Anderson Strathern's team advises domestic and international charity and non-profit clients hailing from the arts, education, and religious sectors, amongst others. Its workload includes advising on complex compliance and regulatory issues, and governance and structuring work, in addition to advising on community renewables projects. The practice is led by a team of three: charity regulation, compliance and governance expert Gillian Harkness-McKinlay, Victoria Simpson, who boasts over two decades of experience in charity law, and Audrey Cameron who focuses on public sector charities-related work. Key practitioner Caterina Capaldi specialises in advising third sector clients in particular.

Charities and third sector expert Kenneth Pinkerton leads the group at Brodies LLP. The team handles complex regulatory, commercial and corporate matters for well-known non-profit organisations, from family foundations to institutional charities and public bodies. Christine O’Neill KC is a specialist in public law and regulatory work; ‘pragmatic’ practitioner Lynne Marr assists with sensitive employment matters; and Martin Sloan is a go-to for instructions related to IP, IT, data protection, cyber issues, and commercial contracts in the charity and third sectors. Brenda Scott handles governance and commercial work, while Rhona Delaney’s practice encompasses legal structures, governance, mergers, and the dissolution of charities.

‘First-class charity lawyer’ Helen Kidd leads the practice at Lindsays, which handles litigious and advisory matters for a variety of Scottish, UK-wide, and international clients. The team harnesses experience handling OSCR matters, compliance and regulatory-related cases, governance and structuring matters, and those regarding charity mergers and expansions. Multiple team members are particularly equipped to handle employment issues for charity clients, with Ben Doherty and Kate Wyatt being particularly key in this area. John Thom’s interests include charitable trusts and philanthropy, while Kenny Gray is noted for his commercial property work. Connor Barnes is also a key name.

Burness Paull LLP‘s practice offers a wide array of commercial, corporate, and OSCR regulatory services to a client list spanning Universities, research institutions, and grassroots charitable organisations. Hazel Moffat heads up the team, key names in which include specialist in public sector charity offshoots and renewables projects Graeme Palmer, and Emma Maxwell who advises on governance, legal structures and transfers of operations. Ruth McNaught focuses on public procurement and advising RSLs, Emma Manson is public law-oriented, and Louise McErlean specialises in data protection.

Alan Gilfillan heads up the wide-ranging charities and not-for-profits offering at Gillespie Macandrew LLP. Noteworthy team members include Kevin Sturgeon who is a go-to for Community Asset Transfers and routinely acts for registered social landlords, employment specialist Fraser Vandal, and Margaret Day who is a key contact for churches seeking assistance with property acquisitions, disposals, and commercial leasing. Laura Kirkman assists charities with registration, reorganisations and mergers, corporate governance, and contractual matters. Former practice lead Lianne Lodge retired in December 2024.

Led by James McMorrow and Derek Hogg, Harper Macleod LLP‘s offering is deeply embedded in the social housing space, advising a large proportion of Scotland’s registered social landlords on a spectrum of commercial, constitutional and regulatory matters. The team also advises grant-giving bodies, charitable trusts, and sports and disabilities charities. Collette Miller is routinely instructed by RSLs, and Jennifer Jack is a key contact for contentious matters.

Morton Fraser MacRoberts‘ group assists sector-spanning clients, including independent educational institutions, RSLs, sports governing bodies, and various charities and social enterprises. The team, led by third sector TMT specialist Valerie Armstrong-Surgenor, advises clients on tax and pensions, commercial agreements, IP and brand management, and more. Robin Fallas is a key contact for public and charity sector organisations, and Adrian Bell focuses on sports and recreational charities. Paul Geoghegan and Melissa Hall are also recommended.

With a client base spanning private schools, RSLs, and major UK charities, BTO Solicitors LLP‘s team provides broad-ranging advice to the charity and third sector. Michael Cox delivers advice on regulatory and compliance issues, corporate governance, applications to the OSCR, and more, and David Gibson is a key contact for clients seeking advice on property and construction issues. Laura Salmond assists charity and non-profit clients with employment matters. The three co-lead. Former practice head Marion Davis retired in April 2024.