Birketts LLP‘s dedicated charities and not-for-profit practice is accomplished across the range of work in the area, with particular prowess in advising Royal Charter charities, learned societies, and large membership charities. These have all been areas of recent growth for the team, as well as philanthropy for high-net-worth clients and corporates looking to set up charitable foundations. At the head of the department, ‘outstanding charity lawyer’ Liz Brownsell has recently acted for well-known clients including Amnesty International and The UK Cyber Security Council. Her team includes Jennifer Marley, Louisa Saunders and Amy Austin.
Charities and not-for-profit in East Anglia
Birketts LLP
Responsables de la pratique:
Liz Brownsell
Autres avocats clés:
Jennifer Marley; Louisa Saunders; Amy Austin
Les références
‘The team is a well-valued part of the relationship. They provide the legal position and how we as a charity might practically implement what is needed.’
‘The team combines pragmatism with an unsurpassed level of technical expertise.’
‘Liz Brownsell is an outstanding charity lawyer who is very shrewd and has a phenomenal work-rate.’
Principaux clients
Addenbrookes Charitable Trust
Amnesty International
Barnardo’s
bp Helios Fund
British Psychosocial Oncology Society
Canonium Learning Trust
Cats Protection
Castel Froma Neuro Care
Chartered Trading Standards Institute
Church of England Central Services
East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices
East Anglian Air Ambulance
Exeter Diocesan Board of Finance
Graham Dacre Charitable Foundation
Guildford Diocesan Board of Finance
Ipswich School
London Diocesan Fund
mySociety
National Children’s Bureau
National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB)
Norwich Diocesan Board of Finance
Redwings
Spiritualists’ National Union Trust
St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocesan Board of Finance
St Elizabeth Hospice (Suffolk)
The Charterhouse
The Food Museum
The Chartered Institute of Brewers and Distillers
The Royal Astronomical Society
The Royal College of Anaesthetists
The Royal Entomological Society
The Royal Horticultural Society
Trust for London
UK Cyber Security Council
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Barnardo’s on changes to its membership structure to achieve its objective of improving engagement with stakeholders and beneficiaries.
- Advising The Charterhouse on charity law, governance and a broad range of property matters.
- Advised the Royal Entomological Society on an agreement with the Municipality of Vordingborg in respect of a supplementary breeding and release program for the Large Blue (a butterfly) as part of the “LIFE Orchids” project.
Mills & Reeve LLP
The East Anglia offices of Mills & Reeve LLP are the key hubs for the firm-wide charities and social enterprise offering. Significant local and national clients look to the practice for the full range of work in the area, from establishment and regulation, to fundraising and estate development. Neil Burton leads the firm’s national charities practice and is an accomplished advisor to some of the country’s major charities. Among the other key figures in the multidisciplinary team are employment expert Nicola Brown; James Fry and Stephanie Caird, who both act for charity clients in the life sciences space; and trusts and probate disputes lawyer David Catchpole.
Responsables de la pratique:
Neil Burton
Autres avocats clés:
Nicola Brown; James Fry; Caroline Dean; David Catchpole; Stephanie Caird; Alastair Cotton; Paul Hilder
Les références
‘The team provide clear, practical advice. They focus on what is important.’
‘Neil Burton is a clear and pragmatic thinker.’
‘Global perspective and team which was critical for our organisation to ensure understanding of not only the US HQ context but also global operational context. Excellent technical knowledge combined with very pragmatic advice/recommendations. Team had a calm, professional demeanour which built trust which was essential in context of a Board Effectiveness Review.’
Principaux clients
Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet
Francis Crick Institute
Institution of Engineering and Technology
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
Royal Society of Chemistry
Society of Operations Engineers
The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (UK)
Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations
Royal Literary Fund
Birdlife International
Institution of Mechanical Engineers
Wellcome Sanger Institute
Wellcome Trust
The Welding Institute (TWI)
Together for Mental Wellbeing
John Innes Centre
Henry Smith Charity
Kidney Research UK
International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
Principaux dossiers
- Undertook a governance and board effectiveness review for £10bn non-profit Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet.
- Advised on the incorporation of £1bn charity, The Henry Smith Charity.
- Acted for the John Innes Centre in connection with the c.£317m John Innes Centre Next Generation Infrastructure Project, funded by UKRI.
Broadfield Law UK LLP
Broadfield Law UK LLP has strong engagement in the third sector, with a client base that includes prominent names at a national level, and its Cambridge office is a notable regional hub for charity sector law. Kate Parkinson is an up-and-coming figure in the market and is a valued counsel for a host of charities and not-for-profits, including the Oxford Group. The team was further bolstered in April 2024 by the arrival of Emma Millar from Mishcon de Reya LLP. She has particular expertise with social ventures, alongside a strong charities practice.
Responsables de la pratique:
Jonathan Brinsden
Autres avocats clés:
Kate Parkinson; Emma Millar
Principaux clients
The Institute for Engineering and Technology
Global Health 50/50
The Cambridge Commonwealth, European and International Trust
Stroke Association
Motor Neurone Disease Association
British Thoracic Society
Tweedy Almshouses
St Luke’s Hospice
Play Included CIC
Third Generation Environmentalism Limited
The Institute for Engineering and Technology
Global Health 50/50
The Cambridge Commonwealth, European and International Trust
Stroke Association
Motor Neurone Disease Association
British Thoracic Society
Tweedy Almshouses
St Luke’s Hospice
Play Included CIC
Third Generation Environmentalism Limited
Principaux dossiers
- Acting for the Institution of Engineering and Technology in multiple areas, including on general charity law and regulation, and in its merger with the Women into Science and Engineering (WISE) Campaign.
