating and amending charity governing documents   

• conversion to charitable incorporated organisation 

• charity mergers and takeovers 

• trustees’ powers and responsibilities 

• directors' duties and personal liability 

• winding up and dissolving charities and not for profit organisations  

• legacy issues, and will and trust disputes 
   

Our work includes:

• acting for a UK charitable trust that funds worldwide research projects (including a study involving eight centres throughout Europe) into the causes of cerebral palsy and other neurodevelopmental disorders 

• acting for a UK charitable trust that works with local and national government and non-governmental organisations to protect vulnerable ecosystems in the Coral Triangle in Indonesia 

• acting for various UK charitable trusts engaged in making donations to charitable causes 

• setting up a charitable trust that aimed to convert contaminated land into a country park open to the public