- Advised Motor Neurone Disease Association on its contractual relationship and regulatory requirements for a new partnership with Omaze, as part of its ‘Million Pound House’ draw.
- Advising the Cambridge Commonwealth, European and International Trust on its operations.
Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP
A broad spectrum of third sector clients, ranging from from local and national cause charities, to education institutions (including several Oxford and Cambridge colleges), look to Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP for advice on governance, trustees, fundraising, and dealings with the Charity Commission. After joining from HCR Hewitsons in September 2024, Virginia Henley co-leads the department with ‘outstanding lawyer and tactician’ Hilary Aldred, who has a particularly strong knowledge of the education sector. In IP matters for charity clients, Rachel Bradley is the name to note, and Sophie Whitbread and Saffa Mir are further key contacts.
Responsables de la pratique:
Virginia Henley; Hilary Aldred
Autres avocats clés:
Rachel Bradley; Sophie Whitbread; Saffa Mir
Les références
‘Hillary Aldred is an outstanding lawyer and tactician, who knows the law back to front, and has an impressive client following. The team has a particular strength in education and university work in general. They are very well organised, across the detail of their cases, and leave no stone unturned.’
‘Virginia Henley dealt with the establishment of our charity where there were complicated issues. She understood these complexities and was conversant with the university dimension. She also showed a strong understanding of the needs or the Charity Commissioners and guided us skilfully though the process. I have no hesitation in recommending her.’
‘Sophie Whitbread has excellent client care and is a great teamworker.’
Principaux clients
Parkinson’s UK
International Headache Society
Vivifi Biotech
St Anne’s Oxford
New College, Oxford
St Hilda’s College, Oxford
Murray Edwards, University of Cambridge
Christ Church, University of Oxford
Buglife – The Invertebrate Conservation Trust
The Roger & Jean Jefcoate Trust
Soham United Charities
Churchill College, Cambridge
International Headache Society
Charity Commission
National Oceanography Centre
Reeds Foundation
The Institute of Leadership and Management
The Company of Biologists
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
Barkway Pre-school
Marine Stewardship Council
The Fire Fighters Charity
The Institute of Psychoanalysis
The Chartered Association of Business Schools
The Institute for Fiscal Studies
The Keatley Trust
Cambridge Commonwealth and European Trust
European Legal Support Centre
Motor Neurone Disease Association
Prostate Cancer UK
Principaux dossiers
- Provided governance training to many of the Cambridge Colleges to support them in the particular challenges of being historic, educational charities with boards of trustees which mainly comprise their fellows and staff.
- Advised Soham United Charities (7-8 separate entities) on incorporation into one single CIO.
- Provided support to Prostate Cancer UK on the terms and conditions of a clinical trial and funding agreement, to conduct clinical trials to help to deliver novel prostate cancer screening strategies.
Greenwoods
Claire Banks at the Peterborough office of Greenwoods receives client acclaim for her assistance in registration with the Charity Commission and she has particular experience in the intersection between the education and charity sectors. The firm is often instructed by national and local charities, voluntary organisations, schools, professional institutes, and other not-for-profits.
Responsables de la pratique:
Claire Banks
Les références
‘Greenwoods, particularly Claire Banks, were very supportive and took time to explain the information they required and also to understand the way in which the charity operates so that they could prepare and submit the required documentation to the charity commission. At all times Greenwoods were very professional and helped the charity to understand the legal process making it as stress free as possible.’
‘Claire Banks was very supportive throughout working with us and was very patient to understand in detail the operations of the charity which resulted in a request for charity status being successful on the first attempt with the Charity Commission. We would definitely use Greenwoods again should we be in need of legal help as Claire was always available to assist us with any queries we had throughout the process and communication was exceptional.’
Principaux clients
Hughes Hall in the University of Cambridge
Principaux dossiers
- Registering our client’s charity with the Charity Commission to become a charitable incorporated company.
- Providing ongoing charity and company advice to our client including guidance on trustee/director conflicts of interest.
- Advising our client on amendments to articles of association which includes liaising with the Charity Commission to obtain its consent as some amendments are regulated alterations.
HCR Hewitsons
HCR Hewitsons has a prominent charities law offering across central England and at its Cambridge office. Denise Wilkinson is a key contact for clients in East Anglia and across the country. She is a veteran agriculture and estates lawyer with considerable experience in property and family issues in the rural sector, acting for smaller farmers, landed estates and major institutions.
Autres avocats clés:
Denise Wilkinson
Les références
‘We’ve had the pleasure of working in partnership with HCR Law and their Charities and Not-for-Profit team for several years. Their pro bono support has been invaluable, delivering a range of sessions for the local VCSE sector in Milton Keynes, covering key legal updates and charity reporting.’
‘Due to the nature of my work, I interact with many professional advisors and law firms. Over the past 2–3 years, I’ve come to know HCR well and truly appreciate its culture of professionalism and credibility. They are trusted advisors—highly skilled and knowledgeable in their areas of expertise.’
‘They project confidence and competence, making them a firm you can rely on for fair, balanced, and well-informed advice. Their commitment to clients and contacts is evident through regular engagement and genuine relationship-building.’